New Zealand - Dunedin Scenic Cruise

Off early this morning to a cruise along the coast of Dunedin.  With a promise of penguins, seals, dolphins and maybe a whale, we happily jumped on a boat.  We encountered wind, rain, some more wind, some more rain ... a few seals, a couple dolphins and lots of birds.  Definitely not our favorite cruise, mostly due to the weather.  Off we go on the M.V. Monarch for a wet and rainy adventure.

 Brrrrr.  Can you get that from the picture?

Emily on the look-out with scout Addlea.

In the back of the boat staying warm and dry.

Some of the nature scenes from the day.  Notice the wet, wet, wet on the pictures.

The next four pictures show a Fur Seal on the rocks ... and then the wave that comes.  He managed to stay on the rocks.  What a guy!

And a couple dolphins ... but just two for a brief period.

Hanging on for dear life ... the boredom was kicking in.

Emily very intent with the binoculars.

New Zealand - Mexican Night in Dunedin

We arrived early evening into Dunedin, and after a short rest, decided to venture out to find some tasty food in the downtown area of Dunedin.  While we were originally headed for Italian, the color and festive nature of a Mexican restaurant.  And, to our surprise, this was an extra spicy Mexican restaurant.

New Zealand - The Wrinkly Ram and Moeraki Boulders

After a morning hike at Mt. Cook, we headed for Dunedin.  We stopped for lunch (along with several bus loads) at The Wrinkly Ram.  A fun place, with easy access to sheep (and lots of sheep stuff to buy).  So, we had some fun with the local sheep.

A Christmas greeting from a little town in New Zealand made of hay bales.  Very cute and clever!!!

Kristin insisted we stop and see the round rocks in the ocean ... the Moeraki Boulders.  Just north of Dunedin, this seemed to promise much excitement.  Short on the excitement, high on the laughs ... we did stop for a short visit to see these round rocks sitting on the beach.  Breezy, drizzling and cold ... that sums up our short visit.

I think I'm saying "is this it"?

Setting up a picture ... Jenna instructing Dad where to go stand.

Oh yes, the three girls rolling the boulder over Dad.  Fortunately, I escaped just before it rolled over my leg - or I would have been flattened by the immense strength of these three little girls!!!

New Zealand - Mt. Cook

We arrived at Mt. Cook on Saturday afternoon.  While it was cloudy on this day, at least we can see Mt. Cook among the clouds.  The next morning when we woke up, the rain clouds and the fog had completely hidden the mountain.  Even with that bad luck, Mt. Cook was one of my favorite parts of our trip to New Zealand.  The scenery, while shrouded, was beautiful.

The next morning, we headed for a walk at the base of Mt. Cook.  While we couldn't see the mountain, we had an awesome hike among the foothills.

Cat machinery at Mt. Cook.

Unfortunate for the rabbit, but an interesting find.

A race up the cliffs.

We made it!!!!

All of us!!!