FRIDAY--MARCH 18, 2011

MOERAKI BOULDERS ON BEACH

JOHN BESIDE MOERAKI BOULDER

MOERAKI BOULDER ON BEACH

JOHN ABOVE HARBOR NEAR DUNEDIN

BREATHTAKING VALLEY VIEW TOWARD OCEAN

YELLOW EYED PENGUIN AT REHABILITATION CENTER

YELLOW EYED PENGUIN AT REHABILITATION CENTER

YELLOW EYED PENGUIN READY FOR OCEAN AFTER MOLTING

JOSH KEELER AND JOHN NEAR PACIFIC OCEAN

SEAL IN REHABILITATION

SEALS IN REHABILITATION

CHOPPY OCEAN WATERS AFTER SMOOTH BAY WATERS

STEWART ISLAND SHAG BIRDS ON ROCKY BLUFF BELOW LIGHTHOUSE

ROYAL ALBATROSS GLIDING GRACEFULLY

LIGHTHOUSE ABOVE ROCKY BLUFF

BABY FUR SEALS SAFE ON ROCKS

SEA LION AWAITING SNACK OPPORTUNITY

LONE TINY BLUE PENGUIN IN HARBOR

Today, we traveled from Omarama following the Waitaki River through beautiful countryside past lakes used to power hydroelectric generators.  We stopped in Oamaru, famous for its white buildings made of limestone.  At lunch time, we stopped along the coast where we viewed the Moeraki Boulders believed to have been formed by a chemical reaction within the clay banks.  As the clay has washed away, the Moeraki Boulders are visible along the Pacific Ocean beach.  When we arrived at Dunedin, founded by Scottish settlers, some of us took an excursion which included a bus ride along roads overlooking the harbor through beautiful countryside.  We arrived at a penguin rehabilitation center where we saw the Yellow Eyed Penguins being nursed back to health, and then reintroduced to their natural habitat.  Seals were also rehabilitated at the center and then returned to their natural habitat.  We then took a boat cruise out of the harbor into the Pacific Ocean where we were privileged to see at least three Royal Albatross as they glided high over our heads effortlessly utilizing the prevailing winds.  On the rocky shores we saw fur seals sunning while adult sea lions entertained us near our boat, but were looking for the opportunity to dine on the baby fur seals.  The many Stewart Island Shag birds perched on the rocky cliff.  The boat then took us on an enjoyable ride back through the harbor to the point where we began our bus trip.  Almost at the end of our cruise in the harbor waters, we saw a single Blue Penguin, the smallest penguin.  Our evening meal was awaiting us as we were brought to Kingsgate Hotel in downtown Dunedin.