Mount Cook to Oamaru

Booked accommodation at Lake Tekapo was for a lake view bedroom.

Not quite what we'd been expecting - the edges of the lake were visible at the sides of the house in front, and if you were seven foot tall or stood on a chair, you'd have had a good lake view! 

Breakfast this morning gave us a better view of the lake with which to enjoy our food. 

We set off quite early as we wanted to visit Mt Cook.  The roads are straight and fast here but there are stopping off points along the way.  The whole flow of water from the lakes is controlled by a series of canals and dams in the hydro scheme.  The water was still the same intense blue.

We stopped again at Lake Pukaki as Mt Cook was visible at the end of the lake today, not shrouded in cloud as it was yesterday. Mt Cook is the big sticky up one in the middle.

The road to the mountain follows the edge of the lake nearly all the way

Getting closer!

This is an arrete along the way.

Very close now. 

The river spills out into a wetland before flowing into Lake Pukaki.

Eric takes in a lungful of the fresh crisp air.

You have to drive back down the same road for about 20odd Kms, but the vistas are very different 

Whats's this...Another car, I can't believe that.

Eric still wants to gaze up at Mt Cook - he doesn't mind travelling backwards. 

The landscape becomes very familiar - have we suddenly been transported to Scotland?

A change in outlook again as we reach the Maori Rock carvings at Takiroa and the Vanished World  Heritage Trail at Duntroon. Limestone cliffs and strata where the ocean floor was lifted up many millennia ago mean lots of marine mammal fossils and weird shapes. Stop the Elephant Rocks to wander amongst the outcrops. 

Now meander along small roads until we reach Oamaru and the visitor centre. The gardeners had been very busy here.

The information lady directed us to a spiffing spot for a picnic. 

Oamaru from the Lookout Point.

Eric studies the lay of the land.  These interpretation panels are a nice warm place to sit in the sun.

It's not only at Land's End they have these sorts of signs then.

But wait, what name is that - Devizes? We later find it's a twinning thing and think the Porthcawl twinning committe should be a bit more ambitious. If they want someone to investigate possible NZ towns I'm in. 

Checked out where the viewing area for Yellow-eyed Penguins was. Will return later - need to be there between 4 and 6 apparently. 

Check into B&B, it's a 'boutique' one, so only has two rooms. Our hosts offer us tea and cake plus some instructions on what to see in the short time we are here.  They introduce themselves but we notice that they seem to find it necessary to be wearing name badges just in case we forget!

Venture out again to explore the Victorian Heritage part of the town and the Public Gardens, as instructed. Victorian buildings abound, in various states of repair. 

Eric said that it was about time we had some proper culture on our World Tour, and that he wanted to go to the opera.

Discover that the first skyscraper in NZ is here, and now houses a Steampunk museum. Looks interesting but is closed, you can fire up the train outside with two dollars if you feel so inclined. 

Time to shoot off to the Yellow-Eyed Penguin colony.  They come up along the beach but they ask you not to go onto the beach as it will stop the penguins coming ashore if they see you. So there is a viewing platform along the cliff top. About 10 min later we hear a penguin calling from on the cliff, and then see a head pop up out of the vegetation about half-way down.

It's a YEP (Yellow-eyed Penguin) sitting on a nest and waiting for the partner to come back with the food.  Another half an a hour passes and we see a solitary penguin  - but making it's way up at the very far end of the beach.  More calling from the penguin we can see, and then some from much closer but no visual.  A little later binoculars show another two Penquins in the water...coming closer...out onto the beach...and into the bushes at the bottom of the cliff. 

They look so sad walking up the beach, they seem to be saying to themselves "why do we have to leave the water", not that we are being anthropomorphic or anything. The seal is studiously ignoring them or is just possibly fast asleep. 

There are said to be only six pairs nesting in this area. Satisfied with our haul of YEP we retire to the town for some food, and then to the harbour to try and see some Little Blue Penguins (but without paying). Sit on the waterfront for a while enjoying the evening air, and then there are the penguins walking across the road!

They just appeared out of the bushes to walk across the road and then a railway line to their burrows under an old shed. 

This is the first place where the sign warning to be careful of penguins crossing the road has actually come true.

And now to bed.