Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Friday 27th January

Walked Jed the dog from Chris's along Riverside Road to cattle sign near Bush Road and return. To my astonishment there was snow on the neighbouring mountains. Wow, was I surprised. It was even on the New Zealand national news. The UK equivalent is, snow on the mountains of the Lake District at the end of July.
Continued to work on the minibus

 January 27th - Snow on Maungatua Mountains

January 27th - Snow on Maungatua Mountains

12 degrees C, 75% cloud

Cold wind

No rain (Snow on hills)

Saturday 28th January

Walked Jed the dog to near cattle sign again and return. Rabbit road kill, difficult to get Jed to walk past.
Finally got the bus interior lights working. I was working on the water pump wiring when Brent accidentally knocked the handbrake off. I went base over apex before Brent got the handbrake on again. A tumbling experience, down under.

January 28th - Sun on Maungatua Mountains

20 degrees C, 50% cloud

Warm & sunny

No rain

Sunday 29th January

Walked Jed down Riverside Road to Gladstone Road, then continued along the gravel road to Gladfield Road, the start of the tarmac. Didn't walk on the tarmac but returned to Chris's. Continued working on the bus electrics.

20 degrees C, 50% cloud

Glorious sunshine

No rain

Monday 30th January

Walked Jed the dog towards Bush Road. Minibus power wiring certified. Added to the low voltage circuits

25 degrees C, 5% cloud

Glorious sunshine

No rain

Shorts and floppy hat day

More photos :-

 January 23rd - Private Ship in Dunedin Harbour

 January 22nd - Scroggs Hill from Junction of Bush Road & Riverside Road

 January 21st - Dunedin City Centre

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Sunday 22nd January

Walked Jed the dog from Chris's along Riverside Road to Bush Road and return. Good views, windy & chilly. Dog on long lead. Worked on the minibus.

16 degrees C, 60% cloud

Windy & chilly

Many showers

Monday 23rd January

Walked Jed the dog on a long lead from Chris's along Riverside Road to Bush Road again and return. Very windy & chilly. Had to hold my cap on and only had to chase it a few times.
Drove with Chris to Dunedin to get the materials to renew the electrics. Mains and 24Volts. Visited numerous shops without complete succes, but had more ideas after visiting the warrant inspector in Mosgiel.
Returned to Chris's to check the wiring runs and discuss the routing of the new cables.

16 degrees C, 100% cloud

Very windy & chilly

No rain

Tuesday 24th January

Worked on minibus straight after breakfast, installing mains cables and fitting.  Drove with Kath into Dunedin for more electrical materials.

20 degrees C, 30% cloud

Glorious sunshine

No rain

Wednesday 25th January

Walked Jed the dog towards Bush Road. Worked on the minibus mains cable conduit fitting & earth location change. Preparing for low voltage re-wire.

20 degrees C, 25% cloud

Glorious sunshine

No rain

Shorts and floppy hat day

Thursday 26th January

Walked Jed the dog to the cattle sign near Bush Road. Worked on the minibus mains cable earth Preparing for low voltage re-wire. Cable wiring approved.

18 degrees C, 95% cloud

Cloudy and warm

Heavy evening rain

More photos :-

 January 11th - Kath at Middlemarch Arches

 January 11th - Rock Outcrop near Middlemarch

 January 12th - Canon at Lower Portobello

 January 12th - Albatross and Penguin Sign
at Lower Portobello

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Saturday 21st January

Kay phoned and asked if I fancied a walk, of course my reply was positive, so she suggested the Pineapple Walk. We travelled independently to Tanner Road, Dunedin, to park my car, then we drove together in Kay's car to Bull Ring, the start of the walk. With Tor the dog at heal, we took the very well defined track to the summit of Flagstaff, ascent of 509 feet (155 metres), for wonderful 360 degree views, from Dunedin to the Silverpeaks Forest.

Derek, Tor & Kay at Bull Ring,

Start of Pineapple Track

Tor & Kay at Bull Ring Sign, the Start of Pineapple Track 

Saddle Hill from near Summit of Flagstaff

 on Pineapple Track

Derek at Summit of Flagstaff on Pineapple Track

Dunedin Harbour from Summit of Flagstaff

 on Pineapple Track

A22E Summit from near Knoll on Pineapple Track

Pineapple Junction on Pineapple Track

Photos and refreshments by Trig Point, then down hill for 1611 feet (491 metres), to the car. Lots of flax plants around couples with more excellent views of Dunedin and towards Swampy summit. Soon reached Pineapple Junction with its huge direction signs. Continued down the hillside and into woodland. Several trees had their barks completely stripped, couldn't understand why, was it natural or was it due to an animal. Kay suspected Possums the culprit. At the junction with McGoun's Creek Track we decided to divert away from Pineapple Track to extend the walk slightly. Lots of boardwalks to avoid swampy areas, but no mud as we walked because of the dry recent weather. Lots of ferns and Ponga Trees, very picturesque. We approached a clearing where logging had been undertaken recently, where we also came across a seating area to commemorate 100 years of Dunedin City Forestry. After a short while we continued and saw lots of mountain bike tracks with small information boards near the end of McGoun's Creek Walk and where Pinapple Walk finished. We had arrived back to where my car was parked on Tanner Road.

Kay & Tor on Pineapple Track near McGouns Creek Track

World's Steepest Street in Dunedin from Pineapple Track near McGouns Creek Track 

Kay & Tor on Boardwalk on McGouns Creek Track

Logging Clearing on McGouns Creek Track

Kay & Tor on Seating by Plaque on McGouns Creek Track

Car at end of McGouns Creek Track

The End of the Walk

We agreed we both deserved a pint of beer, so we drove into Dunedin for a pint in the Duke of Wellington, before returning to Bull Ring to collect Kay's car. What a fantastic day in the hills above Dunedin, magic scenery. I hope I return again soon.       

Dull but warm

18 degrees C, 90% Cloud

Excellent underfoot

Few people around

95% Enjoy

Flax and Ponga Trees

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Friday 20th January

Jed the dog and myself both needed a walk, so I decided to walk along Riverside Road, a gravel track between East Taieri - Allanton Road and Outram - Mosgiel Road, crossing the Taieri River plain alongside the River. Excellent views across the valley to Maungatua Range of Mountains, as I walked to Gladstone Road and crossed the Dunedin to Invercargill narrow gauge railway line at an unmanned uncontrolled crossing. Unfortunately no trains to be seen. Immediately after the railway Jed and I crossed the bridge over Owhiro Stream, a picturesque oasis of Cabbage Trees, Flax & Pampas Grass surrounding the stream. Continued to Bush Road, then turned back with fine views of Saddle Hill & Scroggs Hill to the south east. Good stretch of legs in the sunshine and plenty of attention for Jed.
Rainbows over Scroggs Hills later in the evening.

Maungatua Mountain Range from Riverside Road

Riverside Road

Railway Line Towards Allanton 

Cabbage Trees & Owhiro Stream at Riverside Road

Saddle Hill from Riverside Road

Scroggs Hills from Riverside Road

Rainbow over Scroggs Hills

Sunny & Warm

20 degrees C, 85% Cloud

Shower in Evening

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Thursday 19th January

Drove into Mosgiel with Chris for some wood for the minibus living space. Constructing the Beds/Seats. 
Drove along the Otago Peninsular in the evening with Kay & Brent to look for the public hide alongside the Yellow Eyed Penguin Colony. Brent drove along the high level scenic route to Portobello, with stunning views over Otago Harbour, towards Sandfly Bay and along shore of Hoopers Inlet.

Ravensbourne from Highcliff Road

Harbour towards Port Chalmers from Highcliff Road

Varleys Hill from Hoopers Inlet Road

Continued through Portobello Village and past Harwood village again, towards Revone Beach, looking for Yellow Eye Penguin signs. Took Pipikaretu Road towards Pipikaretu Beach but was blocked by companies willing you to pay for their transport. As it was near sunset we decided to look around Taiaroa Head and parked in the huge car park. Wind very strong and gusty, blowing from south west. Other nature lovers were well prepared by being wrapped up warmly. It seemed strange at first, then I got cold and shivery. Walked to the more sheltered east of the head and saw a couple of Albatrosses souring over the lighthouse while I passed hundreds of juvenile Red Billed Gulls, some within inches of your feet.

Albatross over Taiaroa Head

Red Billed Gull Chicks on Taiaroa Head

Taiaroa Head & Lighthouse

Spotted Shags Nesting on Taiaroa Head Cliffs

Spotted Shags Nesting on Taiaroa Head Cliffs

Sunset over Otago Harbour from Taiaroa Head

Great views of the cliffs from the safety fence. Slowly walked along the fence until a colony of Spotted Shags were visible on the almost sheer rock face. Rabbits also seen in the grass near the top of the cliffs. As it was getting cold and dark we decided to head back to Dunedin. We drove out of the almost empty car park and noticed lots of cars parked nearby at a Pilots Beach sign. As we passed the beach we noticed lots of people by a barrier all dressed for the cold wind. Brent turned the car around and parked with the other cars by Pilots Beach.
Investigation revealed that the beach was used by Blue Penguins during the night and they would go ashore at dusk. It was just a case of waiting approx twenty minutes. Sure enough one or two Blue Penguins could be seen as the light faded and the temperature dropped. I took several photos without the flash, but my hands shivered so badly the camera would not focus. I was surprised how small the penguins were, not much bigger than a gull. I expected a standard height of about a metre high. Delighted to have seen my first penguin, we travelled back to Dunedin happy. What a fantastic adventure in New Zealand.

Blue Penguin on Pilots Beach at Taiaroa Head

Blue Penguin Sign at Pilots Beach on Taiaroa Head

Sunny & warm

24 degrees C, 25% Cloud

No rain

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Wednesday 18th January

Packed bags for move from Kay's to Chris's. Drove to Chris's via supermarket in Mosgiel. Worked on my blog yet again. Weather gorgeous, first day wearing shorts. Kay, the soon to be bride, went wine tasting with one of her bridesmaids. She came over to Chris's with samples for our approval. All wine tastes good to me, so of course I approved.

Sunny & warm

25 degrees C, 25% Cloud

No rain

More photos: - 

January 7th - Karitane, South Island, New Zealand

 January 9th - Green Island from Black Head Beach 

January 9th - New Zealand Lion Seals
on Black Head Beach

January 12th - Pied Shag near Pudding Island

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Tuesday 17th January

Drove to Chris's and worked on this blog while Chris decorated the house and connected gas pipe on the minibus. Dogs got out again and chased sheep in adjacent field. Chris furious with dogs, back in cage again.

Sunny & warm

25 degrees C, 25% Cloud

No rain

More photos: - 

Seal in Heavy Rain at End of Aramoana Spit

 Presbyterian Church, Mount Street, Port Chalmers

Spit Beach at Aramoana

Seal in Heavy Rain at End of Aramoana Spit

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Monday 16th January

Drove to Chris's after a visit to town to exchange the faulty webcam. Internet now working through wireless, with help from Kay, great. Dogs wondered over the hill to explore the ravines, Chris chased after them in car. Dogs found near back road over the hill. Dogs spent rest of day in cage.

Two Dogs, one Ball, Jed & Tor

All five of us out for a meal at Fat Harry's, then into town for a drink at the most impressive 'Duke of Wellington' public house, recently renovated. I think it was a hotel in past years. Ceilings especially very impressive, wonderfully decorative. Brent & Kay took me on another tour of the city at night. Went through the city to the North East Valley, and the Steepest Street in the World, Baldwin Street. Then onto the lookout at Signal Hill. Most impressive, must go back with my camera.

Two Dogs, one Ball, Tor & Jed

Sunny periods

18 degrees C, 65% Cloud

No rain