Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Derek's New Zealand Blog 2012

Saturday 14th January

Sunny morning. Kay drove myself, Chris & dogs, Jed & Tor, in afternoon along north road of Otago Harbour to Aramoana via Port Chalmers. Threat of rain but dry until Aramoana. Stopped at Port Chalmers Lookout to admire the impressive views all around Otago Harbour and the local docks. Views excellent to mouth of harbour and across the harbour to Harwood Village. The Plaque on the summit of the lookout hill
explains that Captain Scott started his journey to the South Pole from Port Chalmers a hundred years ago. Would you believe, is has been on the BBC World News, with the media making use of the anniversary to explain that lots of scientific research was completed during the expedition and many artifacts can be seen in London museums.

Seal in Heavy Rain at End of Aramoana Spit

Plaque at Port Chalmers Lookout - Scott of Antarctica

Port Chalmers Docks

Port Chalmers & Docks

Harwood Village on Otago Peninsular looking East from Port Chalmers Lookout

Otago Harbour, looking South East from Port Chalmers

Short walk from the summit through a garden for more impressive views to the south and sculptures by local artists. Most noticeable sculpture is a man with no arms impaled into the ground on his head.

Kay & Chris by Sculpture, 'Poles hold up the Sky',

near Port Chalmers Lookout

Otago Harbour, looking South from

Port Chalmers Lookout

Continued along the harbour road, in and out of the many small bays, to Aramoana Village, where the car park invites the visitor to enjoy the beaches and the views in all directions. We parked and waited for the few big spots of rain to clear, but they didn't, so we wandered down the re-enforced spit towards the open sea. The rain slowly got worse and worse as we continued the long stroll towards the end of the split. When we finally reached the end, we were soaked from behind, but we didn't mind because we spotted several Sea Lions resting on the huge rocks of the spit and Albatross's flying over the nearby head, around the lighthouse. After savouring the moments we turned and rushed back to the car as quickly as possible, this time our fronts getting soaked through.

A direct drive back to base to change clothes. Another adventure in New Zealand, come rain or shine.