Campervaning in New Zealand & Motoring in Australia: Yellow Eyed Penguins

Yellow Eyed Penguins cooling off after a day of fishing (photo taken from a blind on a nature preserve). They are the 3rd largest penguin, there are only 7,000 of them in the world, and they only live on the shores of New Zealand’s South & Stewart Islands + some small Pacific Islands south of there. They live in one place all year and go out each day to catch fish & return in the late afternoon. They raise their young in a shady sheltered grassy area (not like in the movies where those penguins stand on the ice keeping the egg warm between their feet). Also, these penguins do not congregate in large groups but stay in separate places as pairs. One disturbing note is that only 25% of the chicks lived this year (it is speculated that it may be too warm this year for them – maybe “global warming”?).

We have been keeping busy the last 3 days traveling from the far south up around thru the Catlins (“where the forests meet the sea”), and into Dundein. Here are some of the high and low lights:

Saw 2 great lighthouses - at Waipap Point and Nugget Point
Enjoyed watching sea lions interact on the beach at Waipapa Point
Had to leave instructions with our friends in Invercargill to forward our mail to Auckland. The mail did not make it from the USA in 10 days (hopefully it will catch up with us before we leave New Zealand).
Saw 3 waterfalls - one of them called Niagara Falls as a joke (it was so small that it looked more like rapids).
Had to really clean up the dust that accumulated in the campervan as we drove many miles on dusty gravel roads to get to the lighthouses.
Walked in the Octagon area (the center of town shaped with 8 sides) in Dunedin (a medium sized city on the South Island). Quite a busy place on a Saturday with locals + many tourists.
Of course, Cathy visited the quilt shops in town.
While taking a break and reading the newspaper in a McDonald’s McCafe, we heard bagpipes coming down the street. Dunedin is a college town & one of the traditions here is that college graduates parade thru town in their caps & gowns lead by bagpipers & drums. It was great to see so many really happy faces pass by.
Visited the beautiful train station that was built in the late 1800’s.
Attended church in the very large & beautiful First Presbyterian Church (built in 1873). It happened to be St. Andrews day and many people wore their Scottish clan plaids. After church we talked with a delightful 94 year old lady that told us about her interesting life living in this area.
Toured Larnach Castle built by a banker in the late 1800’s. This is the only castle in New Zealand and after many years of neglect has been restored. The most interesting thing to us was the beautiful furniture which had been made out of many of the native trees here.
Visited Penguin Place to see the yellow eyed penguins. This is a non-profit preserve supported only by tours and donations.
Endured a couple of days of blustery weather (windy, overcast, some light rain, and quite cool.
Reached the ½ way point of our ‘holiday’ below the equator in New Zealand & then in Australia.

Sea lions on the beach. Two of them in front are arguing and the large one on the right is rapidly coming in from the sea to settle it. He then came up and pushed and shoved one of them (who left the area and sulked for a while).

Nugget Point lighthouse situated on a ridge. It is so windy here that the lightkeepers sometimes had to crawl along the ridge to reach the lighthouse.