Caitlins.......

After leaving Queenstown we did a fair bit of driving to reach trhe Catlins area. First stop Nugget Point, which is the site of a retired lighthouse, and home to many a seal either basking on the rocks or fighting against the rough water New Zealands South island is famous for. It was the windiest day up there too, though it was well worth it for the amazing views!!

Oamaru........

After the lighthouse we headed into the town of Oamaru. Weird kind of Victorian town which supports a lot of local artists. Even the local bookshop was run by a guy wearing nipple high trousers and rather fetching braces!! Stramge little market selling strange nik naks with people dressed up in period costumes and even playing on organ! On the cool side though there were some great artists selling some really nice things. Definatley a living in the passed there though.......

The reason we ended up here though was to see the penguins. On the first night we sat in a kind of grandstand hidden behind a yellow light (As apparently penguins cant see yellow) waiting the penguins return from sea to the colony. The small blu penguins come back to land by a raft, which is a collection of penghuins all together! We saw about 12 on the raft and in total over 40 of them come ashore and waddle there way into the conservation area that has been made for them. Well cool !

The next day we went to an area not far from the blue penguin colony which is home to one of the rarest penguin species in the world. The yellow eyed penguin. This was free but for the penguins to do what they do undisturbed you cabnt get that close so it was handy that a couple next to us let us use their binoculars and we did see 2 come a shore to the beach co-habitting with some huge seals!!

Next stop Kaikora! see's ya.....