Sunday, Day 36 - Feb 11 - 7AM to 4PM, Otago Harbor, Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand

Dunedin, a charming city lying at the head of a fjord-like inlet, is surrounded by seven hills. In the early days, Dunedin was the largest and wealthiest city in the country, thanks mainly to the gold fields. It has been responsible for many firsts: the first to have gaslight, water mains, hydro power and steam trams. The rugged, beautiful Otago Peninsula is filled with geological wonders, interesting animals and great properties: the great albatross with its ten-foot wingspan, fur seals on the rocks, yellow-eyed penguins and Larnach Castle, a historic 19th-century property surrounded by gardens and splendid views. It is often said that Dunedin is the most perfectly preserved Victorian City anywhere with its splendid Victorian and Edwardian stone buildings.

We definitely didn’t have enough time in this wonderful area during our 2009 visit. This is our first time to stop at Port Chambers. We plan to do the ship’s free tour to see the little penguins, something we wanted to do last time but didn’t have time. We also plan spend some time in the beautiful Victorian town of Dunedin.

Actually, the plan was to do the Natures' Wonders Wildlife Safari leaving at 7:30AM for four hours. The tour included a drive past the charming towns of Sawyer's Bay, Roseneath and St. Leonard's, which all rest along the shores of beautiful Otago Harbor. Then a drive along the craggy coastline to Natures Wonders, located just beyond Taiaroa Head. At the Center's Reception area, we were to board, an 8-wheel drive vehicle (Argo), built specifically to take us to places that are normally inaccessible, or a mini coach, to start our tour of the farm. We were to swap vehicles half way through the tour. The Otago Peninsula headland is arguably the most precious wildlife habitat in New Zealand and the farm owned by the Reid family is right on the forefront of this headland. Here, amidst truly spectacular scenery, the world's rarest penguins, the yellow-eyed Hoiho, the little blue penguins, the New Zealand fur seals, and the Spotted Shags all live in harmony. We were to stop at the mythical Maui's Footprint location with its breathtaking panoramic views over the Otago Peninsula. Then a stop at a breeding colony of Cormorants, also Spotted Shag, found nestled on a rugged cliff face that rises directly above the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, also a breeding colony of New Zealand Fur seals. A beachfront ride would then  bring us to Penguin Beach where we were to view little blue penguins in their nests, and perhaps spot some very rare and shy yellow-eyed penguins as well. Then we would go back to the highest point on the farm. At 659 feet above sea level, this spot affords an absolutely amazing 360-degree view of this awesome peninsula and its remarkable natural setting. Then on to Dunedin for a brief tour of some of the city's highlights. We had planned to leave the bus tour in downtown, tour Olveston Mansion and Gardens, get lunch, explore and shop as time allows and use the ship’s shuttle to return to the ship.

Well that was a fine plan except for two things: Carolyn is sick and it is pouring down rain so the countryside trip would have been a bust as confirmed by several people who did do the tour.

On to our current reality, it is foggy and raining when Dick opens the curtains. Carolyn has coughed all night but falls asleep about 7AM and is no longer coughing.  Satisfied that she is OK and sound asleep, Dick goes to breakfast. Returning an hour later, she is still asleep and sleeps soundly until about 10AM.

We realized last night that neither of us would be up for a bus tour; Dick is sick also, just not as bad. He turned in the tour tickets so someone else could use them.

We spend a quiet morning in the room; Dick reading and Carolyn dozing. There was a brief thought of Dick taking the ship’s shuttle into town at least for a few picture of the lovely town, but it rains off and on with the rain becoming heavier and more consistent as the day wears on so the best he does is from the top deck of the ship.

The huge Celebrity Solstice has moved in beside us, so town must be a mess of tourist today.

We both nap all afternoon. Jamie has planned a wonderful special event for us World Cruisers, a private dinner tonight in the La Veranda. It is being done over two nights to include everyone. The Officers will host the tables of four to six. We wake after our naps and, feeling better, we go. Turns out to be nice, the food is wonderful and Carolyn eats most of all the four courses. Jamie and Daniella eat with us and a delightful couple from Holland. It was a very nice event, guess that is why Jamie is so well liked by so many of the return world cruisers.

We don’t linger over the meal as Carolyn is fading fast. Back “home" we go to bed.

Tomorrow we spend the afternoon in Milford Sound and will pick up the 15 passengers who did the overland trip to the Sound.