Dunedin, known as the Edinburgh of the South, was one of the first cities in New Zealand and was built around a natural harbor during the Gold Rush. The University of Otago is New Zealand's oldest university. There were few students around because it was summer vacation.
The Otago Pensinula is known for its wildlife, particularly birds. The royal albatross colony is the only one not on a offshore island. We took a wildlife cruise with Port to Port Wildlife Cruises and Wildlife Tours.
Gulls:
Red-billed (silver) gull (Tarapunga), Larus novaehollandiae
Black backed (Buller's) gull, Larus bulleri
Oystercatchers:
Pied Oystercatcher (Torea), Haematopus finschi
Stilts:
Pied stilt (Poaka), Himantopus leucocephalus
Godwits:
Eastern bar-tailed godwits (Kuaka), Limosa lapponica
Cormorants and shags:
Stewart Island (Otago) Shag (Matapo), Leucocarbo chalconotus (several color morphs)
Spotted (blue) shag (Parekareka), Phalocrocorax punctatus (juvenile)
Little Pied Cormorant (Shag) (Kawaupaka), Microcarbo melanoleucos (several color morphs)
Albatrosses:
Northern royal albatross (Toroa), Diomedea sanfordi
Terns:
White-fronted tern (Tarapiroe), Sterna albostriata
Swans:
Black swan, Cygnus atratus
Penguins:
Blue (fairy, little) penguin (Korora), Eudyptula minor
Marine mammals:
Fur seal:
New Zealand fur seal (Kekeno), Arctocephalus forsteri
Sea lion:
New Zealand (Hooker's) sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri, eating its favorite octopus food
The Toitu Otago Settler's Museum is interesting - and free! We had lunch in its cafe.
After lunch we flew from Taieri/Dunedin (Mosgiel), NZTI, north along the southeast coast of South Island and then up the Waitaki River, over Omarama, NZOA, where we landed on the first day of flying, over the Omarama Clay Cliffs scenic area, and then southwest back to Wanaka, NZWF.
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Last modified 16 February 2025