FROM THE NORTHERN TIP TO THE SOUTHERN TIP OF NEW ZEALAND

Another busy week. Down to one month to go until we return home to the States. Last Monday Alisa and I joined the YSA’s for a morning bush walk in Shakespeare Park. It was a day off work due to it being Labor Day in NZ. I went in to the office for a few hours in the afternoon to get a little caught up. Otherwise the week was work as usual.

Last weekend Alisa and I visited Cape Reinga, the northern tip of NZ.  This weekend we visited the southern tip of NZ, Invercargill, Stewart Island and Dunedin. Friday afternoon Alisa and I caught a flight down to Dunedin on the South Island. We picked up a rental car and drove 3 hours to Invercargill, which is on the southern tip of the South Island. After checking in to our motel, we dropped by a local restaurant for a nice dinner.

Saturday morning we caught a one hour ferry ride to Stewart Island, which is the smallest of the three main islands of NZ.  About 400 people live on the island in the one town, known as Oban.  They survive on rain water, which is their water system.  We had a light lunch at their Sea Side Hotel/pub, then took a bus tour around the island.  Then some short hikes before returning to the ferry.  We even saw some blue penguins playing on the beach.  Back on the South Island we drove about 4 hours along the “scenic route” which was basically a two lane twisty back road, until we arrive at Dunedin.  We checked into our motel in the downtown historic center about 8:30 p.m. We rushed out after checking in, looking for a place for dinner.  We went to a Turkish restaurant known as Paasha, and talked our way in as it was near closing time.  Turned out to be an excellent choice, better than the Mad Greek.  Alisa and I bought the combo dinner, which included a huge platter of shiskebab beef, chicken and lamb, shaved meats, pilaf, macaroni salad and a Greek style salad, with olives, hummus and more.

 Sunday morning I awoke early so I went for an hour walk around the historic downtown, visiting their train station, city hall, and a few churches.  We actually enjoyed beautiful sunshine this day, not like the drizzle we experienced on the other days.  Quite pretty, the town was founded in the mid 1800’s by Scottish immigrants, and still has a lot of Scottish influence in their architecture.  Back at the motel, I showered and dressed for Church.  There are 2 wards meeting in Dunedin, and we visited the friendly 9 a..m meeting.  It appeared that most of the attendees were of Maori descent.  After church, we changed into our daily wear, and went exploring.  We visited their Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world (which they are quite proud of).  The city is located in hills, something like SF, but only about 80,000 people.  We hiked up the street and back down again, since the signs prohibit driving on the road, except by the locals who live along the street.  Then we hiked around their botanical gardens, quite pleasant. Next we walked around the historic campus of University of Otago, NZ’s oldest university, 150 years old.  Then we took a tour of the Olveston mansion, which dated from the early 1900’s.  By then it was the late afternoon, so we drove out to the tip of the peninsula and checked into the Larnach Castle.  This is advertised as New Zealand’s only castle, built in the 1880’s. Something along the lines of Hearst Castle but much smaller. The owner was quite prominent in his time and influential in government.  He later committed suicide in the Parliament building in Wellington, due to a tragic family life. The castle property went into disrepair, but a family purchased it in the 1960’s and restored the mansion and the grounds.  Our room was in the stables.  About 7 p.m. we gathered with other guests in the formal dining room, for a 4 course dinner and conversation.  We actually dined by candle light, it almost felt like an Agatha Christie murder mystery, but no one died.  About 10 p.m. our hostess asked if we would like to tour the castle.  That was kind of eerie to do that late at night, we were led all the way up onto the parapet to see the night lights and stars. 

This morning we arose early and were served a full NZ breakfast in the stable, along the lines of an English or Welch breakfast.  Then we visited the gift shop, toured the castle again, this time in the daylight, as well as the manicured grounds.  Then we hiked down to Tunnel beach, a steep path, drove back to town to see the buildings again, then to Port Chalmers where the cruise ships come when they used to be allowed in prior to Covid 19.  Then back to the Dunedin airport for our flight back to Auckland aboard a crowded JetStar flight.  The Dunedin area really is quite picturesque, one of the places I would live in NZ if given the choice.