Pre-Semester Adventures (Lots of Photos)

The four of us (Martin, Ollie, Natalie and me) are becoming quite the explorers! Before lectures started, we went on 3 major expeditions to see the Otago area. To begin with, we went on the International Student Tairei Gorge Train trip, where we spent a day on an old train and meandered our way through Otago. It was gorgeous, and really reminded me a lot of the west- like the Black Hills, SD and mid-Idaho areas. It took all day and they had a bbq set up for us on the way back (vegetarian included- although there were so many that the veg line took longer than the carnivore lines!).
A few days later, we headed to Tunnel Beach, rumored to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the area- and where some other students had seen some penguin nests! We took a $2 bus most of the way, then a 1.5km walk along some unpaved country roads lead us to a steep steep walking trail down to the beach. The coastline was just stunning- large cliff faces and blue-green water. We walked out on top of the rock features and had lunch, the whole time looking out over the whole area. Next we headed down a man-made tunnel (hense the name) to the beach below. Unfortunately it was high tide so there was little beach to walk around. We jumped around on the rocks, and saw some really strange seaweed. They look like huge octupus or squid, about 10 feet or so long and all rubbery. The inside is goo, and there are 20 some odd "tentacles." So strange. However, just as we were about to leave, a little (and very rare) Fiordland penguin came ashore and started hopping around on the rocks! it was incredible to actually see a penguin in the wild.

Our third major adventure was a guided tour to the Otago Peninsula to see Royal Albatross, Seals, Sea Lions, and of course, more penguins! The day started with a trip the the Albatross Colony- the only mainland nesting colony in the world. These birds are so majestic- it's almost difficult to believe that they're real! They have up to a 3meter wingspan and once they are old enough to fly off on their own, they may not touch land again for 3-5 years. Albatross from this colony have been tracked all over the southern hemisphere, like Chili and South Africa. Following that, we hiked inland to the Fur Seal mating colony, which was covered in little pups and lounging adults. They were so cute and the pups were all about the play time, wrestling in pools and chasing eachother across the rocks. It was such a sureal experience, to be looking down at hundreds of seals all over the rocks. Such a reality check to realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Finally, we hiked over to a yellow-eyed penguin colony (which happens to share it's area with a sheep farm). Along the way we ran into some Sea Lions coming in from the water - they are absolutely massive! but so graceful in their movements.

(flying adult Royal Albatross)

(fur seal colony)(fur seal coming in from the water)
(rare female sea lion on the beach)
(yellow-eyed penguin)(Otago in a picture!)

Classes start next week and we probably won't have much time for traveling. I'll let you know how the first week of classes and I'll post another blog with pictures of people! Hope all is well in the states :)