| Yellow-eyed Penguin coming out of the water at dusk on a beach at Oamaru. This
is our first confirmed sighting of a penguin! This Oamaru beach has a
small colony of Yellow-eyed Penguins, about 7 or 8 birds according to the local experts.
This penguin is one of only 5000 Yellow-eyed in the world that live along the East coast
of South Island. It is the rarest of penguins. |
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| We watched as the penguin approached the surf line and swam through, tumbling
one or twice. Then waddled out of the water and onto the beach. This species lives in the
bush covered cliffs along the shores of the Waitake area south of Dunedin. They are
relatively unsociable and build nests about 15 meters apart. They search for food, mainly
fish, alone. Each pair mates for life, however they fish separately and only come back to
the nest at dusk each day where they great each other with loud calls. |
| The town of Oamaru is a fishing port and once a well off town with a limestone
quarry. The white limestone had been used in local buildings and exported throughout New
Zealand as well. The post office building is a fine example of the white
limestone. Just to the left of the Victorian building is the original post office, now a
pub.
The main street in town is lined along both sides with lovely white stone
buildings |
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Oamaru Courthouse considered the finest of classical architecture. |
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| The Thames Street bridge was at one time the widest stone bridge in
New Zealand, getting wider as the street grew wider. |
Oamaru sunrise at the campground. We only stayed one day because
the campground was right next to the main railway tracks and trains rumbled by all night. |
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S/V
TETHYS
