Down Under - Day Thirteen - Tuesday, February 18, 2014 - Dunedin, NZ

We sailed in to Port Chalmers (Dunedin) New Zealand early this morning.  It was smooth sailing into port and a beautiful sunrise.  No more fog.  

Dunedin Railway Station.  Most photographed building on the South Island of New Zealand.

Dunedin, the first permanent European settlement in NZ, was founded in 1848.  Not long afterwards, gold was discovered and the province quickly became the richest and most influential in the colony.  

Julie, Paddy and Stevie outside the Dunedin Railway Station.

Dunedin, which in Gaelic, means Edinburgh, is New Zealand's most Scottish town which is evident through the architecture as in the Dunedin Train Station, the most photographed building on the south island.  

Baldwin Street.  World's Steepest

The sign says it all.

Our driver, Martin, also showed us what is touted to be the steepest street in the world.  Unlike most of Dunedin's roads, it's paved of concrete, otherwise the asphalt would melt and run down hill on hot summer days.  That's his story, and he's sticking to it.

I caught this Albatross soaring by the observatory.  The photo doesn't allow one to appreciate just how big these birds are.

Today's adventure finds us at the Royal Albatross Center in Pukekura,  (Taiaroa Head) just out of Dunedin.   New Zealand's Albatross Colony has been a Nature Reserve and studied for over 70 years.  

This is a ceramic mold shows the actual size of an Albatross egg.

If you look closely, you'll see the tags on this Albatross foot.

With a wing span of 9'6", the Albatross can fly at speeds of around 75 miles per hour.  The birds arrive here to re-establish their pair bonds in September.  In October they mate, November, they build their nests, lay their eggs and begin the incubation period. Eggs hatch in February.  Parents take 
turns sitting on the chick for the first 30 - 40 days until April when the chicks are left on their own and the parents return separately to feed them every 2 - 4 days.   In September, the chicks fledge (leave the nest) and don't touch ground again for 4 - 6 years, at which time, they return to begin the cycle themselves.  When the chicks fledge, the parents leave for a one year holiday.  Sounds like a good plan to me.

This "to scale" display shows the wing span of a typical Albatross.  Even larger than ME!

The birds are truly magnificent.  We stayed in the observatory for about 15 minutes, seeing birds sitting on the nest and young juveniles flying around.  They are huge birds, yet incredibly graceful riding the thermals, rarely flapping their wings.  It was a great way to spend the day.

Stevie, Paddy and I arrive back to the ship.

We had a wonderful driver and a very comfortable Jaguar.  Remember the Irish/South African/Australian, gent, Paddy, I wrote about a few days ago?  Paddy came with us on our Albatross tour.  He was delightful company and at nearly 90 years old, had no trouble keeping  up with Stevie and I.

We're back on board and have set sail for Oban (Halfmoon Bay).  We're planning a quiet dinner at the Patio Bar and turning in early.  I'll let you know if that actually happens.

Yep!  Even though we were begged to attend tonight's show in the main salon, we persevered in our plan to call it quits after dinner.  The singing chair show will have to wait for another evening.  We're tired.  Good night to all.