the tale of polly the penguin and other wild creatures

They sit proudly in their little breeding huts, guarding their babies while their mate marches off busily in search of food....as we peer out of the camouflaged viewing huts we quietly watch as the little one pops its head up and nestles into the soft down of his mummy's tummy. The yellow eyed penguin is incredibly rare and endangered and this area of new zealand, near dunedin, is one of only a few areas that they nest, coming back to their territory year after year. They are quite unusual penguins in that they like to be alone...just them and their mates, no friends, no bill and betty round for dinner....they do things their way and they do them alone....

Dunedin is known as the 'wildlife capital of new zealand'. and we continue on after watching the penguins to watch the albatross...a slightly bigger bird (3m wingspan!) which also breeds in the area...learning about the albatross is fascinating....after being bought up by mum and dad (the albatross mates for life...) the young albatross is fed and kept safe but is never taught to fly....when along comes a windy day the mum and dad say 'bugger off' and the poor little thing runs down the hill and flies for the first time....and does not come back for 5 years. the scientists aren't sure where they go....but they do know it travels the world at least as far as south america....then back they come, do a little song and dance to find a mate, and settle down to raise a family....it all reminds me of the life cycle of many an aussie i know....!

below the albatross a colony of stewart island shags nest on the waterfront watching a frolicking seal....

So our road trip is cruising along just fine. we're covering a lot of ground but it's beautiful ground, and we're doing it with style and finesse. we do have our 'blonde' moments....mum: generally doors open when you push or pull them, rather than just stare at them hoping to use kinetic energy! dad: in new zealand we drive on the LEFT hand side of the road...this generally reduces the risk of crashing into oncoming traffic.... Matt: it may surprise you but Ireland in January has been WINTER rather than summer for, i dunno, forever....?

I, of course, have not said or done anything remotely 'blonde'...!!

tomorrow we move on to Te Anau...stay tuned. xx