Another early start mounting the Magic Bus to take us away from the adventure centre of Queentown over to Dunedin on the east coast of New Zealand. Had a fabulous Saturday morning breakfast on route scoffing a pancake with maple syrup, banana and ice cream.

Arriving in Dunedin and checked into the YHA with the delights of a room to myself I had a bit of a break to write out postcards and get them sent off. Apologies if they arrive after I get back but isn’t that always the case with postcards unless you send them on the first day.

In the afternoon I went on the Elm Wildlife in search of the natural fauna of the area. Hopping on the bus masquerading as a Cloe as for some reason they didn’t have my name we headed off to the albatross centre on the Otago Pennisular. On the bus over there I got chatting to Zoe.

We were very lucky as it was the first day in the year that albatross centre was open. We could see 4 albatross sitting on their nests. [thumb:1444:I]. Further down the slope is a colony of shags. [thumb:1445:I]. After a bit of a wait and nearly having to leave before we saw them in the air an albatross flew past. I was impressed at how they made the seagulls look small. [thumb:1450:l][newline]

Back on the bus we headed off for the second half of the trip. Here we saw New Zealand fur seal, basking on the rocks. We think one of them might have just given birth. [thumb:1455:l]. [newline]Yellow eyed penguins, [thumb:1456:l],[newline] New Zealand sea lions [thumb:1462:l][newline] and blue penguins. [thumb:1460:l][newline]

After a couple of hours out we boarding the bus and headed back spotting some teenagers heading out for a Saturday night out we thought in the middle of nowhere till we rounded a corner to find a party going at full pelt in a village hall. Getting back said goodbye to Zoe who was heading off to the south of the South Island to do some tramping.