Day 11: Dunedin (0km)

 
Waking up in a lovely hotel room in a very comfortable bed was a nice feeling, however finding the hotel had a gym was even better! Colin went for a look around Dunedin city and I did a cardio session in the gym.

In the afternoon I went for a look around the city and used the free internet in the library. The city had a octagon centre and some very nice architecture. I hadn't really seen any grand buildings since being in New Zealand, especially with much of Christchurch closed, so it was nice to walk around Dunedin. Interestingly, the city was founded by Scottish settlers, is Celtic for Edinburgh and has a statue of Robert Burns.

In the evening we did a weights session in the gym, then chilled out in the nice hotel room.

Day 12: Dunedin – Oamaru – Otematata (240km)
 
I got up early and did another weights session in the hotel gym before checkout. Really nice working out again.

After checkout Colin attended a service at the cathedral and I went for a walk around the city. This time I headed to the railway station, a beautiful building made out of black volcanic rock, light limestone rock and granite pillars. Inside are stain glass windows and mosaic floors. After we went to the Dunedin art gallary and view an exhibition on the discovery of the Tasaday tribe in the Philippines in the 70s and the related hoax story in the 80s.

We headed back on the road, heading up the east coast. We stopped off at a random town called Oamaru and followed signed to a peninsular at Bushy Beach for yellow eyed penguins. We watched from a viewing platform on the cliff and after a while saw 2 yellow eyed penguins
come out the surf and walk up the beach to the cliffs. A local spotter said the penguins are 50-60cm tall, fish during the day then at 3pm onwards come back to their homes in the cliffs. There were also 2 male fur seals doing very little on the beach.

After this we drove inland to Otematata, passing a nice church along the way with the sun setting in the background. I freedom camped 2km north of Otematata next to a dried up river bed, surrounded by mountains.

Day 13: Otematata – Mount Cook - Otematata (200 km)
 
 
We drove 95km north of Otematata to Mount Cook. This is New Zealand's highest mountain, at 3700m (4 times Scotland's Ben Nevis). We decided on a easier hike today, the Hooker Valley Walk (3½ hrs 12km), as we were both feeling like we had a cold. We walked along the valley and over rivers using swing bridges. To our left were huge snow topped mountains with many visible glaciers and at the end of the valley Mount Cook. After a 1 ½ hour walk we reached a large melt water lake, with freshly melting ice bergs from the glacier. The landscape was the most impressive we've seen in New Zealand.     
 
We took many pictures and during this time a large ice berg suddenly cracked and clasped on itself, sending small waves across the lake. The snow covered mountains surrounding the valley looked very different to the English landscapes I am used to. A spectacular walk.

In the evening I freedom camped in same spot as last night, chilled out drinking the last few Speight's Gold Medal Ales.

Day 14: Otematata – Christchurch (340 km)
 
 
Slightly sad to be pulling back the campervan curtains and looking at the surrounding mountains for the last time. I picked Colin up from his motel in Otematata then we drove the 320km back to Christchurch, stopping for a coffee and lunch along the way.

We pulled into Wilderness depo at 3.30pm and handed the vehicle back. 2800 km in the south island over 2 weeks. North to Hamner Spring, along the west coast exploring 2 National Parks, over to the east coast for Dunedin, inland to Mount Cook National Park then back to Christchurch. Some of the most impressive roads and beautiful hikes I've ever seem. Its been a fun but tiring 2 weeks.