The driver came and shuttled us to the city about eight miles away. It was like driving in Scotland through the lochs. Jim was the volunteer driver today. Driving on the other side of the road was fine with him inasmuch as he had driven the same route over 20 years ago. Our whole day was on the peninsula by Dunedin known as the Otago Peninsula.
We were at the Westpac Royal Albatross Centre for the first tour of the day at 10:30. After a brief verbal lesson on Albatross 101 we then watched a 15 minute introductory film. We were then taken out on the hill up some VERY steep grades into a viewing building where we were enthralled by the birds 25 meters away and being continually informed by our informative guide. It is a bit like watching other wildlife close up, one begins to relate to them when we are more aware of their life cycle and struggles they have.
Some interesting Albatross facts...
The Royal Albatross, our birds today, has a wingspan of up to nine feet.
They mate for life.
They can live as long as 60+ years.
A 60 year old female will stay lay fertile eggs.
They only breed every two years, laying one egg.
It takes eight months to raise a bird to fledgling [Able to fly].
The young bird's first flight is to Chile, 9000 kilometres away!!!!! [Look at a globe.] Throughout their life, these birds circumnavigate Antarctica.
That bird will not land on terra firma until it returns to land at is birthplace two years later.
It may not mate for nine years and as many as 18 years into it's life.
The parents raise the bird until it is so big and fat it cannot fly, then they slowly reduce it's intake until it is fit enough to take off.
After it's take off, it never sees nor recognizes it's parents again
The parents then take a year off and circle Antarctica, resting and feeding on the ocean. They then return, independently to their nesting area, await their mate and take a month to reacquaint themselves before mating.
One parent cannot raise a chick alone.
Amazing birds. They also fold their wing in two places unlike most other birds. They can lock their shoulder hinge bones in place and soar and fly without flapping. They can also attain speed of 120 kph.
One very interesting thing is that they cannot take off without the aid of at least a 15 kph headwind, on land or sea.
E & O E
After a fascinating and educational time at the centre we went searching for seals, and penguins. No penguins today, sorry.
We went over some very beautiful countryside today, ending up at a mansion in the hills called Lanarch Castle that has an interesting history that is far too complicated to explain. There we had a bite to eat and spent an interesting 1 1/2 hours.
During our penguin quest we stumbled upon a beautiful beach owned by a tremendously large beast that we think was a male fur seal.
On the way back to the ship we visited the Dunedin Railway Station that rivals the one in Maryborough, Victoria, Australia. Dunedin is a very friendly, clean, busy, picturesque city. We saw it at it's best today.
We had a bit of telephone success today, Gail with her daughter and Doug with Craig. The end of a good day. Tonight was Mardi Gras and the dining room was alive with colour and merriment.
Tomorrow we have a day of cruising the Fiords: Dusky, Doubtful and then Milford Sounds. Sounds like names that Captain Cook would give! Then two days at sea before we get to the Land of Oz!
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