Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula
There's only one way to wake up. And that's to the sound of crashing waves. After a good night's sleep and a seaside breakfast at the new St Clair Beach Resort we were on our bikes, literally, cycling the Otago Peninsula.
Just minutes from Dunedin, New Zealand's largest university city, we were in the wilderness photographing epic landscapes under the watchful eye of Clive, our photourism guide. Clive, a local Dunedinite, took us to his favourite photography spot on the peninsula — an old derelict farm house. The final photos show how one scene can be depicted in so many different ways.
Lonely Planet describes the Otago Peninsula as the world's best day cycling route. The area is also New Zealand's jewel of eco-tourism, as we discovered when Elm Wildlife Tours introduced us to the world's rarest penguin, and also to friendly New Zealand fur seals and slob-like sea lions. Brian, our Elm Wildlife guide, told us there are only about 4000 of these penguins left in the world. As we photographed the little guys waddling home from a hard day fishing at sea I learnt how Elm Wildlife is regenerating native forest, helping to grow the penguin population. It's magical to enter these people's universe. The passion for their local environment, history, flora and fauna is admirable.
Penguins are great fun to photograph, but watch out for the hooker sea lions! Standing so close to these big, powerful animals, you realize they may look like giant slugs, but geez — they're fast if they want to be.
One of the big guy's yawns made for my pic of the day. Count your lucky stars it's not a scratch and sniff! As we reviewed our shots back at Larnach Castle, tonight's accommodation, I can't imagine what he was yawning about. I was the one who had been on a bike all day!
The newly-opened St Clair Beach Resort — Dunedin's only beach-side resort.
Cycling the Otago Peninsula with Peninsula Bike and Kayak.
One of Camilla's favourite pictures at St Clair Beach, Dunedin.
Camilla's artistic impression of the derelict house we discovered on the Otago Peninsula.
Clive's shot of the derelict house on the Otago Peninsula.
Clive resting in between mentoring the photourists and cycling the Otago Peninsula.
New Zealand fur seals seen on the Elm Wildlife Tour of Dunedin's Otago Peninsula.
My shot of the day — a hooker sea lion yawning on the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin.
A yellow eyed penguin returning from a day fishing at sea. The yellow eyed can only be seen on the lower south east coast of New Zealand and outer remote islands.
Panorama shot of the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin.
Hooker sea lion awakening on the Otago Peninsula.
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