Tag Archives: Omarama

Off to the Albatross Colony.

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Monday 27th August.

8.40 am and on the road again heading to Dunedin, going to the Albatross colony. Wow, what a shock heading into Dunedin and out to the Otago Peninsula, traffic, hate it, we have been bush to long, but called into see the Lanarch Castle, not impressed, you have to pay even to go into the gardens so we got out of there. Went to Sandfly Bay, sea lions were laying on the beach, the wind was sooooo strong and sooooooooooooo bitterly cold we chose not to go down the hill to the beach only stayed at the lookout. Very overcast as well. By the time we walked back to the camper it was drizzling and felt like sleet, bbbbbrrrrrrrr. When we got to Taiaroa Heads the winds haven’t changed, lovely drive around the water’s edge, which is the harbour of Dunedin. They are doing a lot of alterations to the walk ways as there has been some slips. But we still went where we could, got to see a couple of juvenile albatross’ soaring in the air above the light house. Saw Green eyed spotted Shags, they are really pretty and have some very funny antic’s, so did a couple of short video’s with my camera. We have just heard that there is storm warnings out for the area, no wonder it’s so windy and cold. It’s pouring with rain on the west coast, just been speaking with my sister-in-law. Went up to the Lodge Cafe and had a bit to eat, what a view on a nice day. Off we go, could not tolerate the traffic once we got back onto the road into Dunedin, so made the decision to high tale it to no 1 highway. Head to Moeriki Boulders. Got to the camping grounds, really nice place, $29 powered site, went to get some shots of the boulders before sunset, pretty dark but gave us the pre look before we come back pre dawn. We made a decision to head back onto Christchurch  after here rather than go Omarama way. We thought we saw lightning, but was speaking to the owner and it’s called Fire storm like auroras, real pretty.

Rolling Hills Otago

This is on the road out to the Otago peninsula, lovely steep rolling green hills.

Green eyed spotted shag

This Green Eyed Spotted Shag was really giving me a show with all sorts of dances trying to attract a mate.

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Omarama and Clay Cliffs.

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Friday 10th August.

Woke to a big frost so white it looked like snow, at 3.25 am not a cloud in the sky, to cold to get out and do star trails so back to bed.  We had brekky, cleaned up and off to Omarama. Meeting a friend Simon at the pub car park at 1.30 pm. So after refueling etc. and had a bit to eat, Simon arrived. It’s only 5 deg outside at 1 pm. but sunny, the wind is shocking, we chattered and then headed up to Clay Cliffs as we have permission to go there, before heading to the farm, in that short time the sun had gone down over the mountain range which put shadow onto the cliffs, I was so cheesed of, but we walked up to the chasm and it is beautiful. Not a lot of luck here so headed back to the farm and we are staying in the farm-house with Liz and Simon, great hospitality and great conversations. I had tea already prepared for us so we ate at 6 pm as Simon and Liz have their main meal at lunch time and have a  light tea. Got to bed after seeing the weather forecast, not looking good for tomorrow at the cliffs. We will see. But Liz made the suggestion that we go take a look up the Ahuriri Valley as it will be clear that side of the range if it’s fog and cloud this side.

Clay Cliffs This is Clay Cliffs from the main Road, which a fair distance, lighting was not good as we were facing the sun going down and lots of cloud cover.

Clay Cliff Canyon

This is what I call the Clay Cliffs Canyon, it doesn’t look like it but this is very steep from where I’m standing, climbing up inside it was a bit scary I might add, but I did it. :) :) Lighting was bad as the sun had gone and the dark clouds were forming so hence the white out in the sky.

Through the Lindus Pass

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Thursday 5th June

Ice and frost on the ground, it’s 11.20 am bitterly cold but the sun is shinning. Snow on most of the tops going through the Lindus Pass, this is amazing country side, big rolling hills, very little vegetation as its always cold and wind swept be hard for any thing to grow, but in saying that, the flowers on the side of the road are incredible at the right time of year. Beautiful colours. All the puddles have thick ice on them, in the shade the wind is nasty. I never tire of this drive each time there is a new beauty that I didn’t see before. We are heading for Omarama, called into see the Clay Cliffs, lighting is the wrong time of day, it has already gone over the horizon so the cliffs are in shadow, but at least we got to see them. Managed some photo’s.

Leaves in ice Autumn leaves in the ice puddles.Lindus Pass This is the Lindus Pass.

Clay Cliffs Clay Cliffs.