A Monarch cruise
July 9th, 2010 at 5:11 pm by David FarrarYesterday afternoon I spent four hours turning into an iceberg, but having a great time, on an award winning Monarch cruise along the Otago Harbour to see the sights, and especially the seal and albatross colonies.
It is a must do if in Dunedin, but do make sure you keep warm. The boat can provide jackets, but gloves are useful also.
The house with the glass house outside is the official residence of the Vice-Chancellor. It comes with the job, and looks very nice I have to say.
UPDATE: I am informed that in fact the VC’s house is slightly to the left, out of sight. The guide said it was the one with the glasshouse, but in fact it is not.
Around halfway along the peninsula, is Port Chalmers. And in the background is the historic Iona Church, built in 1883.
That building is part of Otago University – the Portobello Marine Laboratory. It hosts their Marine Studies Centre and they have the boat also. Now that would be a fun degree.
Shags galore. No Austin Powers jokes please.
The old lighthouse at Taiaroa Head.
A couple of sun bathing seals.
What a wing span, Magnificent.
An adult albatross feeding a baby one. The baby is well fed as almost as big as mum. The guide mentioned that somewhat unusually the baby gets fed by two female albatrosses and the father is missing in action!
A larger group of seals.
The water was rough – the swells got over three metres at one stage, and pretty much everyone at the front of the boat got soaked.
Also saw a penguin in the water, but didn’t manage a photo of it.
A thoroughly worthwhile cruise. I wasn’t sure about doing it, as it would take up an entire half day (so much to see in so little time), but am very glad I did. A great experience.
Tags: Dunedin, scifest
July 9th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Albatross! Get your albatross right here!!
Vote:July 9th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
No Austin Powers jokes please.
Oh behave.
Vote:July 9th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Bloody lesbians are even taking over albatross colonies these days …
Vote:July 9th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
As soon as you get past Taiaroa Head you get the ocean swell I remember only to well being on the Monarch with a shoulder held SVHS camera filming the arrival of the replica Endevour. Mrs Black who ran the business then actually assigned a crew member to hold me.
Vote:I went to drinks at the VC’s place for the life of me I can’t remember who it was but I do remember that he knew my father and I actually behaved myself. To be honest geriatrics would have love it but it was in desperate need of modernisation.
Dunedin is an amazing city but it is to conservative I would love to see a Tim Shadbolt type mayor elected.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
“A larger group of seals”, Shit, I thought it was a Liarbore conference.
Vote:July 10th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Re O-Week cranks up in a couple of days David, will we be seeing photos from the Captain Cook Tavern?
Vote:July 10th, 2010 at 8:32 am
Have you had a coffee at Mazagran’s yet?
Vote:Scored 14.5/10 in a survey of Dunedin cafes.
Best coffee I’ve had anywhere in NZ.
July 10th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Last few times I passed the Cook it appeared to be closed up. Like the Gardie too.
Vote:July 10th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Student holidays at the moment, jcuknz, the Cook pretty much shuts down during that period.
Looking forward to the University purchasing it and turning it into computer labs
Vote:July 10th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Second semester at Otago starts on Monday, the students will be flooding back over this weekend.
That day can’t be too far off Colonel, the Uni has had their eye on that corner for a very long time. Plenty of cash reserves but hungry for land, that’s how they shelled out the rumours $1.5mil for Gardies when it was valued at only $1 million.
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