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Dunedin, New Zealand

Tuesday - February 26, 2008 - Dunedin

We arrived at Dunedin about 7AM, and were up early for breakfast in our room.

From Port Chalmers we picked up the vintage train car for a ride along the shores of Otago Harbor.

We crossed the Taieri Plains and went through a long narrow tunnel up into the mountains and over the Wingatui Viaduct, which is the largest iron structure in New Zealand. From there we headed up into the plateau of Pukerangi and continued past Christmas Creek, where gold was found on Christmas day in 1863. We headed through the village of Pukerangi, which means “Hills of Heaven”, they are, and back to the town of Dunedin where we left the train and headed for the city. It was a fantastic trip and saw so many neat things.

Dunedin is also home to Baldwin St, which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the steepest street in the world. Its gradient is 1 in 2.9. The abandoned Mayhill Cable car route had a similar gradient close to Mornington depot. The Dunedin skyline is dominated by airing of (traditionally seven) hills which form the remnants of a volcanic crater. Notable among them are Mount Cargill (700m), Flagstaff (680m), Saddle Hill (700m), Signal Hill (390m), and Harbour Cone (320m).

We had a light lunch on the train prior to going back into the town for drinks and a walk around the city. It was interesting town, with lots of old buildings.

Monty went for a walk to find the liquor store so that we could take some back to our cabin on the ship. Monty bought a bottle carrying bag on the ship. We would take it with us and put booze in it before coming aboard. That way the crew didn’t notice, since it was a Celebrity carrier. This water bottle thing worked out pretty well, we just had to remember to bring it with us on our trips. After he got back, we headed back to the ship for dinner and a show. I can’t remember if we gambled or not. I think we did and I got mad at the casino and the machine and they ended up giving me more then I had won just to shut me up. Funny. Oh well, maybe just a bit too much to drink, you think???