Down to Dunedin

Pitstop at the Moreaki Boulders.  The boys had a blast and we enjoyed the sunny beach stop.  However, you'll notice most of the photos are of Jackson as I had to take Xavier for an additional pit stop part way through (sigh).

So, the answer is "Yes, there's a geological explanation for this boulders."  but "No, I do not quite remember the details."  (sigh).  They are not uncommon, but the size and numbers of those found here is unusual.  The boulders formed in the ground not unlike oysters who build up layers of a pearl around an irritant.  Pressure caused the boulders to form around a bit of wood or something over time and you can see the crystaline pattern inside, calcium carbonate (?), pattern, and cool designs when they break apart.  So, they appear on the beach as the hillside erodes.  Then once the outer layer erodes from the water and wind (and little boys climbing on them), they crack apart. 
http://www.moerakiboulders.com/  has more info and even a video. 

 

 Dave was in charge of the camera at this point.  No band-aids were needed, but let's just sum it up by saying that it's a good thing I only saw some of these photos on the computer AFTERWARDS.

WHEW! 

Made it to Dunedin and stopped at Baldwin St.  It is officially known as the "World's Steepest Street".  I wouldn't let Dave drive up in our beast of a van . . . I considered us a heavy vehicle.  He laughed at me even louder as we watched a garbage truck zoom up and down the street.  Realistically, I had been up the street before, in a tiny Honda City, driven by Dave, back in the day.  It freaked me out.  I didn't even walk up the street this time.  Xavier was asleep in his carseat (tired from boulder jumping LOL), so I stayed put and Jackson walked up with Daddy.
  

We did get a scenic view at Signal Hill, looking over the beautiful city of Dunedin (with a still sleepy Xavier).

We made it to the Cadbury Factory in time for their 3pm tour!  The boys were stoked with the *FREE* samples of chocolate fish, Freddo's buttons, chocolate bars and melted chocolate  (you pay for the tour of course!).  There was also a chocolate fountain in a large purple silo . . . and we got to wear those super cool hair nets.   

 Crunchie Bar Mountain!

 Day 2 saw us head to the train station for the Taieri Gorge Historic Rail Tour.
Xavier had been asking about going on a train trip for MONTHS!  So, we finally caved and this was the most reasonable option (time wise and money wise).

 

 Yes, you can stand outside while the train is barrelling along the tracks!
They even let us out to walk across a bridge and then watch the train come up behind us.

 

There were 10 tunnels on this route, we were reminded not to put our hands out, there's only a couple of inches clearance as you can see.  This section below is hard to see, but it's called "The Notches" and is a series of bridges / tressels which took a couple of years to complete. 

At the station (which is a shed, with about 4 houses in the area and some sheep), the boys watched as the engine switched around from the front of the train to the rear to pull us back again without turning the train around.

The gorge itself was stunning and looking at the work put into the hand dug tunnels and the difficult terrain on which the railroad is built was quite amazing.

Old wagon (?) ruins at the bottom of the river gorge from a previous flood.

Xavier enjoyed  most of the ride, but by 3 hours into the 4 hour journey, he just couldn't understand why we picked such a LONG ride.  I just kept feeding him.

Lovely old architecture in Dunedin, here's the train station clock tower.  Quite a Scottish feel to the city.
  

We headed out for a drive on the Otago Peninsula towards the only mainland albatross colony in the world.  We were too late in the day for the albatross tour, but simply enjoyed the views and socialized with the seals.
  

Playground visit to round off the evening.  

Lots of scenery today, but we gotta keep these boys moving!  

We had two lovely nights staying with my brother-in-law's mum.  She was born "Charlotte Town", so guess who gave her a key to their city???  Yes, she's been to Charlottetown, PEI several times now and will be returning July 1st, 2014 for the big anniversary. 

To the Antarctic and Beyond

We left Hanmer Springs in hopes of another beautiful sunny day and we were certainly blessed with one. 

 I do love driving around the country, (well, actually Dave drives around the country) just snapping photos as the scenery whizzes past.  Every once in a while I shout back at the kids to "Eat a nut.  Look at the view" like Scaredy Squirrel.  They perpetually read in the car now or use their 2 hours of screentime on their DS's.  Once in awhile they pause to look around, but they've been spoilt for choice in the last year of sightseeing, so it needs to be pretty dramatic for them.

We followed a milk tanker for quite awhile.  Kiwis generally hate travelling behind anyone, especially trucks.  They are always eager to pass.  We're a little different though.  Our van couldn't have gone any faster whether we passed him or not.

And the truck puts the scale of Frog Rock into perspective nicely.

 Close up:  see the Frog?? 

  

We made it to Christchurch and headed straight for the Antarctic Centre.  We brought Jackson here 6 years ago when he was 18 months old and really enjoyed it, so thought it worth the afternoon visit.  The centre is near the airport terminal that they use routinely for flights to the Scott Base, NZ's representation in Antarctica.    There are heaps of authentic artifacts and lots of hands-on things for the kiddos and great video footage and digital media displays. 

 

Our family pass included a ride on a Haaglund, the purpose built vehicles used in Antarctica.  Crazy bumpy, but it can go up steep inclines and the coolest feature is that it is semi-submersible!  We floated along through a little pond and the water came up halfway around the vehicle.

They have a SNOW room!  They give everyone coats and grippers for your shoes and set you loose.  The boys enjoyed the ice slide and there was a small igloo / snow cave to shield you from the storm that comes every 30 minutes through the room and the wind machines turn it to -30C for a few minutes.  It's been over a year since the kids played in the snow . . . we'll see if the "absence makes the heart grow fonder" excitement carries them through next February.  I know mine won't. 

 Little Blue Penguins on display at the centre are rescued from the wild after injury etc around NZ.
They are super cute and a few days later we went to Omarua and watched the little blue penguins came ashore in the evening in their "rafts" and walk up the beach to their nesting grounds.  It was so adorable.  We stayed for a whole hour and saw 79 penguins.  You may wonder why I'm talking about it now, but we weren't allowed to take photos, so when I do blog about it, it'll be somewhat lacking.  They do make great chatter noises and squeeky chirps and calls to each other, louder than I expected. 

 

4D movie time!  Great footage of a team that travelled to Antactica: iceburgs, seals, emperor penguins, icicles falling at you, water squirting out, bubbles, wind and the seat moves etc.  Xavier was in my lap, taking off his glasses and closing his eyes by the 2nd minute of the movie.  "When is it going to be done Mommy?  I don't like this kind of movie!"

 Boys found a comfy spot to watch a tamer movie.
2 Cool Facts for U:
1. In Antarctica there are penguins but no polar bears.
2. It's also the driest place on earth. 
3.  24 hour sun  / 24 hour darkness at peak times of the year.

 Replica of the tents they use as well as a built-to-scale model of an ice cave found in Antarctica.

 "For your funny sign collection mommy! "  They both shrieked!

Top 10 campground in Timaru - these jumping pillows saved our morning!  The boys jumped for 2 hours while we packed up and ate breakfast. 

And the hydrangeas surrounding our cabin were to die for . . . 

You'll notice we upscaled on this trip and splurged on small camping cabins instead of our trusty tent.  Mommy was afraid of the frosty cold nights.