Big Trip Day 12 (Dunedin)

31 December 2014--Today we had chocolate chip muffins, yogurt, banana bread and bananas for breakfast that we had picked up the day before at a local grocery store.  We had booked a 9:30 round trip on Taieri Gorge Railway--an absolute must.  We bought three adult tickets and the three children's tickets were free because a cruise ship was not in port.  They have the cruise ship schedule link on their website.  Our cost:  NZ $225.  They do sell food items on the train, but we packed sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks.

After the train ride, we crossed the street to Cadbury World for some chocolate shopping.  The factory is closed for three weeks during the summer holidays.  

We spent some down time at the hotel and then headed off to the Otago Peninsula, down the Portobello Road, on the way to the Royal Albatross Center.  We had dinner there for $60 and later hot chocolate for $36 (the hot chocolate was not very good).  We'd booked tickets for the Blue Penguin Tour at 9:30/sunset.  It is a fantastic idea to watch the rare blue penguins come up out of the water, waddle through the sand and rocks, and burrow in their homes/nests.  However, it was atrociously windy and it was raining.  Fortunately, the center had had rain jackets to lend which allowed us to stay a "whole" five minutes before leaving.  Typically you could be there for an hour enjoying the experience.  Cost:  NZ $70.  Had to steal another picture off the internet because of the windy rain.