This morning Wanaka was very rainy. We hit the internet café then took a drive to Treble Cone ski area which is in the mountains above Wanaka. Along the way saw several cows that were wandering along the roadside – no fence between them and the road, and they left plenty of evidence they had been on the road! The road up to Treble Cone was gravel for most of the way from below snow level up to the ski area, so we’re not sure how easily traveled it is in the winter. The road was closed shortly after it became gravel so we don’t know what it was like around the next corner.
From Wanaka we drove about 3 hours eastward to Omarau, on the east coast, where the Little Blue Penguin Colony is located. The drive took us through very barren mountains, which leveled out as we neared the coast. Omarau is nothing and only known for the penguins. We had dinner at a pub called Fat Sally’s. Great food, and we saw Fat Sally – aptly named. Then just at dusk we went to see the Little Blue Penguins. They are sort of nocturnal. They spend all day from an hour before dawn, out at sea fishing. Then just after dusk they return to their colony on land. The viewing place is a small grand stand and they light the area with a light spectrum the penguins can’t see so they are not afraid to come ashore. Just at dark they start coming ashore in groups of about 5-10 penguins. They climb/waddle up a rocky steep shore up to their grassy colony area. They are really cute – about 15-20 inches tall, and look just like any penguin you would imagine, except their backs are blue. When they get to their grassy colony, they start calling each other with a very strange sound that I can’t really explain, except it sounded like a high pitched snoring. We were not allowed to photograph so nothing but post cards of these little cuties.
From Wanaka we drove about 3 hours eastward to Omarau, on the east coast, where the Little Blue Penguin Colony is located. The drive took us through very barren mountains, which leveled out as we neared the coast. Omarau is nothing and only known for the penguins. We had dinner at a pub called Fat Sally’s. Great food, and we saw Fat Sally – aptly named. Then just at dusk we went to see the Little Blue Penguins. They are sort of nocturnal. They spend all day from an hour before dawn, out at sea fishing. Then just after dusk they return to their colony on land. The viewing place is a small grand stand and they light the area with a light spectrum the penguins can’t see so they are not afraid to come ashore. Just at dark they start coming ashore in groups of about 5-10 penguins. They climb/waddle up a rocky steep shore up to their grassy colony area. They are really cute – about 15-20 inches tall, and look just like any penguin you would imagine, except their backs are blue. When they get to their grassy colony, they start calling each other with a very strange sound that I can’t really explain, except it sounded like a high pitched snoring. We were not allowed to photograph so nothing but post cards of these little cuties.
No pictures of the penguins? Darn! I'm glad you got to see them, though! --Sandy
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