The Seasider

 February 11th

It's still cold, another night of only 8 degrees and the temperature was set to go no higher than 14 degrees today. So the jeans and jumper stayed on, shame really because not a cloud in the sky and with the sun one would have hoped for higher temperatures.

We booked ourselves in for yet another night at this site. That's three nights in a row, unheard of for us. Dunedin has so much to see and do and a chance conversation with another Brit also camping here, mentioned he was going on the Seasider Train. Well that sparked our interest and with a bit of research (it was not mentioned on any of the i site leaflets) we found out it was leaving for Waitati today from Dunedin Station at 2.30 pm, returning at 6 pm. Two seats were found and we were told to be at the station no later than 2.15 pm.

So what to do in the morning. The Botanic gardens had been on our list of 'to-do's' so that was the first port of call.

The gardens were huge. If we thought a couple of hours going around would suffice, we were wrong.

 

 In fact, we got as far as the aviary, spent ages looking at the birds, before realising it was already midday and no lunch had been had. Back to the café for chicken filo wraps and chips. Very nice it was too. 

Diamond Dove, Bourke Parrot, Kaka, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Plum headed Parakeet (female) Musk Lorikeet, Barbary Dove

Crested Bronze winged Pigeon, Gouldian Finch

Barbary Dove

?, Bourke Parrot, King Parrot, Crested Pigeon

 

Parking at the station was a slight issue. I say slight because the Farmers Market had been on in the morning and the car park closed for their use. Spaces were seen in the adjacent car park. Only problem this car park had private parking only Sunday to Friday and nothing about Saturday. It was too much of a risk to leave the Toy there so off street parking was found further along the road.

With the train already in the station we boarded at 1.45pm. A tip for anyone wanting to take this train, sit on the side furthest from the platform. All the best views were seen from there. 

At Waitati we had a 90-minute stop. Such a small township, no platform for any of us to alight on. Instead . forward and rear of the train, ramps were placed. 

This greeted us as we left to walk across a field.

As I said this township is small, it has a loo, a school, a library, a plant nursery with café, and a shop selling fresh produce, homewares and ice creams but nothing else to see or do. We walked back to the train early after consuming that amazingly delicious ice cream.

Could someone on the council be a Dr Who fan?

Caramel and I had vanilla

By 6 pm the train pulled into Dunedin station. 30 minutes later we were back at the site and not wanting a dinner, decided on Welsh Rarebit on toast for tea. We got some very funny looks from the fellow campers in the kitchen. Maybe rarebit is unheard of here in NZ!

And seen on route

And some sort of flying display. This from The Post

Dunedin will be dazzled by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s aerobatic team, the Black Falcons, when they perform above the city this Saturday, at 10.30am, with the best vantage point at St Kilda Beach.