This was not for us.

 February 9th

OMG it has turned cold, I mean really cold. Almost UK temperatures. 8 degrees last night I was very glad of that blanket. Ian let me have it all, he never feels the cold, and very grateful of it too.

No shorts or T shirts for me today, it was jumpers and jeans, a necessity with the cold wind and later the rain. Dunedin was on the agenda and a very lovely drive to it too.

This is a big city and parking was a bit of a nightmare. 5 minutes was allowed outside the i site, it was go in, grab the leaflets we wanted and get out before the warden arrived. We rather fancy doing the street art trail, 36 to find on walls of buildings. It's probably a couple of kilometre walk before all are found but what little we have already seen looks amazing. That will be for tomorrow.

Olveston House was a short drive, another of the historic houses. Only guided tours allowed, no self guided, and no photos, (dam) and we managed to book one for 1.30 pm. 

 

So what can I say about this house, I took this from newzealand.com

Designed by acclaimed English architect Sir Ernest George, the 35-room mansion was built between 1904-6 styled as an 'English country house in the city'. The house was designed to the highest standards, fitted with modern features such as a lift, an electric generator for lighting and full central heating. The house was furnished with artworks, antiques, furniture and artefacts from all around the world.

The house and the original family possessions were gifted by the last member of the family to the City of Dunedin in 1966.

Fully furnished, Olveston is a time capsule as little has changed since it was the Theomin Family home.

 Now I don't want to be negative about the visit because it was everything said about it above and more and had we had a guide that wasn't so obsessed by showing the only 2 kiwis in the group of 8 all the paintings by a particular NZ artist, whose name meant nothing to the others and even the Kiwis looked baffled, then we may have enjoyed the visit. As it was the guide took so much time over the first two rooms with those paintings that the most interesting part, Billiard room, bedrooms, servants quarters and kitchen were rushed. In fact, we were glad when the tour was over. Don't be put off because this wasn't our cup of tea, For art lovers it would probably be a must, and I think everyone should have a chance to make up their own minds.

With the day still cold and by now drizzly, we made for another proper campsite where we could get power and showers. As NZMCA members a 10 percent discount applied to the site ground fees so it was worth staying. It’s still cold, and set to be like that for the next day or two, but the sun had appeared, everything looks so much nicer when the sun shines.

And seen on route