The Purple Penguin

We are sleepy today. Kiwi watching on Joe’s birthday and we got back to the hotel sometime around 1am this morning. Then had to be up at half past 8 to pack and check out by 10. The ferry is at 3.30 this afternoon.

We didn’t do much on boxing day. Thought we would be kiwi spotting but it was postponed to the next day. So we just pottered about.

Joe’s birthday and yes, he now knows he’s spending 7 days on a boat. He’s wondering if I really like him or if I’ve taken out a secret insurance policy. If you want to see penguins it means getting in a boat! So there. Meanwhile, I’ve had several offers of marriage if Joe doesn’t like the trip. Joe is considering which one I should accept.

Meanwhile, we walked out to Ackers Point and the lighthouse. Saw loads of birds and had a lovely walk. Then we napped so we’d be awake for kiwi spotting. But before kiwis it was Joe’s birthday dinner. We had a lovely meal then they brought out a birthday cake – seems our travel agency ordered one for him! and it was huge – great big chocolate and chocolate liquer with raspberry and banana filling, passonfruit topping, and loads of fruit on top. It was lovely and tasted wonderful but we could barely make a dent in it. So we fed the staff and the people in the bar!

The kiwi watching trip left the wharf at 9pm and we had a nice trip over to another part of the island. Joe managed to spot 2 blue penguins in the water – hooray! penguins! Kiwi spotting was interesting. We stayed on the boat getting briefed as it got dark. Once it was fairly dark off we headed into the bush. It was a bit spooky. But we found a clearing, all gathered together and waited. The guide had a whistle and a tape of kiwi calls and sure enough we heard something. He switched on a torch and there was an adult female kiwi standing in front of us! Really dramatic and quite nifty. She stayed around for a bit, even fed a bit, then wandered off. We saw two more, both young, one male and one female. So three kiwis which is pretty good going. We also heard kiwi calling and whistling in the distance. And had a lovely walk along a sandy beach looking at the stars – I’ve finally seen the Southern Cross. But not the southern lights which decided not to show. Still quite a nifty trip.

But very very tired today. So going to snooze on the ferry back to Bluff. Then we drive up to the Catlins. More penguins. [Joe comment: hopefully]