Observiews: Peninsula Day!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Peninsula Day!

This Wednesday, we didn't have classes- Kiwi Equivalent of Memorial Day. So I finally took the time to go out and see the Peninsula. It was gorgeous.

I biked a little over 46km (28.5 miles). Which I feel is a fair accomplishment.

I biked upon the low road, in the harbour, an there is a nice bike path there, part of it just have a 2-3 meter drop to the ocean below- no guard rail or anything, fortunately I did not fall of the edge. I eventually made it to the town of Portobello, and then up into the peninsula. I climbed harbour cone- a beautiful little extinct parasitic cone- and perfectly conical I must say. I then headed out to Sandfly Bay. It was beautiful, loud crashing, sonorous waves, seals, sand dunes, and the the chance to see a yellow-eyed penguin. I walked around to a little collected shells, rock samples- of course. Ate lunch on the beach, and then began the walk to climb the dunes.

A boathouse on the harbour

Let me say here and now that I hope I never move to the desert- I HATE climbing sand dunes, its just so exhausting! But I made it up to the top and took form photos. And then, I saw another path, I was tired but curious, so I took it- best decision EVER!

I found lover's leap a really cool archway cut out into the rocks with waves crashing below! There was also the chasm- also pretty cool. On the way down back to the beach I did a flat out sprint- sand is great to run down from, don't have to worry about footing or wiping out--fabulous. And then, after taking a dip in the ocean- why not?- I did the arduous bike ride back to Dunedin, just back in time form dinner.