Hamilton to Dunedin 618miles.
Supershuttle from airport to hotel
Brilliant flight to Dunedin. The views were spectacular. Wide rivers showing the greywacke soil from which NZ is made. Mountains and volcanos. And great expanses of space.
Only ten minutes between flights which was …interesting on paper but in fact the planes lined up next to each other and as we had only to walk off one and almost straight into the other (slight detour to pass through check in) it was no problem. Loading the plane was, as there was a film crew on board with a mass of luggage and equipment. Spent ages fitting it all in, and then readjusting some between the cabin and the cockpit because the door would not open between the two. Would the darn plane fly I asked myself – but it did!!
Very hilly place Dunedin. Allegedly has the steepest road in the world but I am pleased to say we did not come across it!! Quite olde worldy in appearance and a university town. Some lovely architecture all of similar appearance, it seemed to me. One main street with loads of asian restaurants and Rob Roy’s Dairy. This was an amazing place. The biggest ice creams I have ever seen and so many varieties. We took a single scoop the first time but this almost defeated us so we had the taster size the next time.
Stayed at Cargill’s hotel. Not quite up to the standard of the hotels to date but interesting just the same. Rooms on two floors around a central garden with the upper rooms opening on to a balcony overlooking the garden. Had free wifi as a big plus!!
The game Scotland v New Zealand
Lovely walk through student residences and roads to the University Oval. A beautiful ground surrounded by trees. Lots of razzmatazz at the ground with jugglers, and stilt walkers, pipe band and face painting. Lovely seats again amongst other Scottish supporters. Lots of banter from some Kiwis nearby when Scotland lost 4 quick wickets – 12 runs for 4 wickets! But Scotland did not bad overall. Certainly better than England did against NZ. Scotland got 142 and the kiwis thought it would all be over by 3 but NZ lost 7 wickets in their successful but slower than expected win.
On our way out we were interviewed by a TV crew interested more in our thoughts on the atmosphere than the actual game.
Lovely walk back through the University campus.
Quick change of clothes and then off on the bus to St Claire’s bay for dinner and a walk by the ocean. The most southern ocean I am likely to put my toes in!! Lovely bay with lots of students surfing til quite late on. But the weather was very warm and they were making the most of it. Ate at a Vietnamese Thai fusion restaurant. Loved my laksa although Ian was not too taken with his Jungle curry. At least there were vegetables in them both, something sadly lacking in most of the meals we ate in NZ and Australia!! I envisaged a wide selection of veg and fruit but only saw these in shops, not restaurants.
A stroll along the beach, then back to the hotel to pack as we had a very early flight next morning