Boulders & Beaches

I've loved exploring Dunedin, but there are loads of places nearby that I want to explore as well. Last Friday, my flatmate Sam and a couple other friends and I rented a car and drove to the Moeraki Boulders, which are about an hour drive away from Dunedin. We picked up a rental car and headed out at about 11 am, and stopped in a little town for breakfast/lunch/a break. It was a rainy day, but once we got to the boulders it was totally worth it. The beach was beautiful and the boulders are really cool. They were a lot smaller than I thought, but it's crazy because apparently they're a geologic mystery.  My Kiwi host thinks they look like dinosaur poop, but I think they look more like giant eggs. We decided to stop at the Evansdale Cheese Factory on the way home, and got to sample some deliciously fresh cheese. Overall, it was a nice little day trip, and a good way to escape Dunedin for a few hours.

On Saturday morning, I went to the Otago Farmer's Market at the train station. There were tons of booths with fresh fruit, baked goods, and other good things. I bought some nectarines, pears, and blackberries, along with a chocolate croissant. Delicious.

Yesterday (Sunday) Abby, Sam and I went out to St. Clair beach and we all got burgers at a local cafe before lounging on the beach. It was a beautiful day, and nice to relax in the sun. After heading back and sitting in the sun for awhile longer, Abby and I decided it was too hot, and that the best solution was to go for a swim in the freezing cold water at St. Clair. We drove back and jumped into the chilly salty water, and then dried off on the beach. So cold but absolutely necessary!

My parents made it to Auckland, and will be flying into Dunedin on Thursday morning! I'm looking forward to driving to Queenstown and Milford Sound with them this weekend!