Discovering Otago Museum and Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin (Day 4)

I as well as Yen wanted to make the most of the day; hence we went to visit Otago Settlers Museum and followed by Otago Museum after the tour of Cadbury World.

We’re educated about the past and beauty of Dunedin from the Otago Settlers Museum which is established in 1898. We learned the people by visiting the Smith Gallery that displayed hundreds of image collection of settlers and their descendants.

Image collection at The Smith Gallery

The Transport Gallery is another gallery in the museum that demonstrated the changing in transportation influenced by technology. There’re a range of classic cars, motorbikes and bicycles exhibited in the gallery for visitors to enjoy.

 

A displayed penny farthing that visitors can ride



Triumph

 

A tram service used in the past

There’re also some temporary exhibitions organized in the museum. The one we sightsaw was the Fabulous Frocks II exhibition. We had a chance to view all those bygone women glorious gowns included the wedding gowns, evening and day dresses.

Otago Settlers Museum

Location: 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand

Tel: (03) 4775052

Opening hours: 10am – 5pm daily except Christmas Day & Good Friday

Admission is free.


Otago Museum is another world class informative museum that we loved to spend time in. A wide range of outstanding collections, excited exhibitions and events inspired the visitors included me and my friend. For instance, we gained the understanding of the prominent world archaeological treasures such as Egytian Mummy and Ancient Greek Pottery in the People of the World Gallery. Besides, we also discovered the Maori culture by exploring the Tangata Whenua Gallery.

There’re many other parts in the museum such as Pacific Culture Galleries, Maritime Gallery and Animal Attic that worth your visit, so don’t miss them!

  

  

Otago Museum

Location: 419 Great King Street, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Tel: (03) 474 7474

Opening hours: 10am – 5pm daily except Christmas Day

Admission is free except guided tours and special exhibitions.

Touring Cadbury World in Dunedin (Day 4)

When we just arrived in Dunedin, the first tour I visited with Yen was the famous chocolate factory in Dunedin - Cadbury World.

Cadbury World is just located in the Dunedin city centre

Cadbury buildings

The latest fee for a Chocolate Full Tour ticket is $20 per adult. I actually still keep my own Cadbury ticket and it showed that I went for the tour at 3pm on 21^st May 2008 with the price $16.

You can opt for Full, Shortened or Centre Tour. For Factory Tour, you are allowed to visit all parts which consist of the visitor centre, guided factory tour, retail store, chocolate fall and also the threatre presentation. The duration for Factory Tour is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Part of the bouncy display at the Cadbury World Visitor Centre

It costs $14 per adult for the Shortened Tour. The tours only last for 45 minutes and it operate on weekends, public holidays and when the factory has no production. As for the Centre Tour, the tours take about 10 minutes. There's no factory visit, so it only costs $5.

At the visitor centre, you'll be amazed with the chocolate themed displays and learn about the development of chocolate and Cadbury through the ages.

We also followed the tour guide to outdoor and viewed the interesting vintage trucks in Cadbury theme. While at outdoor, the tour guide explained more information about the Cadbury buildings to us.  

Vintage trucks in Cadbury theme

Unlike other typical factories, this chocolate making factory is clean and fun. Remember to take some chocolate samples along the tour. Among all the demonstrations, the Purple Silo was the most attractive part to me. A tonne of liquid chocolate dropped from a 5 storey height in front of our eyes, it's so amazing! 

Before we left, we had a chance to buy some favourite Cadbury chocolates and merchandise at the retail outlet.

All sorts of chocolate and merchandise are displayed at Cadbury World Retail Store

Both of us spent a great time at the Cadbury World and brought some chocolates back.

My Cadbury chocolate bars :D

Cadbury World

Free phone: 0800 223 287
Location: 280 Cumberland Street,
                 Dunedin, New Zealand.

Penguin Sightseeing Again in Oamaru and Visiting Moeraki Boulders on the Road Trip to Dunedin (Day 4)

Penguins sightseeing at Bushey Beach Road

Both of me and my friend Yen, wanted to sightsee more penguins in a group. So, we decided to drive to the beach again from the hostel early in the morning. It’s about dawn when we reached the beach and I was amazed by the beautiful background at there.

This time we tried to hide far from the penguins so that they won't be surprised by us and run from us. We knew that they’re so shy. Initially, we just saw 2 Yellow-eyed Penguins.

Then we waited and waited. Yes! Finally we saw the cute penguins marching one by one as if in a queue heading to the sea. We were very excited indeed to watch them, they worth our waiting. However, we’re unable to take pictures of them from the faraway distance but it’s easier to take photos of penguins while they’re isolated from a group.


The mission of penguins viewing was over, so we left Oamaru and moved ahead our itinerary to the next destination, Moeraki Boulders.


Set on the Otago coast, Moeraki Boulders is one of the popular attractions in South Island that many travellers will pay a visit. Suggested by Yen, we also took about 35 minute drive and 40 km to visit the tourism site departing from Oamaru. In fact, Moeraki Boulders is within a short distance for those who drive from Dunedin or Cromwell too. To find out the distance, driving time as well as how to get there, simply check at http://www.moerakiboulders.com/getting-there/

You'll see the Moeraki Cafe, Bar and Gift Shop when you reach there. The exact location of the shop is at 7 Moeraki Boulders Rd, RD2, Palmeston, East Otago 9482. The cafe offers a great range of food. You may also visit the shop for some beautiful souvenirs, clothings and jewelry.

The Moeraki Boulders are lying along Koekohe Beach between Moeraki and Hampden. According to Wikipedia, the boulders are grey-colored septarian concretions comprise mud, clay fine silt and cemented by calcite; they created from the mudstone with the effect of coastal erosion. When you arrived at the beach, you'll see the most eye-catching large sphere-shaped boulders with a portion of smaller and non-spherical stones. Amazing!


Moraeki Boulders set along the beach



The bolders are sphere-shaped & large in size

This extraordinary bolder with deep hole & cracks always get attention from visitors

A smaller and non-spherical stone

Exploring Oamaru (Day 3)

After spending hours of sleep in the car last night, Yen and I woke up early in the morning and planned to explore the places in Oamaru.

Oamaru CBD

This city was quiet indeed and I didn’t see many passengers in the downtown, although it’s the largest town in the region of North Otago. Both of us knew that penguin sightseeing was the core reason we came here, we would like to see if there’re any other attractions in this place though. What I found eye-catching was the magnificent architecture around the heritage premises.

Bank of New South Wales & The National Bank(left)

North Otago Museum

Restaurant & bakery shops

Catholic Church

We paid a visit to the local museum, church and the historical Public Gardens before we grabbed the chance to watch penguins. It's the best time to visit the Public Gardens during autumn as the combination of plants in yellow to brown made it a beautiful environment for a nature walk. To visit this garden, either enters through Severn Street or Chelmer Street.

 Our friend reminded us not to miss the free penguin viewing from nature and she also told us to get more information from the I-site about the location and appropriate times to watch those lovely penguins. At first, I drove to Bushy Beach Road and we had the attempt during night time. Both of us tried our luck waiting for penguins to come while walking along the track quietly up to the hill, but we didn't see any single one :(

Being disappointed, we’re going to walk down and leave. Well, I sensed something on my left at the moment while walking down the track. Then, I turned my head and looked. Oh my god! There’re 2 huge penguins standing pretty close to me and they’re Yellow-eyed Penguins! I quickly whispered to my friend about their presence. We’re extremely excited to catch their pictures. Afterward, we tried in vain to see more penguins at the spot but nothing more, at least we got to see penguins as we wished.

 Yellow-eyed Penguins


We didn't give up so soon, so we went to the harbour. What we saw was another kind of penguin – Blue Penguin. So far we only saw one little Blue Penguin. It's smaller than Yellow-eyed Penguin and very adorable.

Blue Penguin

Still the same little one

The second night in Oamaru, we checked in the Empire Hotel Backpackers where our friend stayed. I highly recommend this hostel to you as this was one of the best hostels I had ever stayed in New Zealand. It’s located at the main street in Oamaru and the accommodation was inexpensive but with quality. I especially felt warm and comfortable to spend the night in the hostel, after the previous night that we slept in the car :P



Front view of Empire Hotel Backpackers




Empire Hotel Backpackers

Tel: (04) 434 3446

Add: 13 Thames Street Oamaru 9495 NZ