Day 14 - Dunedin -> Otaga Peninsula -> Middlemarch -> St Bathans.

265km - 3 hrs : 51 minutes ride time.

After saying our farewells to Roera & Debbie who had to leave early for work, we finished our leisurely breakfast, packed our gear and headed off for another days riding.

Wind had dropped overnight and day was fine and warm.
Before heading back inland, we did a tour round Otaga Peninsula.
Great ride round the side of the harbour and its entrance channel. Dunedin is built inside the caldera of a drowned volcano, with the channel to the sea protected on all sides by hills.
Spectacular riding, with great views back to the city and surrounding hills. Paused at the Albatross Sanctuary, which was unfortunately closed until later in the day. Continued back over the top of Otaga Peninsula and into Dunedin to pick up a spare headlight globe for Ursula's bike then on back inland as the weather turned cool, with squally showers. Lunch in Middlemarch then on to St Bathan - an old gold mining town tucked away in the hills of Central Otaga. The squally weather passed and we have clear skies again.
Camped in the domain after a quick beer at the lone hotel in what is now a virtual ghost town in the middle of nowhere.
Tomorrow we need to start heading north. Forecast is for bad weather on Saturday evening/ Sunday, with heavy rain and gales. We may need to seek sanctuary to wait out the storm.....

Day 13 - Mossburn Park -> Lumsden -> Waimea -> Waikaka -> Heriot -> Raes Junction -> Milton -> Dunedin

Another typical cold clear Otaga night! A beautiful cold clear morning with mist rising and clearing as the sun rose. Very heavy dew meant a delayed start as we waited for the tents to dry.
Heading for Dunedin today, where we can stay with friends of M & U.
Cross country on some back roads through rich farming country. A brief period back in fog/mist before emerging again in bright sunshine.
Lunch in the hamlet of Waikaka in a small park next to the ubiquitous ANZAC memorial.
Back on the main road at Rae's Junction and a quick blat down to the east coast at Milton.
The final ride up the coast and into Dunedin on one of New Zealand's 3 motorways!
Very strong winds in Dunedin. Afternoon coffee in town. Dunedin is similar to Hobart/Cape Town, with the harbour surrounded by hills.
City architecture very distinctive with strong Scottish influence. Statue of Rabbie Burns dominates central square. Dating back to 1887, it was the first public statue erected in Dunedin.
Large student population with many foreign students providing a cosmopolitan air.
Dinner with our hosts Roera and Debbie at an excellent Mexican Restaurant. Our shout! Best Mexican food I've ever had. Yucatan fish.... Yum!
Good food, good company and after dinner a quick twilight tour. Signal Hill giving us a great view over the city.
M & U get the spare bedroom! I make do with my sleeping bag on the lounge carpet!