I don't think anyone could get off the ship until about 7am due to customs as they got to the port at around 6.30am. I can't imagine too many people would have wanted to leave the ship that early anyway.
As we were getting ready for breakfast who should park next to us but the Orion a snug fit it was too.
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| The Orion arriving at Port Chalmers |
We were catching the HoHo bus from the Port, saved having to catch the shuttle and then pick up the HoHo and worked out cheaper anyway. The HoHo bus was an old style English red double decker. The trip into Dunedin was about 15-20mins with lots of commentary and wonderful views.
Once in the main part of Dunedin we hopped off to change buses for the main HoHo trip around Dunedin. The fill circuit was about 1 hour. We went for a bit of a wander around the square and then headed back to the bus stop to jump aboard. Our first stop was the steepest residential street in the world (as confirmed by the Guiness Book of Records people). It sure was busy! So many tourist, I wouldn't like to live on this street. For this stop the bus stays about 5-10mins to give you time to take photos and read the signs etc but you can stay and walk up to the top and back and then catch the next bus 30 mins later. We opted for the first option.
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| It doesn't look that steep from here but it was steep! |
The next stop was the University and then the Museum. We got off at the University stop and walked up to the museum as the driver said he wasn't going to stop at the Museum as they were doing a bit of road works but they would be picking up from there later. This was the first HoHo bus so there wouldn't be anyone waiting to get on here.
The reason we were going to the Museum was that a lady we had met on the HoHo tram in Christchurch had suggested going to the Butterfly place at 11am where they we all released. She said it was really lovely. We didn't ended up going there as it was dearer than what we had thought, we didn't know if it was free or not, so just had a stroll around the main part of the museum before having morning tea downstairs in the cafe.
We hopped back on the bus and made our way to Dunedin Train Station - a big tourist attraction in itself as it's such a gorgeous building. While here we decided to book a train trip, the only one available was the 4pm, 90 minute trip. We had been umming an arring about whether or not to book this before our trip but had decided to wait and see. Seeing as the ship was leaving until 9.30pm we had plenty of time to do the later trip and it could also drop us back near the ship instead of having to come back into Dunedin and then catch the HoHo bus back.
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| Dunedin Train Station |
After making our booking we got back onto the HoHo bus and then got off near Speight's Brewery. We'd missed the guided tour and the next one wasn't for a few hours. We had a quick look around and then thought we'd just walk around for a bit as it was lovely weather. It was quite busy most likely due to two ships being in port.
We weren't too far from the main part of town and the centre area where all the buses picked up and dropped off their passegers so we decided to go and get another HoHo bus and do the full circuit before doing a bit more walking around town.
The Cadbury factory closed down about 6 months ago otherwise we would have definitely done a tour here! They are planning on knocking these buildings down and building a new hospital. All the chocolate manufacturing is now done in Australia.
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| The closed Cadbury factory |
Mum was feeling a bit peckish so we pooped into Maccas so she could grab a burger and fries. We found a Countdown supermarket on our wanders so would head back here before our train, seeing as we wouldn't be back in town, and grab some nibblies and wine. This was our last stop where we could get off the ship as tomorrow was a scenic cruising day through the fiords so it was also our last chance to grab some wine to make through the rest of the cruise :-)
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| Silver Fern |
Next stop was Dunedin train station and the Silver Fern train. When we bought our tickets the lady told us she had put us on the right hand side of the train with two window seats (this was the side with the scenery) and then when we got to the end stop everyone would swap sides so all passengers got a chance of sitting on the side with the views. Great idea seeing as everyone pays the same price and the reason why you do this trip is for the scenery as you don't actually get off the train until you're back. It's just a return sightseeing trip. The scenery was gorgeous, as you would expect, but we didn't really think it was value for money. $60pp for a 90 minute return trip, a bit pricey really and we didn't even get a cuppa! Anyway, we all did enjoy it and most likely will never be back here again so was nice to be able to see a bit more of Dunedin and it's outer areas before getting back on our ship and back to Australia. Have I mentioned how lucky we are!! The train dropped us back near the port. Dad went straight back to the ship while mum and I walked around Port Chalmers for a bit. A pretty little town. Not much was open but just walking along the streets and looking at the old buildings was all we really wanted to do anyway.
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| Port Chalmers |
Back on the ship and it was time for a drink and some nibblies on our balcony while we watched the Orion leave and then the port people busy loading a container ship that had been there all day and had looked like it was just about to leave. The tugs where hooked up the lines had been dropped and it had started to move away from the dock when they must have received a call saying you haven't got everything yet, don't leave! I don't what they'd been doing all day then. It gave us something to watch with the tall cranes zipping all over the place picking up containers and dropping them near the ship for it to collect with it's crane. It still hadn't left by the time we left at 9.30pm.
We had a drink up on the Wake View bar and then dinner at Alfredo's pizzeria. So good.
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| Delicioso! |
Sailaway was on our balcony and it was perfect. Beautiful scenery, calm seas with hardly a breeze. What a lovely way to end a fabulous day in Dunedin.
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