The Wild East and Deep South

Hello! Thanks for all of your comments. Terry , thanks for the tip about barging the Beast to the north island, we have arranged to do that and it will save us almost $200. There has been a request for more pictures of the Beast inside and out. Don't worry, we've got plenty and will post some next time we are at a computer with a USB port to connect to. We have over 200 pictures already everything is so beautiful it's hard not to stop every 5 minutes to take another one (although I think that maybe we shouldn't take any more of roadside sheep, but they are just so darn cute). Thanks Aubs and Matt for the extra camera card, were going to use it!

Since the last time we checked in with you we headed south from Oamaru down the East Coast to the Otago Peninsula just outside of the town of Dunedin. 5 minutes outside of the city and you are in rolling green hill territory with sheep everywhere and beautiful ocean views on all sides. We did a day hike that lead through sheep pastures and then down to a cove with sandy white beaches. We didn't see anyone the whole time, but what we did come accross was a giant endangered New Zealand Sealion right smack dab in the middle of the beach! A sign at the beginning of the trail had warned us that they are not afraid of people so to be sure to give them lots of room if you see them. We climbed up on the sandy hill above and then watched from a safe distance for awhile. It was a male sealion and he was huge! The book said they can weigh up to 400 pounds and he looked like he just might. He wasn't super active though, just laid there in a big blob and flipped sand over his back to stay cool. He was still a pretty awesome sight to see though!

From the Otago Peninsula we headed south to the Caitlins National Forest Preserve where we found the best and cheapest campspot we have come accross so far. 4$ for the both of us for the night and right on the coast on a sandy bay surrounded by incredible sea cliffs and grassy rolling hills. Just like a little bit of heaven and we almost had the whole place to ourselves (just 2 other campers a ways away). The sunrise in the morning was spectacular pinks and oranges with the bright green sea below. Mike went for a little walk where he almost stepped on another sealion this time a female, so a bit smaller, but then he was quite a bit closer and he headed the other way right away. Stay tuned for pictures of this campsite too next time we get a chance to download them.

Tonight we are staying in a really nice hostel in the town of Invercargill. This is the southern most town on the southern island. It's got a distinct hip and laid back flair to it and the weather is getting warmer for sure. We are getting prepared to do a backpack trip on Stewart Island which is south of the southern island. It is supposed to have tons of sea and bird life and the hike is one of the great walks of New Zealand. We will head out tomorrow morning and so will be out of touch for a few days, but will update you when we get back. We also booked our tickets to do the Routburn Track in the Fiordlands NP the week after next. Its supposed to be even more beautiful than the Milford Track and quite a bit less crowded we hear.

We love and miss you all and will be in touch in a few days. Over and out, Mike and Brooke