I wasn’t concentrating this morning, got out of the car and tripped over a kerb. I fell on my cheek and hurt the top of my leg and my hand oops…. Bruised and shocked but nothing broken.

We still went on our boat trip as planned and I’m pleased I did. I didn’t want to take photos so these are all Vinces. I sat and enjoyed just looking at the birds and seals I was still in shock I think.

We went with  Monarch Wildlife and they were very good. We were lucky to see so many albatrosses, 4 different types. They swoop just above the surface of the waves looking for squid. The krill feed on the plentiful plankton round these waters and the squid feed on the krill and so the feeding chain builds up. They have recently seen orchas in the harbour which does not happen very often.

We saw many more birds and learnt so much more about Albatrosses than we did at the centre yesterday. It was much better value for money.

Lily Louis and Otis we saw a penguin in the water “the little blue penguin” which is the worlds smallest penguin.

This a list of what we saw

Albatrosses:northern Royal albatross, southern Royal,white capped and butlers albatrosses

lots of New Zealand fur seals and cute newly born ones too

a giant petrol bird rest on the waves being attacked by the little gulls

3 different kinds of cormorants

colony of Royal spoonbills

gulls, terns, oystercatchers,

stilts, black swans, herons

Wow what a list weren’t we lucky. A boat trip to remember.

Out of the harbour round Taiaroa Head, the sea was choppy and quite rough with a very heavy swell.

The crew gave me peppermint ointment on a cotton pad to smell and it worked, I wasn’t seasick!

After our exciting morning the mist really rolled in we explored a bit more of the estuary and I took these photos.

Then it poured with rain, so we went to the station to book a train trip for tomorrow had a late fish dinner and then came back to our hotel and did the washing, ha ha

And yes…..I’m getting lovely bruises coming on my face thumb and thigh!