Kristin Laura

We strolled through downtown to the railway station this morning to catch the train from Dunedin into the Taieri Gorge.  The Dunedin Railway Station was opened in 1906 and is referred to as the Gingerbread House due to its ornate embellishments. Dunedin Railway Station We made the four hour roundtrip through the Taieri Gorge in 1937 wooden body passenger coach.  Wood was used to keep the carriages cooler in the summer months.  The passage consisted of 12 tunnels and innumerable bridges (according to the brochure).  We started in an industrial section of Dunedin before moving to the rural outskirts.  From there the countryside included rolling hills, horse pastures, and sheep farms before changing to forests and the deep gorge of the Taieri River.  I found it amazing that a railroad line was built so long ago through such rugged terrain.  Often the train trestle was high above the canyon.  We hung out the windows and stood between the cars to ...

I was probably a little harsh about the B&B last night.  We got up this morning and Norman and Stephanie had prepared a lovely "Kiwi Lite" breakfast for us.  It is their take on the continental breakfast, but Norman said he can't call it that if they're not on a continent.  The table was laden with fresh raspberries, rhubarb, fruit salad, granola, toast, yogurt, cheese, butter, cream, custard, and jams.  Then they passed around hot cross buns.  We shared the tiny dining room with two couple from China.  One couple from Hong Kong spoke English and told us about their trip.  They left their one year old son with the grandparents so they could take a 2 week holiday. On the way from Oamaru we stopped to view the Moeraki Boulders on Norman's recommendation.  The boulders jut out from the beach.   Scientists explain the boulders as calcite concretions formed about 65 million years ago. Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charg...