Sitting in the most Scottish of Scots towns under Robbie Burns’ statue on his birthday, I’m waiting for a travel agent to sort out some bookings for me in Fiji. I’m tired of studying Lonely Planet every day, and going for a package option. Not a true traveller any more.

Since arriving in December I have been from within 100km of the northernmost tip of the country, to the southernmost and have covered a fair few kilometres since Wanaka, including some double backing, owing to bad planning. Still it’s good to see the road from both directions!! The disadvantage about travelling alone, is that as perpetual driver, it’s hard to take in the landscape, which makes me sorry, as it always stunning, be it dramatic or gentle. From Doubtful Sound, one of the fiords, to a day’s cycling in Middle Earth. I nearly asked for my money back when the guide said we’d be covering about 150 km, but there was a support vehicle, which more importantly than carrying our picnic, was able to take the seven of us and the bikes.

The next day, an indirect route (to avoid driving the road already journeyed twice) down to the bottom right hand corner of South Island. Missed junctions added to the mileage (I blame the lack of signage , if you want to go off the main road you’re obviously presumed to be local). However the reward was seeing a yellow-eyed penguin coming home across beach and a sea lion coming out of the breakers onto the shore ( huge beasties….I certainly wouldn’t ignore the advice that you shouldn’t be within 10 metres of them, and that’ s just for their protection!)

The YHA that night had been an old people’s home …..it still smelt like it and was in a small remote town which gave me the creeps! so I set off very early next morning and pottered down to Canibal Bay, another drive on unsealed roads, very usual here. After taking a few photos, I thought I would just walk over the rocks to get a different view, when there was a little squeak…… I’d nearly trodden on a Blue penguin. These are the smallest penguin and live in burrows, most have chicks at the moment so I don’t know what this little chap was doing, apart from trying to avoid my feet. Possibly on his way back from catching breakfast for his offspring?

So from there to Dunedin, where I have had a great time, visits to museums, the art gallery, cinema, guided walking tour of the city, out to see more penguins, sea lions and albatrosses. A good way to end my trip here.

Well almost, tomorrow I will call on another ex Butchers Arms customer…… That’s all for now, folks!