9 March - Dunedin

This cruise we really were simply enjoying being at sea and delighting in having no fixed plans for the ports. Almost every port we had ideas of what we would like to do, but the flexibility was there to change plans as necessary.

We have been to Dunedin many times, both on a cruise and by land. So we had no plans to even go into the city. We stayed in Port Chalmers, where the ship docks. It's actually a rather lovely town with a very welcoming community.

On previous visits by ship we had seen many people at the top of a hill next to the dock waving the ship away. So we planned to head up there to look at the view. It was a lovely sunny day and quite warm, compared to previous visits to the area. Armed with a town map, we headed off.

It was slow going as the roads are very steep. We wondered about the wisdom of our decision, but pressed on. At the top the view was gorgeous. It is always great to get a different perspective on a town. After exploring a sculpture garden up there too, we walked back down and took a route around the other side of town, again, just to explore somewhere different.

By the time we arrived back in town it was time for lunch. But, oh no! the pub we had visited on a previous visit was closed. Perhaps Monday is their usual day off. Oh well, we found somewhere else.

The town puts on a pop up market in the old Town Hall when there is a ship in so we visited there before heading back to the ship.

The view did not disappoint


This church is always captivating, sitting on the side of the hill above the town







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