Back on the road again today and heading south to Dunedin and a meet up with our Kiwi friends Michelle and Jenny.

As we motored along the coast road, we passed through a few small towns Oamaru and Palmerston and increasing the names and places were ever more Scottish in origin.

We tried to stop at a cafe on the main road, aptly called St Andrew’s, only to find that being Sunday it was sadly closed.

With the day shaping up to be gloriously sunny, we stopped at a wonderfully sandy beach just outside Katiki.

Apart from a couple walking their dog, we had the place to ourselves so it was only fitting that Andy then performed his beach star jump!

We then drove down to a beautiful small coast road town called Karitane, which friends in Christchurch had recommended as a great place to take a walk out to the peninsula and look out to Waikouaiti Bay.

With the sun bearing down on us and not a cloud in the sky, it was getting hot and the water looked increasingly inviting.

We found a track named Huriawa Pa Walk that took us along the headland and into a Maori conservation area that was filled with palm trees and lush bushes.

The walk proved to a real find and along with the amazing views we came upon a small seal colony and loads of birds nesting in the deep grassland.

Our walk took us right round the peninsula and brought fresh views down the coast and proved a real voyage of discovery. So good that the Maori people have had the land returned to their right full ownership given its historical significance.

Once back in the car we made one final stop at Blue Skin Brewery for some liquid refreshment and to enjoy the early afternoon sunshine.

After arriving in Dunedin we discovered that this very Scottish city was in the midst of celebrations for St Andrew’s Day and as a result it was kilts and bagpipes all round.

After wandering the very pretty and scenic centre of Dunedin, where Xmas has definitely arrived, we headed out to Saint Kilda beach and then on to Blackhead beach. The latter offered up the wonderful surprise of sea lions & seals perched on the rocks doing a spot of sun bathing.

Up close and personal with one of the more advanced seals, who had clambered up the beach and the bushes of the hill to find a cool and sheltered spot to relax and snooze. Sadly for the seal this was right next to the beach path where we and another group of tourists stopped to take photos and encourage the seal to pop its head up!

After our spot of nature, we headed to meet up with our friend Michelle and her husband Paul who live nearby in Green Island. Michelle was on our tour of Japan back in October and had kindly invited us to stay with them for a night.

On arriving we were greeted with the offer of a ‘trike’ ride down to nearby Brighton Beach. Wow, what an experience and so kind of Paul to take us out on such short notice. We got plenty of stares as well as waves from fellow bikers!

After our trike ride, we jumped in the car and drove an hour south to Kaka Point, where Michelle & Paul have a holiday home, and live next door to our other Kiwi friend Jenny.

After drinks in the pub, it was then time to retire back to the house for a proper Kiwi dinner of lamb and all the trimmings. Thanks to Michelle for a wonderful meal and to Paul for the multitude of bourbon and cokes we then drunk into late into the evening.

It was so lovely to catch up with Michelle and Jenny, and meet Paul and to spend the night in great company having fun and laughing about our time in Japan.

Tomorrow we plan to spend the morning in Kaka Point with a walk out to the nearby lighthouse before driving in land to Queenstown.