Otago is where we like to come home to. We live in Dunedin, overlooking Otago Harbour where we can watch the ships coming and going. Across the harbour is Larnach Castle and we can see Taiaroa Heads where the Royal Albatross nest.

The city is small and is rich in heritage with fine old buildings lovingly kept from the gold rush heydays. There are also fine gardens open especially in October and November for the Rhododendron festival. You can even home stay in one at Ombler's Garden. See their website www.franzo.com/garden

The Otago coast is spectacular and so is the drive or bike ride into the interior. Central Otago has a dry climate, cold in winter and hot in summer, especially suited to growing grapes for wine. There are many up and coming vineyards with internationally successful wines.

We have been cycling around the harbour roads which offer lovely scenery and flat roads. My type of cycling. There are some super walks as well and a favourite is to Heyward Point.

This is also good horse riding country with big open spaces and views across the hills to lakes and mountains far way in the distance.

Five hours drive from Dunedin takes you to the start of the Routeburn Track, a fantastic venture into the bush of New Zealand. The Christmas of 2004 we walked the track as a  family group and had a wonderful time.

Click here for family photos and highly commended photo

Click here for the Rail Trail

Click here for the book I might have created about MV Aloma

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