This trip has been about gardens, and more gardens. Dunedin was no exception.
The port was an industrial port, like most on the South Island. It had a nice reception hall, and we learned the ATM was a short walk away, and that we could get a day pass for the bus from the library. It was in the old City Hall, a stones throw away. Upstairs, there was a craft fair with local knitting and other hand made treasures.
Dunedin proper was about a half hour bus ride away. A claim to fame is an exceptionally steep street — perhaps the steepest in the world.
It was hard to photograph from the foot of the street. A simple picture shows length, not pitch. We had no desire to climb it. Our interest was in the botanical gardens.
Unfortunately, our bus driver forgot to call out our stop. The other tourists on the bus wanted to be informed of the steep street. We got off, and he offered to shuttle us back after he completed this circuit and he was heading back to the city centre.
We walked, passing schools and playgrounds, and a lot of houses.
This was the first time we encountered a hamster wheel. We couldn’t imagine having a similar installation in a North American schoolyard or tot lot. Anita said it was fun.
The gardens were on a hillside, with interesting parts up a steep stretch. There’s a popular playground just inside the gates, and we saw a couple of children begging their caregivers for permission to take a map. The answer was always, “No, you know where you’re going.” It was clearly a regular spot to visit, though the attraction of a pretty coloured map was strong.
The glass house had a dry wing as well as one with more moisture.
The Knot Garden was interesting. Each section was filled with different plants.
As usual, the bus ride back to the city centre, and then to the port, seemed much shorter then the inbound journey.
Juliette Knits 