DRY LAND!!
It had nothing whatsoever to do with the Roaring Forties but I was
THE ACTUAL VERY FIRST PERSON
off the ship YAY!
The shuttle bus into town dropped us at Otagon, an eight sided plaza in the centre of Dunedin.
It was a short walk to the railway station and oh what a railway station this is. Certainly not just your average railway station. I couldn't fit it all on one photo. Stunning architecture, lush gardens, with an Art Gallery and New Zealand's only Sporting Museum upstairs ...
...and the 1km long platform...
which is used as the catwalk for The Dunedin Fashion Week.
But there was a cricket Test ground to be found.
The OTAGO OVAL is the SOUTHERNMOST TEST GROUND in the world.
We didn't know this yet but the bus driver that took us to the ground was a typical New Zealander who was happy to show off his country to the likes of us. He pointed out stadiums and schools
etc on the way to the ground, keen for us to be impressed.
He dropped us off at the side of the ground where the HIGHLANDERS rugby team were training
("training"? Hurling tennis balls at each other)
and we somehow snuck in, bypassing the gate (oops)
in time to see a few overs of Otago Volts v Wellington Firebirds.
The Otago Oval hosted the first game where the Umpire Decision Review System was used.
What a beautiful, picturesque ground with sloping banks surrounding the pitch.
The southernmost test ground in the world.
Hamish Marshall got a half century, there were bananas with drinks, we did a lap, we had a pie and a cuppa, got "Come on"d by the team but told off by the stewards, it was all very pleasant and we loved it.
SPEIGHT'S BREWERY
A super tour.
Keith relished in telling us exactly how many other breweries and vineyards Speight's now own, including San Miguel.
James Speight was the Power house, the seller, the moneymaker, the business man.
Charles Greenslade was the maltster and William Dawson the brewer.
Speight's was the first company to build an actual pub and send it (the pub) to London.
All because kiwis living in London were missing their favourite beer, It made the national news.
Hops used to be stored and refrigerated in huge sacks but Speight's invented hops PELLETS saving space but more importantly saving millions of pound in energy bills.
Fresh malt from the milling process..tasty.
The actual great great grandson of James Speight is now Managing Director of the company and we met him in the lift!
It was a super tour but the best bit was to come.
Help yourself to some.
There were 3 schooners each but refills were at your discretion.
Thank goodness for the crisps.
Do not do this tour on an empty stomach!
The beer is very drinkable and moreish.
It was another great day.
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