Page 22 of New Zealand Island Discoveries Shore Tours by P&O Cruises

dunedin christchu rc h jet boat horse trekking safari approximate duration 33/4 hours chc-g enjoy the thrill of jet boating and a horse back ride through the canterbury countryside your horseback safari arriving at the waimakariri river you will be introduced to your horse and after a safety briefing and some instructions for those who have never ridden before notes leave with your guide for a 30-minute trek through the countryside to the jet tour order may vary boating base the first half of the trek is along easy stretches of track looking wear jeans or long back over farm land and the port hills once back on dry land following your jet boat ride mount up for the second part of the trek back to the farm this part is trousers when usually down onto the river bed and through some of the many streams that horseriding safety make this area so interesting helmets are provided by the horse trekking operator to make your day as enjoyable as possible please ensure that you wear comfortable flat-soled shoes clothing suited to the weather conditions a snugfitting cap and jumper/jacket and bring along some sunscreen and bottled water this city sits at the head of a fjord-like inlet and is ringed by seven hills the name dunedin is celtic for edinburgh and the city was built by presbyterian scots in the early days it was the largest and wealthiest city in the country thanks mainly to the gold fields it became the financial and construction centre and is said to be the most perfectly preserved victorian city anywhere dunedin has been responsible for many firsts the first to have gas-light water mains hydro-power and steam trams now an important manufacturing city and busy port dunedin s scottish heritage remains everywhere a statue of robert burns surrounded by civic dignity in the octagon the country s only whiskey distillery and the jewel in the city s architectural crown the first church of otago the imposing railway station is worth visiting if only for its locomotives reproduced in stained glass the city is separated from its suburbs by a 185-hectare nature reserve which adds to the attraction of this university town the university of otago was the first in new zealand and its youthful looking buildings are well worth visiting things to see and do in and around dunedin port chalmers gateway to dunedin is where your ship will dock and is located eight miles from the city centre dunedin is a well planned city its streets and suburbs fan out from the octagon this downtown centre is bisected by a main thoroughfare home to the majority of the city s shopping hotels and restaurants olveston house dunedin businessman david theomin filled this 35-room edwardian mansion with treasures collected during his travels around the world a gift to the city of dunedin from theomin s daughter the mansion contains its original collections your guide recounts the history of the house and its treasures larnach castle banker w.j.n larnach built his castle on the crown of a wooded hill overlooking otago harbour designed in scotland the neo-gothic castle required three years to build and another 12 to complete the castle boasts english tile work italian marble venetian glass and exotic hardwoods from around the world dunedin botanic gardens established in 1863 new zealand s first botanic garden features native flora the famed rhododendron dell and rose gardens fletcher house this fully restored and furnished edwardian cottage marks the humble beginnings of sir james fletcher who amassed one of new zealand s largest fortunes royal albatross colony the breeding grounds of the world s largest seabird are found at taiaroa head on the nearby otago peninsula the birds can be seen courting sky calling feeding waddling about and soaring over the cliffs in full flight taieri gorge train walk through vintage and modern carriages during a trip offering natural and manmade wonders latticework bridges mountain tunnels and viaducts are part of the scenery the gorge is home to magnificent 800-year old totara trees along with beautiful native new zealand bush and dramatic rock outcrops otago settlers museum discover dunedin s beginnings when scottish settlers established the city now know as the edinburgh of the south battery observation post built in 1885 the post was built to protect the entrance to the otago harbour from the threat of war between britain and russia the tunnel system contains the armstrong disappearing gun and the living quarters and offices once manned by soldiers from all around new zealand your thrilling jet boat ride upon arrival at the river on horseback you will be fitted with lifejackets before joining your jet boat for an exhilarating 30-minutes of speed spins and spray the boats operate on the lower reaches of the waimakariri which is very shallow and in places you will skim along in mere centimetres of water photo opportunities you will not want to miss the opportunity to capture images of the scenery surrounding the waimakariri river but in order to protect your own camera you may want to consider purchasing a disposable waterproof camera from the ship s photo gallery or gift shop what you see along the way leaving the ship s side at lyttelton you will travel through the city suburbs to the waimakariri river after your adventure on horseback and by jet boat you will return to the ship by mini-coach christchurch 40 41 dunedin

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