February 26
On Monday we went to the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, where we went tide pooling, learning about the different coastal ecosystems. We also gathered data on limpet length and height in order to understand how these creatures adapt to changing climates and warmer temperatures, leading to stronger currents.
February 27
Tuesday my favorite day this week by far. We visited the Royal Albatross Centre in Dunedin, where there were nesting albatrosses – one of the largest flying birds in the world. At the center was a disappearing gun built for defense in 1886. While we were at the observatory viewing the albatrosses, we witnessed an unexpected sight – an adult sea lion hunting a young fur seal.
February 28
The next morning we left Dunedin to make our way to Queenstown. The highlight of this day was stopping at Manapouri and taking a cruise through Doubful Sound to learn about the Manapouri Hydro Power Station. We learned about the details behind the construction of the station as well as how it is one of the nine powerhouses in New Zealand that make 18% of New Zealand’s energy in total.
March 1
During our first day in Queenstown we toured a local sheep and cattle farm, Earnscleugh Station, which produces 100 tonnes of Merino wool per year. The farmer we talked to explained how different changing environmental regulations were affecting farms in New Zealand, and expressed his concerns relating to industrial farming, cloning, and other modern practices that could potentially affect the local farms around the area.
March 2
Friday was our “adventure day” because we made a trip to the world’s first bungy jump location, the Kawarau Bungy Centre. We learned a bit about the history of this unique company, and how it uses Queenstown’s adventurous nature to attract people from all over the world. Some of us bungy jumped off the bridge at the center and others went off the zip-line. Afterwards we made our way to lake Wakatipu, where we had a surprise waiting for us – a one hour long ride on a jet boat through the lake and rivers surrounding Queenstown.
March 3-4
Saturday and Sunday were our “study days” so a lot of us used the time to prepare for our exam on Monday, but we had some extra time to go hiking, kayaking, and rafting. I think we can all say that we had an absolute blast getting to explore the adventure capital of the world!
