A Ton of Shags, Seal-Yoga and 1 Penguin

My hunt for penguins brought me to Oamaru. Penguins are most active at dawn and dusk, and while it was still a bit early for dusk, I figured scouting the area in advance was a good idea.

On my way to the penguin beach, I spotted an incredible number of shags! I had mistaken them for penguins before, and this time they were flying around, making them easy to identify. Still, plenty of people excitedly pointed them out, telling me to check out all the “penguins.” :D

The penguin beach was gated off, but luckily, the gate was open. No penguins yet—just more seals. One in particular was awake and moving gracefully, which reminded me that I should really stretch more!

While waiting, I met a woman who was also hoping to see penguins. She pointed out a tiny nesting chick tucked under some rocks, waiting for its parents to return. It was a kororā, the world’s smallest penguin!

Determined to come back later for a better look, I returned at dusk—only to find the gates closed. When I asked at the tourist information center, they told me, Of course, you can still see them! For 45 bucks. Yeah, no thanks. These prices are ridiculous.

Instead, I wandered over to a different beach but had no luck spotting penguins. On the bright side, I met two sisters from Brisbane, had a great chat, and even caught a glimpse of a partially eclipsed blood moon.Read more