Submitted by Jessica Dunn on the 2016 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology…
After being in New Zealand for over a week now, I’ve been fortunate to see the wonderful scenery and nature that’s within Dunedin. This weekend, I was able to explore Tunnel Beach, which is unlike any beach I’ve seen before. To get to the beach you have to hike about 15 minutes downhill and go through a narrow tunnel. On the hike to the beach there are numerous cliffs with spectacular views of the ocean. The actual beach is not big, but there are rocks you can climb and caves that you can explore. In one of the caves, I was actually able to see a seal in its natural habitat.
I also had the opportunity to go on an Elm’s Wildlife tour. This was a tour that showed us some of the unique animals here in New Zealand. On the tour, we were able to see penguins on the beach. This was very exciting to me because penguins are one of my favorite animals. We also got a chance to pass through some of the local farms on our way to the tour. The farms were mainly sheep farms and the tour guide told us that sheep farming is the most common type of farming in New Zealand. These excursions really allowed me to experience more of the amazing nature that’s found in New Zealand.