{"id":1087,"date":"2026-02-21T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/?p=1087"},"modified":"2026-04-02T18:55:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:55:07","slug":"2026-day-30-harington-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/2026\/02\/21\/2026-day-30-harington-point\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Day 30 Harington Point"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-441aec34-bfea-4068-862b-574ca4ef1adc\">February 21, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We wake up to a partly cloudy day, a bit chilly but not too windy. I walked down to the beach and was entertained by a sea lion at the far end. I watched him walk out to the water and swim away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167681108?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea lion on Ta Rauone Beach, part 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167693567?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea lion on Ta Rauone Beach, part 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167696656?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea lion on Ta Rauone Beach, part 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We had free time in the morning before our afternoon tour. We drove out to the end of the road on the Otago Peninsula to where we had watched the little blue penguins the week before. There were no signs of them that day in broad daylight, but the views were pretty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1180\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_225217565-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Waiwhakaheke Overlook with the lighthouse in the distance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1181\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_230137288-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The walk down to the Blue Penguins Pukekura viewing platform<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1182\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_231127457-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Penguin Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We walked down the road to a distant view of the penguin viewing platform. The previous week we saw people gathering at this point to try to see the penguins from afar. The viewing platform blocked seeing the small beach cove from there, altlhough it might have been possible to see a few penguins coming into the beach area from farther away. More interesting to me was the view across the channel to the area we had visited in 2023: Aramoana, Heyward Point, and Spit Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1183\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260220_232923219-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Penguin viewing platform and view across the channel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We drove back to the house for lunch. I walked back down to the beach, and now there were two sea lions resting at the same spot where I had seen the one earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1184\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_000701907-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea lions on Ta Rauone Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1185\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_001230873-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ta Rauone Beach with distant view of the sea lions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1186\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002401535-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pretty flowers at the beach house<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1187\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002421303.PORTRAIT-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">More pretty flowers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The entrance to the OPERA (Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance) was directly across the street from our beach house, and we had booked the 3 PM tour. This was a 1.5 hour tour through a preserve where yellow-eyed and little blue penguins were nesting, and it was also a rehabilitation center for sick, injured, or malnourished penguins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1188\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_002542357-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Entrance road to the OPERA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1189\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_015510326-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harbor view from the OPERA tour entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There were 19 people in our tour group. The first part of the tour was a presentation and video about the preserve and the penguins that lived there. Then we split into two groups. Heinrich and I were in a group of 10. We boarded a bus that drove us through the preserve. Then we took a trail out to where penguins were nesting in the wild. We walked to hides where we were able to watch 4 yellow-eyed penguins. They were in the moulting stage where they were growing new feathers and unable to go into the ocean to feed. They were resigned to staying in their nesting area until the new feathers grew in. They were standing around and looking rather miserable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167706046?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Moulting yellow-eyed penguin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1190\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_024625214-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A group of 3 moulting yellow-eyed penguins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We had about 5 to 10 minutes to view the moulting penguins, and then we had to leave for the next group to visit. We continued the walk down to a view of the beach area. We were given binoculars to see if we could find any yellow-eyed penguins in the area, but we didn't see any.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1192\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_025558808-60-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Penguin beach area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Further down the walk we passed some wooden enclosures where the little blue penguins were nesting. We saw one sitting inside.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1193\" style=\"width:373px;height:auto\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-576x1024.jpg 576w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-169x300.jpg 169w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-768x1365.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-864x1536.jpg 864w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-1200x2133.jpg 1200w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_030836770-scaled.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 85vw, 576px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Little blue penguin sitting inside the enclosure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We walked back to the bus and were driven back to the entrance. We walked to the penguin rehabilitation center. We were able to view about 25 penguins of different species. I got my very first close-up view of fiordland crested penguins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167707820?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yellow-eyed penguins at the rehabilitation center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167710898?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">More yellow-eyed penguins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1194\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_032900446-70-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yellow-eyed penguin at the pond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1196\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033340186-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another pair of penguins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1195\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_033203105-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fiordland crested penguins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I thought it was a good tour, but I wish I had more time to view the penguins. It seemed rushed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the tour we drove back to the beach house and had dinner. The new propane tank had been delivered, so we were able to use the grill for our steaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"592\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-1024x592.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1197\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-1024x592.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-300x173.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-768x444.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-1536x888.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-2048x1184.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_042429314-1200x694.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steak dinner at the beach house<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After dinner I walked down to the beach again, and now there were three sea lions onshore. I had some more fun viewing them. The calm weather had disappeared and now it was quite windy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167712028?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea lion, part 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1167714509?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea lion, part 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1198\" srcset=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-1536x864.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PXL_20260221_051146021-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Three sea lions on the beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoyed the hot tub.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>February 21, 2026 We wake up to a partly cloudy day, a bit chilly but not too windy. I walked down to the beach and was entertained by a sea lion at the far end. I watched him walk out to the water and swim away. We had free time in the morning before our &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/2026\/02\/21\/2026-day-30-harington-point\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \"2026 Day 30 Harington Point\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4","category-new-zealand"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1087"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1954,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1087\/revisions\/1954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}