 On the way out of the Mackenzies we stopped by the huge hydroelectric project which has supported the region and its growth with energy. |
 Water is held in artivicial lakes and then used to generate energy. A system of interconnected lakes makes the best from the water's potential. |
 Beside the road at YYY some Maori rock paintings can be seen. It's hard to depict and interpret what they feature, but some explanation is given. |
 Next stop was ZZZ where we had coffee and a little walk in town. |
 Before arriving Dunedin and finally Banks Pensinsula, we stopped by one of nature's curiosities: spheric boulders at Moariki beach. They are believed to be carved out from solid material by water. |
 At the very north-east end of the pensinsula at Taiaroa Head, a fortification from the days of the japanese-russian war can be visited. |
 The fort's special acctraction is a gun which disappears underground after being fired. This is done by using the recoil and thus charge a spring for the upward movement again. |
 Although the gun had never been fired in war situation as it was outdated with its completion, projectils of different kind, explosive, non-explosive, amour-breaking etc. were prepared. |
 The most spetaculous view on that day was the visit of the Royal Albatros Centre. It hosts the only albatros colony not located on an island and thus directly accessable by humans. It's well protected and all means are used to not disturb the animals in any way. |
 Albatroses have an enormous wing span: up to 3.6m! 90% of their life they are in the air, traveling up to 1200km in one day. To achieve this the huge bird uses the wind and it's upstreams perfectly. |
 Beside the 'King of the Airs' a colony of gallops' nests. Here we can find approx. 1000 of the last 5000 birds of this kind on earth. |