Timaru and a big green beach.

Today, we did not have any excursions.  We relaxed and played some cards.
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Later, Shawna and I walked out of the port to the nearby beach.

This beach is known for the little blue penguins that come on shore every night.  During the day they are out in the ocean but each night they come in to rest and are gone again at dawn.

Our ship is only here from 8am to 5pm so we will miss seeing them.

The beach is only a short walk from the ship.

We walked out to the waves and each time one would come in the water looked like split pea soup.

Well, that is green sand.  No doubt about it.  The sand is super fine.  Almost a powder but  very, very green.

Shawna got a few pretty shells and we found several huge sand dollars.  Most were alive or newly dead so none could come with us.  One because it would stink and two because there are pretty serious fines for bringing ANYTHIING that has recently been alive to Australia where we leave the ship in a week.

These are the shells we decided we could bring on the ship along with a couple of stones one of which floats. It is a time of lava that is so light and filled with air it will float.

We walked all the way from one end to the other of Caroline Bay Beach.  There is even a small old light house on the cliff above the beach at one point.

It was an interesting walk but time to get back to the ship.

Tonight, the Pinnacle grill was doing a special menu from the Tamarind. The décor was changed to resemble the Tamarind restaurant on other Holland ships. It was very good food but spicy.

Our solo singer leaves tomorrow so we all went to her show.  She is very good.

Getting late and we have an excursion tomorrow.  It will be our last port in New Zealand.