Penguins!

The highlight of our hike (and the main reason the Okia area was made into a protected reserve area) was the yellow-eyed penguins. We saw them coming back home after swimming all day.


We were hiding in the sand dunes just beyond the beach and had a good view of them.

The department of Conservation website had this information about the Hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguins of Okia reserve.
Hoiho are medium sized penguins, standing 65-70cm tall. Unlike most penguin species, hoiho do not migrate and they can be found at their breeding beaches the year round. They go to sea during daylight hours to feed and come ashore in the late afternoon and early evening. Otago Peninsula is a stronghold for the species. About 17 pairs nested in the reserve in 1997/98, mostly at the northern end. Since the reserve was created, numbers of penguins at the site have increased. Habitat restoration to encourage nesting includes the planting of flax,
shrubs and trees along the northern fore dunes.

Being careful (slow) walkers, the penguins made taking pictures easy. I just wished the camera had a better zoom...or we were better at taking pictures.

They walk such a distance when they get to the beach considering how slowly they walk.

Can you even see this one? He is just about to disappear into the grasses. The nests are among the sand dunes. Sea lions also live on this beach and tend to hide in the sand dunes. We didn't see any the day we were there -- I guess they don't like the rain either. We are already planning on going back to this beach soon to try to see more penguins; so hopefully more pictures soon.