A Seal of Approval

Getting back to our trip to Cape Palliser last weekend, as I promised. There are two things the area is known for - the seal colony along the shore, and the lighthouse. So naturally we went to see both.

New Zealand fur seals are always a treat to see. They're a pretty laid back bunch, assuming you don't try to get right in their faces. On this particular day they were splitting their time between sunning themselves on the rocks (and scratching the occasional itch)...

And frolicking in the water, but not catching any fish as far as I could see.

The lighthouse is at the very end of the road. Well, the car park for the lighthouse is at the end of the road. The lighthouse itself is at the top of a ridiculously long wooden staircase.

It has been there for over 100 years, but it is now fully automated so the days of the lighthouse keeper are over. It's probably just as well, since it was ridiculously windy up there.

While none of this activity technically counts as hiking or tramping, those stairs are as good as any hike as far as I'm concerned. Plus the pictures turned out so nice that I just had to post them! And since we did stay at a campground that night - it's officially part of a camping trip. So there!