ChatGPT condensed version:
The weather was sunny but cool as the cruise ship docked at Port Chalmers, near Dunedin. The day’s tour started with a visit to the magnificent Dunedin Railway Station, admired for its lavish architecture. Next, we travelled to Larnach Castle, a historic Gothic-style mansion built in 1871 with fine imported materials; where we toured the castle and expansive gardens.
Afterward, the bus took us back toward Dunedin where we passed Baldwin Street, famously steep and once the world’s steepest straight street. The tour guide’s friendly banter added to the experience.
That evening, back on the ship Silver Moon, we dined in the Italian restaurant La Terrazzo, enjoying aglio olio and lamb chops. The meal was made festive by crew members singing Christmas carols.
Full Version
We have been so lucky (touch wood) with weather. The sun was shining brightly again today but still on the chilly side with the temperature around 14 degrees. Today we are docked at Port Chalmers that is around a 20 minute drive from Dunedin where we will be sightseeing and visiting Larnach Castle.
Our first stop as at the magnificent Dunedin Railway Station that was built in 1904. The architecture both inside and out is lavish and although there are no commercial trains coming to Dunedin these days, there is a tourist train that visits some scenic destinations around Dunedin.
Our bus driver/tour guide now takes us along the scenic drive to Lanarch Castle.
This castle was built in 1871 by the baron William Lanarch for his first wife, Eliza. This Gothic style castle was spared no expense with marble from Italy, glass from Venice and tiles from England. But sadly the castle fell into disrepair in 1898 after William committed suicide caused by financial woes and the deaths of his two wives. The building was repurposed as nuns retreat, soldier billet and even the ballroom was used to house sheep! But in 1967 the castle was purchased by Barry and Margaret Barret who began the massive task of restoring the castle to its former glory. It is still privately owned, now offering tours, events and accomodation.
After spending an hour and a half touring through the castle and walking around the expansive gardens it was time to board the bus again for our drive back to Dunedin. This time our bus driver took the steep drive down the mountain and then followed the ocean's edge. It was another scenic drive. Once we were back in Dunedin we did a drive by the worlds (Guinness World Record) steepest straight street, Baldwin Street. It lost the title when a welsh road claimed to be steeper but claimed it back when it was found that the welsh street was not a straight road and was measured incorrectly.
Our New Zealand tour guide/bus driver made this tour enjoyable. There was a bit of banter between the Aussies and this New Zealander but all in good humour. But every time he mention the number 6 (pronounced as "sex") all the Aussies would burst out laughing. At one stage he had to say 66, and quickly said "at the risk of the Aussies taking the Mickey". I don't think the other nationalities got it.
Back on board the Silver Moon and dinner tonight was in the Italian Restaurant, La Terrazzo. We both enjoyed the Aglio Olio as a starter followed by the very tender Lamb Chops. Half way through our meal we had some of the staff members come into the restaurant singing Christmas Carols. It was such a lovely gesture and it really got us in the mood for Christmas.
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