Butterfly Creek, Auckland

I had yet more need for cheering up so I emailed Butterfly Creek in south Auckland and asked if I could meet them and discuss crocodiles et al.

They were originally a butterfly house but expanded in about 2009 to include crocodiles - as you do!  I asked why crocs and they were after something different that hadn't been done before in NZ.  They certainly have something different!

Goldie and Scar are the 2 big boys, Goldie about 4.9 metres and Scar about 5 metres.  They also have 3 American Alligators and some baby salties.  They have a few other creatures but I confess, I didn't really notice them…

I got to ask lots of questions and learnt a lot about behind the scenes of a zoo.  

Really enjoyed myself!  Thanks very much to Amy and Paul.

Amy playing with Scar

Paul and one of the small salties

Besties having cuddles, so cute :)

American Alligator

Goldie

Scar, playtime

Hungry…  and focussed

Jumping

All those teeth!

Ready to jump

Newly hatched butterly

A day out in the Hauraki Gulf

I needed cheering up after several days of inaction in Auckland, so booked a dolphin and whale cruise on the Gulf.

It was a stunning day and looking out for signs of dolphins was fun.  Lots of bird life around and eventually lots of dolphins.  Sadly no whales but I was very happy to have seen my first penguins in the wild instead.

Rangitoto Island - the cloud was the only one in the sky!

Racing the boat

There was lots of jumping and showing off

Team racing

Single slalom

Show jumping

That little grey blip in front of the dolphin is a penguin!

There was a serious race for life going on here

I thought it was a goner until he did the scared bunny veer right trick

And swam off into the deep blue - safe for now.

Sheerwater

Gannet

Gannet