Dave almost stood on a sea lion lion. Not deliberately of course.

Ulva Island is a popular destination for folk visiting Stewart Island. Its trails are clear and well maintained and its claim to be predator free means it attracts people wanting to see and hear native birds. We anchored off a beach, pootled ashore and picked up one of the circular walks. Not far, maybe an hour and half to do a loop.

Dave was spying into the bush, and slowly walking slightly sideways when the air was filled with a stark “Ahhh”. He stopped abruptly, wobbled on one leg, then quickly hopped a couple of steps away from a seemingly camouflaged  lounging female sea-lion that had scrummaged up into the bush from the beach. Neither were injured and we scooted away.

We’ve been on Stewart Island for over a month. Today is the first crappy day weather wise. Incredible in a very good way. We’re a long way south and last year, a front a week came through. The locals say they need rain.

We’ve walked, including Magog, Bald Cone and the Tin Range. We helped cut a new trail for predator control, we’ve fished, and dived for scallops and been given crayfish. The sea lions have delighted and scared us….I had a curious polite one come to nudge my fins when in the water one day. Dave had a big male that was a bit too curious when he was replacing the prop shaft anode underwater so he launched himself into the dinghy quite speedily.

Dave had a seven gill shark, very briefly on the fishing hook. It obviously didn’t like the paltry bait provided and quickly spat it out. Since then we’ve seen a few. The internet tells me this. “The sharpnose sevengill shark is reasonably small and is located in generally deep water, and these characteristics classify this shark as harmless to humans”. In fact, Dave seems to currently have an affinity for animals beginning with s.

Our house sale is still not quite over the line yet so we’ve staying (a day sail) close to a post office in case we need to sign any more documents and mail them back to the UK. It doesn’t feel like a hardship to be here though.