During the overland excursion after Queenstown, we drove to Middlemarch to board the Taieri Gorge train.  We were told that we probably saw about 1 million sheep during this excursion, and I believe it.  In addition, there were a number of ranches that also raise herds of deer for food, which was interesting to see.  Although we ran into rain on the drive to Middlemarch, it was beautiful when we arrived for the train trip down to Dunedin.  We had a box lunch on the train, which was nothing special.  However, the trip itself was beautiful.  Graham, our guide, was in a bit of panic because we were running late on our way to Middlemarch, however, it turned out that the train was waiting for us because Radisson (this was in 2005) passengers had the train completely to themselves—it wasn’t a very big train.  We arrived at the Dunedin Railway Station and went on a brief sightseeing tour of the city.  Dunedin is known as the “Edinburgh of the South,”—apparently it’s laid out like Edinburgh, Scotland.  We saw what is said to be the steepest street in the world, and Otago University.  We arrived at Port Chalmers to reboard the Mariner at about 5:30 PM. 

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Eugene