Osborne land

Welcome to the Republic of Osborne Land. That's what some of the folks around these parts jokingly refer to this place as. A menagerie of characters - farmers, families, artists, retirees call this little nook of peninsula north of Dunedin home.

By Dunedin standards this is a backwater, though only 30 minutes drive away. But I like it out here fare more than the gray city streets. Big views over tidal bays, rolling hills speckled with sheep and horses, huge gnarled cedars and thorny hedgerows all add character to this place. Hawks soar in the meadows overhead, kingfishers chatter across the mud flats, tui birds and little owls ring the tree fern forests with sound, and the misty air of the Pacific ensconce the green hillsides in mystery.

Osborne is a little escape from the world beyond. This is Robbie feeding some horses on our way back from town today.