TASMANIA TO NEW ZEALAND 2011
Near Con Dock in Hobart a testament to Antarctic exploration. Sea Shepherd ships in background are about to head off to whaling grounds. We taught astro navigation to some of the crew.
All at sea on a calm day in the Tasman. It took us 8 days to get to the bottom of Stewart Island, south of the South Island of New Zealand.
Bluff Harbour from part way up the Bluff hill. Expeditus is moored with the fishing boats in the inner harbour. Waves would toss the bow 10 feet into the air then down to the waterlevel in the 35 knot winds with the tide running strongly. Heavy wooden fender boards were a necessity against the piles.
Some divers brought us some green lipped mussels to feast on. We bottled the excess in vinegar.
Port Chalmers half way along Otago Harbour.
Further up the harbour at the Otago Yacht Club, walking distance from the city of Dunedin.
Funny fungus on a walk through an eco sanctuary.
Further up the coast at Flea Bay near Akaroa on the Banks Peninsular. Fur seal in foreground & Expeditus behind. We rode out a 50 knot gale here which snapped our plywood windvane. We love our 90 pound anchor in those conditions!
20th January 2011, bound for New Zealand after stopping overnight at Wedge Bay, Tasmania. Columns of rock and Tasman Island in the background.
Blow hole erupts on the south east coast of Stewart Island. We anchored at Oyster Cove, Adventure Bay for the night as we were unable to reach Bluff, the port of entry, in daylight hours. We needed a daylight entry at slack water (high tide) to avoid the very strong tidal currents at Bluff Harbour.
Back to Stewart Island again after 12 days in Bluff. This time it is Glory Cove.
Sailing past Ruapuke Island between Stewart Island and the south of the South Island.
Cruise ships are a big feature at Port Chalmers, near Dunedin.
Sister in law Lynda took us for several drives around about. This is on the east side of the Otago Peninsular.
Unique boulders on the beach at Moeraki.
Mountain Lake on our drive up to Christchurch.