New Zealand, “Land of the Long White Cloud”

For the next 2 1/2 days and 1,130 nautical miles we again enjoyed mild weather and smooth seas as we plied south to New Zealand.

After 16 days aboard, we continued to enjoy the ship’s amenities including the Sanctuary on Deck 15 aft.

The Sanctuary is a quiet, outdoor spot  to escape to when you simply want to relax and ignore everything else for a  while. This area of the ship is for adults only and is a completely stress-free setting.

We chose a perfect weather day to enjoy the Sanctuary for Lunch, then High Tea, served at our reserved chaise lounges.

 

Of course, we made fast friends with the Dining Room Staff. From the Restaurant Managers to all of the Waiters and Junior Waiters, they all ensured that we enjoyed a superlative dining experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We always looked forward to visiting with Mario, Tyrone and “Super Mario”, the junior waiter who always magically appeared like Spiderman armed with his trusty pepper mill.

 

The menu items were varied, well presented and delicious. We quickly realized that weight maintenance would be a losing battle.

 

We could always count on Mario, the affable and linguistically gifted Restaurant Manager, to create fabulous and creative additions to the already diverse menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner was followed by a Production Show or a myriad of other activities including live music venues with all types of music, as well as, Music Trivia Games and Karaoke. 

Robin was a star at any of the Musical Trivia shows. Here she is after naming 16 Hits to win Dance and Party Song Bingo!

Exercise your Thing? Then you can visit the gym, walk the promenade on Deck 7 or join in with the Zumba fans!

If you enjoy quiet, there is always the internet cafe, library, card room, wedding chapel or a myriad of spots tucked away to enjoy a good book, or in Robin’s case, needlepoint.  If you’re bored. . . you must be dead!

Since my first visit to New Zealand in 1986, I have returned several times to visit. It is spectacular! 

New Zealand is an island country in the Southwest Pacific Ocean consisting of two larger islands, North and South and over 700 smaller islands. It was the last largest habitable land to be settled by humans in about 1300 who developed a distinctive Maori culture. In 1841 it became a colony of the British empire and is now a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.

It was the first country to introduce a minimum wage and give women the right to vote and has low levels of corruption. It is regarded as one of the world’s most stable and well-governed states.

Today, the population of 5.25 million, mostly of European descent, represent only 5% of the population. . . the rest are sheep, cows and horses!

New Zealand is known for its competitive international teams in many sports, most notably cricket, sailing and rugby. The national rugby team is known as the “All Blacks”, regarded as one of the most successful sports teams in history.

Auckland with its population of 1.5 million people on the North Island is New Zealand’s largest city and former capital it boasts scenic beauty, historical interest and a cosmopolitan collection of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries and gardens. One of New Zealand’s fine wine districts lies to the north of Auckland.

The climate is classified as subtropical with warm summers and mild damp winters. Of course, since it is February and mid-summer here in the Southern hemisphere, the weather was great with temps in the 70s and low humidity.

On this visit, we were headed south to Waitomo, a rural community in the King Country region of New Zealand’s North Island. There are several cave systems in the area that are known as one of New Zealand’s best natural attractions.

We boarded a sleek Black motorcoach, which was actually the “All Blacks” Rugby Team Bus and headed south past the Skytower to State Highway 1.

 

The driver/guide of Maori decent greeted us with “Kia Ora” the Kiwi hello that translates to “have life” or “be healthy”. He told us to expect lots of attention on the highway due to the team’s international prominence.

The driver gave us a glimpse into the life of  the First National People. Maori language and culture is an integral part of the New Zealand experience.

During the 3 hour trip which included a rest stop at a colorful pastry/coffee shop he regaled us with the finer points of Maori culture.

We arrived at Waitomo Caves and took a well-organized  tour  for 1.5 hours.

 

 

 

We explored the cave on foot before embarking on a boat ride, gliding silently through the starry wonderland created by the Glowworms.

 

 

The glowworm (Arachnocampa Luminosa) is unique to New Zealand. They are actually tiny, mosquito-sized creatures that radiate a sparkling, fluorescent blue-green glow that illuminates the caves and underground streams leaving us spellbound.

Next, we took a  short  scenic drive to Crosshills Farm for an  opportunity to meet the owners and savor a home-cooked lunch amidst a lovely English garden setting.

The weather was absolutely perfect at 75º with a soft gentle breeze wafting over the hillside farm and garden.

After a stroll through the yard and garden we relaxed on the drive back to Port.

Happy to see that the Island Princess our new home was safely docked at the Port of Auckland where we left her, we went about our usual shiply routine. . . Cocktails and Dinner anyone?

Due to a delay our 1 am departure from Aukland allowed for a farewell photo.

 

After yet another blissful day at sea,  we rounded North Island and proceeded southward and arrived at the city of New Plymouth at Port Taranaki.

 

New Plymouth is a city on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. It only recently received cruise ships, but it’s known for its coastal walkway stretching to Port Taranaki.

After taking the free Cruise shuttle to the CBD (Central Business District), we met with a City “ambassador” on the street near the i-Site, New Zealand’s official visitor information network. One thing that seems to be universal, Kiwis are friendly, helpful and always up for a chat.

It was suggested that we take a short walk through the town and visit Pukekura Park with its premier botanical garden, birdlife and Sports Complex.

We enjoyed the walk through the New Zealand’s sunshine capital with views of Mount Taranaki to the Park Entrance.

There we spent 2 hours meandering through dense native walkways, by waterfalls and over bridges enjoying the tree collection, fern gullies and hidden dells.

 

After admiring the stunning freshwater lakes and streams, we enjoyed a coffee at the teahouse before continuing on to explore more of the garden.

 

 

 

We returned to the CBD (Central Business District) to board the quick shuttle back to the ship. . .  and there he was at the dock. . . . . “Super Mario” is everywhere!

 

As we departed the port,  we got a great view of Mount Taranaki considered New Zealand’s most perfect volcano shape. It was used as a backdrop in the filming of “The Last Samurai” with Tom Cruise.

For a bit of  Trivia while still in the North Island, we learned that the longest place name in the world is in New Zealand. It is a hill near the small township of Pōrangahau in the  south-east of the North Island of New Zealand called:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

Not on everyone’s bucket list, unlike South Island, where we are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

Located at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, Picton is the gateway to the South Island’s famed Marlborough District. We stalked through the Sound in the early morning close to the picturesque islands and bays.

If you travel by car between the capital city of Wellington of the North Island and the scenic town of Picton on South Island you must take the 3-hour trip by a modern ferry to cross the Cook Strait, enjoying a wonderful cruise through the picturesque sound along the way.

As in New Plymouth, on disembarking we again caught of wonderful aroma of freshly cut lumber emanating from the huge stacks of logs.

New Zealand has over 25 million acres of forests covering 38% of the land. New Zealand’s forestry industry is largely based around sustainably managed plantation forests. About 90% of plantation forests are radiata pine the remainder are Douglas fir, eucalyptus, and other softwood and hardwood species.

In New Zealand, 96% of plantation forests are privately owned and used for commercial timber production.

Trees have reached harvest age and strong demand from China has delivered record prices. Many ports been extending log yards and wharf space to cope with the demand.

The Marlborough region boasts dramatic sea and landscapes, fascinating wine country, excellent restaurants and a number of the nation’s finest gardens.

We made our way to the Picton waterfront to enjoy a cruise through the tranquil waters of Queen Charlotte Sound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We boarded a Power Catamaran for a tour of the Sound.

 

 

 

 

Stellar views are everywhere including unspoiled natural scenery, lush forests, and scattered settlements that add a spot of color to the coastline.

The nutrient-rich waters are a feeding ground for seals, seabirds and dolphins. As we hugged the rugged shoreline and we stopped at Double Cove, a quiet bay, to feed the fish. On our return, we got a great view of our ship in the Port.

While strolling in the small CBD, we took the opportunity to visit the nearby Edwin Fox, one of the world’s oldest surviving merchant ships and the only surviving ship that transported convicts to Australia. At the museum we came across a copy of the convict manifest:

Continuing our walk in perfect 75º sunny weather, we returned the CBD pickup the shuttle back to the ship. After a relaxing evening including cocktails and dinner, we chatted with a few new friends and prepared for yet another relaxing sea day, but later got another bit of bad news that due to the severe weather in the Fiordlands of South Island where we were headed, we will not be visiting the Fiords, due to heavy seas. . . Damn!   I’ll have to dig through my archives and relive the trip sailing through Milford Sound using the photos I took in 1986.

We arrived at now our last stop in New Zealand, Port Chalmers, gateway to Dunedin,  located eight miles from the city center. Perched on the hills above one of New Zealand’s loveliest harbors, Dunedin is a Kiwi city with a Scottish heart often called the “Edinburgh of New Zealand,”  The city also boasts a distinguished architectural and cultural history, a legacy of New Zealand’s 1860s gold rush.

We took advantage of a half-day adventure which first included a visit to Baldwin lane, which Guinness says is the steepest street in the world.

 

 

 

 

We had the incredible opportunity to visit the Dunedin Botanic Garden. Established in 1863, it hosts a variety of plant collections set amidst 72 acres of natural beauty.

 

 

 

We explored  the formal paths but didn’t have nearly enough time to discover the 6,800 different species of plants from all over the globe.

It was on to the Iconic Dunedin Train Station, a 1906 building famed for its Flemish Renaissance architecture, mosaic floors & stained glass. It is the most photographed structure in New Zealand.

 

 

 

The interior detail was quite stunning including the ticket window and the detail in the mosaic floors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the train station we travelled through the CBD and up several hilly streets to a home perched upon a hill. . .  the Olveston House.  It was constructed by the David Thoemin, a Jewish importer and philanthropist. He lived with his  family of 4 and 7 servants in 35 rooms and 27 fireplaces.

From its construction in 1904-1906 to its bequeathal to the City of Dunedin in 1966 by Dorothy Theomin, only one family lived in the  Olveston House. It is this continuous heritage that provides such a unique glimpse of the era’s privileged lifestyle.

On our way back, it started to rain, so we passed on the walk back through Port Chalmers and returned directly to the ship.

 

 

“Super Mario” is there once again appearing magically at the gangway ready to offer water and a cold towel after a day of exploration.

 

 

After a bit of relaxation we prepared for a cocktail at  Crooners, dinner in the MDR (Main Dining Room)  and a late Comedy show by British comic Jeff Green.

And so it is with a longing to return, that we leave the wonderful country and people of New Zealand. We will sail around the South Island, unfortunately, missing our exploration of the Fiords, but anticipating all of the great things that the Land Down Under has to offer.

See you in Sydney!

Bobby Di