We left Burnie Tasmania and headed for New Zealand. After two days sailing the Tasman Sea we approached Milford Sound. A pilot arrived on a speed boat to help navigate.
Here are a few pictures taken on the way into Milford Sound.
The following day we arrived at Dunedin. Here is a shot taken from the boat which was moored at Port Chalmers, the main port for Dunedin.
We went on a tour that took us up to the Otago Peninsula, close to Dunedin.
The brush at the edge of the beach below (on a private sheep farm) is home to Blue Penguins (sometimes called Fairy Penguins because of their small size). We were able to see some of the mothers on their eggs and with their chicks but were not allowed to take any pictures.
The next day we were supposed to land near Christchurch, but a nearby cyclone brought 55 knot winds (~110 km/hr) and 21 foot seas, so the ship was unable to land. Below is a picture taken after the seas had subsided a bit.
The following morning we arrived in Picton at the north end of the South Island. Julie and I went into town and did a hike.
Tomorrow we head to Napier, then Tauranga and finally Auckland where the cruise ends.
WR Foster 