Fjordland National Park, New Zealand

On Tuesday, February 21^st we started our touring of the Fjordland National Park, New Zealand.  The day began with low clouds, overcast, and some rain.  The rain created many magnificent waterfalls throughout the fiords.  But, we ended the day with the sun peeking through the clouds.  We visited Milford Sound, home of the Sutherland Falls, the highest waterfall in New Zealand, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Thompson Sound.  This area was created long ago when glaciers slowly sculpted the beautiful fjords.  Leaving Fiordland, we crossed a very smooth Tasman Sea and got to see some very large albatross sailing on the strong winds.  As the day closed, we viewed a colorful sunset.

Auckland, New Zealand

Sunshine was the theme of the day as we arrived in Waitemata Harbor on February 18^th.  What a great view of the downtown area of Auckland, New Zealand!  In short order, the ship was cleared by the local officials and we were off to meet our dear friends Grant and Jenny.  We had originally met the both of them a few years ago while cruising and they were kind enough to meet us here in Auckland on last year’s world cruise.  Again this year they were very gracious and planned to travel over an hour from their home and meet us at the pier for another fun filled day in the countryside.  We were nearly the first people off the ship and in minutes we had located Grant and Jenny.  It was off to our favorite street side café along the beach for a great Kiwi breakfast at the Mission Bay Café.  The food is always good and the bowls of coffee are excellent.

After a good breakfast we were off for a trip up the Matakana Coast to wine country, about an hour from Auckland.  Up Highway 1 to Warkworth then across country roads through Matakana and on to Leigh.  There we got grand views overlooking Matheson’s Bay.  Plenty of shoppers were found in and around the local market in the small town.  Afterward, we headed back toward Matakana and down Tongue Farm Road to the Morris & James factory and outlet.  Our hosts had arranged for us to get a private tour of the factory by a member of the staff.  Each piece of their pottery and sculptured ceramics is hand-decorated by the experienced artisans in vibrant colors.  Morris and James has a great place to relax and have a good meal.  It is called The Pottery Café. 

Back on the road again after a great lunch, we headed toward Auckland and on to the Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World.  You would never envision a live underground penguin colony made up of King and Gentoo penguins.  We boarded heated Snow Cats and entered the frozen landscape where we viewed penguins in and out of the water.  Also part of this exhibit is a Stingray Bay enclosure and an adjoining Underwater World full of stingrays, eels, sharks, sea turtles and over 1500 fish all viewable as you walk through clear acrylic tunnels. 

We can’t say enough about our hosts, Grant and Jenny and how much we appreciate their hospitality and friendship.  Hopefully, we can convince them to return to Las Vegas in the very near future so we can show them the sights in Nevada and Arizona.

The Pacific Princess headed out of the harbor from Auckland at around 11:00pm.  We will spend two days at sea prior to arriving at the Fiordland National Park on February 21^st.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Just prior to sunrise on February 17^th our ship passed cape Wiwiki and Cape Brett as we entered the bay on the northern coast of New Zealand.  This area on the North Island is known as the Bay of Islands.  It is the place where in 1840 the British made a pact with Maori chieftains known as the Treaty of Waitangi.  Our passage into the bay was beautiful with low clouds and fog hanging over the hills on both sides of the ship.  We got a wonderful view of the small town of Russell in this early predawn light.  We were extremely surprised by the number of dolphins who greeted our ship and stayed with us until we were anchored.

Once we were anchored in the bay, we went ashore using the ship’s tenders.  The ride ashore took about 20 minutes.  The local community of Paihia provided very nice buses to take us from the pier at the yacht club were the tenders docked to the downtown area.  We spent some of our time there walking the Paihia wharf and downtown shops and restaurants.  The local community had a craft fair arranged for us on the green in front of the library.  Of course Cindy couldn’t resist looking at some of the handmade ancient Kauri wood bowls and platters.  Most of this wood has been dug up and reclaimed after being buried for thousands of years by previous tsunamis.    

After a beautiful sunny day, the weather did begin to change a little for the worse.  The ship waited for about an hour for some thunderstorms to clear before we departed the bay at around 6:00pm.  We caught a good view of some flying fish as we departed.

Our next stop tomorrow, February 18^th is Auckland, New Zealand.

Dravuni Island, Fiji

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On Monday, February 13^th we arrived inside the Great Astrolabe Reef which surrounds the islands in the Kadavu Group which are part of Fiji.  The area has some of the most beautiful water in the world.  As we dropped anchor, we could see Dravuni Island, one of the Pacific’s most unspoiled destinations.  It has one of the smallest populations in the Fijian islands, less than 200 people live there.  Crystal clear waters and a breathtaking secluded beach make Dravuni Island as close to a deserted island as you may every get.

We tendered from the ship to shore in some rather rough water.  It had been so rough the previous evening, that the floating pier at the island had been broken.  The Captain sent an engineering party ashore ahead of us to repair the pier.  To our surprise we were greeted ashore by some of the local tribesmen.  Just a few hundred feet from the shore was the Meeting House for the village council.  It is an open sided thatched roof structure with a woven matt covering the floor.  There we met the Chief and some of his Council.  These structures are found throughout the South Pacific in each and every village.

As we walked through the very small village we were greeted with Bula Bula (Welcome) from the local villagers.   All of these people were friendly and each wanted to know where we were from.  We spent considerable time talking with many of them.  One happened to be the local minister.  He explained that they ate bread fruit, coconut, mango, taro roof, fish, and some chicken and pork.  As we continued walking the village we had the opportunity to look inside many of the homes.  Most don’t have screened windows.  All of the homes collect rain water in large tanks for drinking. 

During our walk along the beach area, several passengers reported being stung by jelly fish.  None of them was seriously injured since the jelly fish were very small.

We departed Dravuni Island at 6:00pm traveling west to avoid Cyclone Jasmine that was headed to our original destination, Tonga.  Due to the cyclone, this port call we canceled.  Next stop is Bay of Islands, New Zealand on Friday, February 17^th.

Tropical Cyclone Jasmine

The Captain just sent everyone a letter officially announcing the change in itinerary.  We will now be at sea on Feb 14, 15, and 16.  Will arrive at Bay of Islands, New Zealand on the 17th and and arrive in Auckland, New Zealand on Feb 18th at 8:00am.