December 28-January 11
I'm out to sea again, this time to New Zealand!
I after a very long day of flying I arrived at noon in Queenstown NZ on Monday December 30, 2014. I discovered that one of my suitcases did not make it with me on the final transfer from Auckland (on the North Island) to Queenstown (on the South Island). Oh well, it couldn’t be too lost, so I filed a lost bag claim and headed to the hotel. The Millennium Hotel which is about a 10 minute walk from downtown and the wharf.
Queenstown is a lovely little town that is the base for all manner of exciting outdoor activities - Bungee jumping, jet boats, all water sports, hiking, Skiing (in winter), horseback riding, and more…
Downtown Queenstown
Town Pier
My tour group arrived the next day and that evening we celebrated New Year's Eve together at our welcome reception. This time the group consisted of alums from Harvard, Princeton, MIT and Smith along with a few people from the National Trust and friends of Criterion Travel.
(my suitcase did arrive at the hotel - after a trip to Singapore!)
(my suitcase did arrive at the hotel - after a trip to Singapore!)
Happy 2015!
Dana Conley and me with silly hats!
January 1, 2015 Welcomed us with a dusting of snow on the distant mountain peaks!
Our first day of touring was a visit to a working sheep station called Walter Peak Farm. We rode on a coal fired steamer across Laka Wakatipu to get there, enjoying the clear skies, stunning mountains and calm water.
Our group disembarking the ferry
My kids gave me a selfie stick for Xmas - not much of an improvement, I'm afraid! You can see the old coal fired steamer that brought across the lake in the background.
Stunning scenery - pristine and unpopulated
Sheep look so silly
Our group departed Queenstown January 3 for Milford Sound, a 5-6 hour bus ride broken up by rest stops, photo ops and lunch.
On the way I spied this sign - my maiden name is Lumsden! Have to visit there one of these days. According to the bus driver, it is a very small town!
On the way there was this view..
Kea - New Zealand Mountain Parrot
Little waterfalls over the tunnel to Milford Sound
We boarded a ferry to tour Milford Sound, the sun coming out to greet us.
As we depart Milford Sound (really a fjord)
Windy and cool
After the rain, lots of waterfalls
Our ship!
Sunset on our first evening as we departed Milford Sound.
January 3
The weather allowed us to take Zodiacs to see Capt. Cook's Astronomy Mounument in Dusky Sound. First Zodiac experience - flawless.
The weather allowed us to take Zodiacs to see Capt. Cook's Astronomy Mounument in Dusky Sound. First Zodiac experience - flawless.
Very short walk - tiny little monumnet, like a land surveyors.
This is Daemon a Caledonian Naturalist who guided our walk and drove our zodiacs
Landing - so civilized - they put down towels so we wouldn't slip!
Captain Hakan Admarker welcomes us
Dana and me after the Captain's welcome reception - enjoying a moment!
Katie - our very helpful rep from Princeton Travel
A windy zodiac ride to Stewart Island
Splashed
Central Waterfront
January 4 - Stewart Island - two sites to visit here: Ulva island, a bird sanctuary and the town of Oban on Stewart Island. The roaring 40's were blowing which made the zodiac ride a very wet experience!
Hotel and Restaurant in Oban
If you go - there are many hiking trails!
Beautiful, empty spaces
A charming community of 432
Local color
Back on board we headed to Dunnedin - those fins are Pilot Whales!
January 5 - a visit to the Southern Albatross and Yellow Eyed Penguin nesting sites!
Albatross Visitors Center
Steep walk up to the viewing blind
Red Billed Gull
WWII Gun Enplacementes
My first official Albatross sighting
this is a photo of a photo
Inside the viewing blind
On to the juvenile Yellow Eyed Penguins
People are hidden so we don't disturb the nesting sites
Way in there is an adult standing around...
And the scenery was beautiful - stunning - extraordinary!
White Faced Heron
A suprise - this is the train station in Dunnedin
Mozaic floors - gorgeous interior
And for the train buffs
Dunnedin is the Gaelic word for Edinburgh - so our Cruise Director, Neil Horrocks, dressed up to greet us when we returned to the Caledonian Sky
Botanical Gardens
A guided tour at the Cantebury Museum
scrimshaw
The beginning of food packaging for expeditions
Where's my gps?
Christchurch merchants use containers to set up shop quickly, now it's a neat shopping area to visit while the rest of the business district is under construction
Dinner on board the Caledonian Sky on the Lido Deck
January 7 - Marborough Sounds - we visited Ships Cove - great hiking and a lovely waterfall. Also a funny little flightless bird called a Wecker and Capt. Cook's monument
Sunrise
The best crew ever!
Ships Cove
Pied Shag, a comorant
Juvenile pied shag
Zodiac ride to shore with Hannah, one of our naturalists
Wecker, a flightless bird related to the kiwi
Cooks monument
A peek at the Caledonian Sky
Rob Tate, Country Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Embassy Wellington, New Zealand invited aboard to give a short welcome
Wellington from our dock
Botanical Garden Tour
Old Saint Paul's
Tepapa Museum - go there, it's fantastic!
Wellington city view
And a diving board into the bay right next to our dock!
January 9 - at sea
January 10 - Tauranga and Rotorua
Pohutu Geyser in the
Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley
Raindrops sparkle on the ferns
Maori Arts & Crafts Institute
Welcome Ceremony
Dinner at the Captains table has its perks!
January 11 - Auckland
Auckland - departure day
See that rope? People pay money to be connected to it and make a 'controlled free fall' to the ground!
Massage chairs with a surprise at Auckland airport!!!
After a 3 hour delay in Auckland we finally arrived over SFO but had to circle around a bit to before landing! Good to be home again, looking forward to India next!
