New Zealand here we come
by bianchis
"Back home"
See New Zealand page
Although Captain Cook spotted the narrow entrace to Doubtful Sound in 1770 he was doubtful if he sailed the Endeavour inside, that there would be enough wind to carry her out again.
Our yatch 65 feet. 2 sails.
NZ Programme December01/ January02
Where to find us
12.01 till 15.12.01 Cintra Apartments Auckland
"Doubtful Sound"
40 km long 420m deep. The sound of silence. Access from Wilmot Pass.
Very impressive:
The Helena Falls
Bauza Island
The Hares Ears
Rounded sea-warm Nee Islets - fur seals
Blanket Bay Hotel
"Camelot River"
A superb river beneath overhanging moss-laden trees.
Red algae coated rocks.
Febrero Point
1793 The Spanish expedition
Doubtful Sound
by bianchis
"Captain Cook and Doubtful Sound"
Although Captain Cook spotted the narrow entrace to Doubtful Sound in 1770 he was doubtful if he sailed the Endeavour inside, that there would be enough wind to carry her out again.
"Peace and tranquility"
Most people choose Milfort Sound rather than Doubtful Sound which makes Doubtful Sound a more peaceful place to visit.
"Access trhough Wilmot Pass"
The trip starts from Manapouri a combination of bus and boat tour. After a trip on the boat across the Manapouri lake the bus takes you over the Wilmot Pass to the Fiord. There we joined the ship for an unforgettable
trip from one end of the Doubtful Sound to the other.
"Breaksea Girl"
Our 65ft motor sailing vessel for 4 wonderful days and nights.
We explored ever nook and cranny of this wonderful lake and discovered the world of penguins, seals and dolphins.
"Walks in the bush"
Lots of islands to visit.
"Silence"
The sound of silence only broken by birds tomtits, brown creepers, grey warblers, fantails, bellbirds.
Doubtful Sound
40 km long and 420 meters deep.
"Magical"
"Blanket Bay Hotel"
The sense ofisolation is apparent
"Marcaciones Point"
Febrero Point 1793 the Spanish expeditions 2 ships.
"Tannin coloured water"
Heavy rainfall creates a permanent freshwater layer above the sea water within the fjords. Stained by tannins washed out of the vegetation,this layer cuts down the amount of light and restricts almost all of the marine life to the top 40 metres of water depth.
"Dolphins"
What glorious moments. Pods of dolphins frolicking around our boat.
It was almost as you could reach out and touch them
"More dolphins"
"Nee islets for Seals"
At the entrance of Doubtful Sound from Tasman sea. Rounded seaworn Nee Islets.
This was the turning point of our trip. We could feel the lashing of the waves and the wind in our sails it seemed as if we would crash any moment on the rocks of the seal colony.
"More seals"
"Tasman"
Rough
the Hares Ears
Approaching the rough Tasman sea
"Leaving our ship"
to tour the little islands all around
"Mosquitoes and"
Adventure on one of the islands. Tried to go bare footed - rocks rough on the feet but the mossy parts were glorious.
The insects descended on us and without the insect repellant we would have been eaten up alive.
"Tree slips"
Tree slips contribute plant matter to the marine ecosystem.
The mountains just rise out of the water
