Get well soon, Ngaire and Happy Thanksgiving to all aboard. Maybe you will have to take your pulmonary doctor aboard next time you travel. I am quite certain that would mean my better half as well!

Loving Mitch's note to Ngaire - he has good point Ngaire - your very own pulmonary doc :app: :app:

Just back on board after an amazing two days driving across the South Island of New Zealand. The scenery defies description!
We had a small group of 13 (guess who is lucky number 13?) led by a very personable and informative guide. He paced the trip really well and told many amusing stories. Did I mention the scenery is spectacular? Actually spectacular doesn't even begin to describe it.

Just back on board after an amazing two days driving across the South Island of New Zealand. The scenery defies description!
We had a small group of 13 (guess who is lucky number 13?) led by a very personable and informative guide. He paced the trip really well and told many amusing stories. Did I mention the scenery is spectacular? Actually spectacular doesn't even begin to describe it.

Wonderful T-day dinner. The crew couldn't have been more accommodating for "our" holiday.

Caught Navigator leaving Dunedin last night.
The second shot is from a cam at the Heads which overlooks the albatross colony.

We're pulling into another beautiful harbor (Christchurch today). I simply can't come up with enough adjectives to describe this place!!

Christchurch webcam

Heres another shot from the Lyttleton Port Cam. They usually berth on the outer wharf amongst all the containers , but Navigator has been berthed at Wharf No 2 which will give much easier access into the village.

I love your stalks, David!

what a great trip

Beautiful day in Christchurch today. Bright sunshine and warm temperatures. I am well and truly mended already and we enjoyed a stroll in Christchurch today opting to stay away from the "garden" tour. Been there and done that.

We found out there was a memorial to all firefighters made from some steel girders that fell from the 102nd floor of the world trade center during the September 11, 2011 attack. It was not in a very scenic location on a river bank by an street intersection but this is a scared maori site hence the location and very close to the Christchurch Fire Department. Ken took some pictures he will post this afternoon.

It was a pleasant walk and we came back via the Avon river what a pretty city Christchurch is, I often forget. We visited the cathedral and what is so nice is the New Zealand locals welcoming you as you go inside and the local housewifes were selling home baked Christmas cookies outside the Cathedral. The Cathedral is not as spectacular as the cathedrals you see in Europe but charming nevertheless.

I bought a traditional "custard square" and took it back on board to have with lunch. Ken bought a maori tee shirt and all blacks cap. Just a delightful morning.

Many took a long tour that included a jet boat ride and four wheel drive up to 2000ft of the high country with views of the Southern Alps. Could not be a better day for an adventure like that.

We talked to Don and Carolyn at lunch today who loved their over night Queenstown excursion that is really a good excursion to take. You miss very little sailing the bottom of New Zealand.

Tonight we have having dinner with Debbie's parents, Jean and Bill, Betty and Lauri and we special ordered herb crusted rack of lamb.

Tomorrow Ken and I are taking a tour in Wellington that will pass right by the house I grew up in on Petone beach. I am sure I will wishing I could get off the bus and buy a New Zealand TIP TOP HOKEY POKEY ICE CREAM at my old dairy stomping ground. This tour drives around the whole harbor and ends up at a sheep station at a scenic point where on a clear day you can see the tip of the South Island over Cook Strait. A home cooked morning tea (I am hoping for really good New Zealand scones) at the sheep station will be served. Probably not the most exciting tour but certainly perfect for me to visit the area I lived for 20 years.

Life does not get much better than this that is for sure. I always enjoy coming back to New Zealand I guess you never forget your roots and I do appreciate New Zealand I just love living in the United States.

Glad you are feeling much better, Ngaire. I am thinking that you are a lot like me, ie never sick. Allergies are another thing--not a sickness, but everyone around you thinks you must have a terrible plague with coughing so badly. I get that cough too, but it is just an allergy thing.
Have fun in your old stomping grounds!

Ngaire, we're hoping that you and Ken have a wonderful time on the Wellington tour! Glad you're all better.

SOO looking forward to many pix from all and particularly from Ken, with Ngaire's old "stomping grounds!" So glad you're feeling better!

MILFORD SOUND & CHRISTCHURCH, NZ.


A beautiful day in Milford Sound.


Sterling Falls.




Christchurch, NZ Firefighters Reserve and Monument to 911.






Punting down the Avon River.


Maori carving on the Avon in front of Christchurch City Hall.

Oh Ngaire, my mouth watered when I read about the Hokey Pokey ice cream - oh yummm!!! I just love it!

Ken - wonderful photos as usual - thanks!

Lee

Another fantastic day, and another long one. I took the jetboat and sheep station tour and am so glad I did. The incredible variety of scenery here completely amazes me. Christchurch seems to be a very pretty and charming city, unfortunately I didn't get to spend too much time here, but now I have another excuse to come back.

Gorgeous pix, as always, Ken! Thank you!
Regret that we didn't undertake the trip to NZ 15+ yrs ago when our son was working down there, as the photos I've always seen are mind-boggling! Was too intimidated by the long flight.

A lesson to all - just do it!

Arrived in Wellington. WHAT A DAY. Clear, sunshine, no wind. This city is called Windy Welliington, to get a day like this is truly spectacular. So looking forward to todays outing hope the weather holds it can change so quickly here but looks about as settled as one could imagine.

I can just about hear Fred talking about Ngaire's weather juju.....Thanks for all the reports and photos....

Looks like a lovely day in Wellington for everyone.

Yeah! Hokey Pokey ice cream...

I don't think the weather today could have been better. What's all this about "windy Wellington" and the "roaring 40's"?
Last night's lamb dinner was great. Funny thing; tonight on the menu is listed "Australian Lamb"....huh?
The waterfront and Te Papa museum were so beautiful and interesting. Once again, another day (at least) is in order.

Back from a beautiful drive along the shore. Watched sheep herding dogs at a scenic point overlooking Cook Strait, across which one could see the south island. May not sound like much, but was a spectacular day.

You don't need much for spectacular

Another spectacular weather day. The seas were a bit rough last night but nothing intolerable. Today I went to Sheep World, drove to the top of Te Mata peak and toured the Hawke's Bay countryside. At the top of Te Mata there was a man getting ready to leap off and parasail. What is it with these Kiwis throwing themselves off of things?

Today we are in Napier.....art deco buildings everywhere you look. City was destroyed by earthquake, then fire (ala San Fransisco) in 1931. Town decided to rebuild in this style. Ocean waves make it too dangerous to use much of the beach, but oh it is beautiful and lots of people appear to be making use of the perfect weather here today. Had a wonderful tour this morning through some very unique and beautiful countryside on a privately owned country farm that ended at a gannet sanctuary at Cape Kidnapper. 7000 gannets nesting in one spot overlooking the ocean. It was something to see. Will try to post a photo later. Our driver/guide was the former owner of this property so he was able to add many insights to the history of the land and the animals. After a stop at what I assume was his home for tea - I had the Kiwi juice instead, we proceeded back to the ship, leaving many in town for a shopping trip that was to include a trip to Possum World. I understand it feels wonderful, but for the life of me, I can't imagine when in Houston's weather possum might be appropriate apparel. Plus I had a football game to watch. Priorities! :) Having dinner tonight with 2 couples I met on one of my tours who attended the school during the same era as me. We are planning for this to be a celebratory dinner. But whatever happens......you all know the wine will flow.

double post. Sorry.

Opossum World! The possum fur mixed with merino wool prevents pilling and makes it warmer. And ... You are helping the NZers figure out what use to make of the pesky opossum.

Opossum-ick! We have plenty of the nasty creatures here, but I can't imagine wearing the pelt of one.

These possums are different than the ones we have in the US. These were imported from Australia. Their fur is very soft and plush. They are pretty much universally hated here in NZ because of the damage they do to the native plant and animal life.

Their fur is long haired amazingly soft. NOT like the rat-looking ugly ones crossing the roads at night here. But they are, like Lauri said, a hugh problem to the native plant life.

But yuck, so many of them, a huge road kill "thing" when you are touring by land! Our guide joked that when people are driving at night and see one, rather than put on brakes, you speed up. :o

I guess it is just the "thought" of wearing one?? Ugly little creatures

I've been away and am late in catching up with this thread but have just had fun reading all through it. What a fabulous trip! Oh how it makes me want to get back to New Zealand. One of these days ....

Glad the weather gods have been friendly. And Ngaire, glad you are back to 100%!

It's an overcast sea day. The swell is significantly less and even better the Captain informed us that we will actually dock in Tauranga tonight (instead of the morning) so it should be nice for sleeping. This afternoon we're scheduled to circle an active volcano (White island) then tomorrow I think most have full day tours to the volcanic inland. The disembarkation luggage tags arrived this morning....sad, but I've had a wonderful time and am ready to return home.

OH NO trip almost over???? Gosh times does fly

Capt McNeill at the Napier sail-away




Doug

handsome

He is...do not know many Capts we have cruised with but he was a great guy!!! always available and always nice