We arrived on the Morning of the 30th during periods of pouring rain. We didn’t have much choice about getting out in the weather to drop sails and come alongside the Customs Quay. The officials’ normal enthusiasm was a bit dampened, however. Our papers were neatly in order, our prohibited foodstuffs were bagged and ready to hand over, and Rebecca was her normal, winning self. So clearance went smoothly and we felt welcomed back to New Zealand.
The cold rain over the last few days is taking a bit of getting used to. We are reading, napping, sleeping, and talking about the short list of tasks before getting underway again. This season we will cruise and land tour a lot of New Zealand. To get in the swing, we plan on leaving the marina in a couple of days and day-hopping down the coast to their Great Barrier Island. I understand the diving for “Crayfish” and abalone is spectacular. The locals recommend a 7-mil wet suit. I only have a 5-mil and haven’t seen my hood in years. If only I had a 75-foot trawler I could walk down to the dive locker and pull out a dry suit for these special occasions. If I remember correctly, I’m supposed to have two or three slugs of rum as a belly warmer before the dive.
According to Lonely Planet…
New Zealand is a country of rare seismic beauty: glacial mountains, fast-flowing rivers, deep, clear lakes, hissing geysers, and boiling mud. There are also abundant forest reserves, long, deserted beaches, and a variety of fauna, such as the kiwi, endemic to its shores. Any number of vigorous outdoor activities – tramping (hiking), skiing, rafting and, of course, that perennial favorite, bungy jumping – await the adventurous. You can swim with dolphins, gambol with newborn lambs, whale watch, or fish for fattened trout in the many streams. The people, bound in a culture that melds European with Maori ancestry, are resourceful, helpful, and overwhelmingly friendly. The extraordinary place names – try Te Awamutu, Whangamomona or Paekakariki for tongue-trippers – are resonant and, with a modicum of practice, easy to pronounce.
Because it’s such a compact place, travel within New Zealand – whether by plane, bus, rail, car, or bicycle – is affordable and efficient. Accommodation too is cheap and varied. And the culinary promise of venison, fresh seafood, sublime ice cream, and award-winning wines should more than whet the appetite. (Courtesy of www.lonlyplanet.com)
