Last days of New Zealand

Before embarking on our leg to the cook islands, we spent four more days in the Bay of islands.  Anchoring each night in a different bay, the water was so calm you'd think we were on a lake.  Serene ad beautiful, yes, but at the back of my head a little voice said 'the longer is it till we leave,  the harder the seasickness.' I shook this voice off and continued admiring the view.

I enjoyed watching the natural world and the native wildlife. on a few occasions blue penguins popped up next to the ship and dolphins still hitched a ride on the bow.

One morning we were having breakfast when some one called out 'dolphins!!!!!'  When I left the deckhouse you could see them coming a mile off, a whole pod making their way across the still water to the ship . One after the other, they made their way past. Above is the best shot I could manage and still does not capture how graceful these creatures moved in the water.. 

In a final farewell to civilisation, I had a extra large Cappacino in Russell. For some reason Coffee isn't so much fun without the foam.

And then, on a friday afternoon, we passed by 'the hole in the rock' and sailed away from New Zealands shores. With the sunsetting I remember thinking 'this is a beautiful part of the world.' but at the moment I want somewhere a little warmer- and less drizzle.

Our next leg is a big one. Last year it took them 19 days to reach the Cook Islands from New Zealand, and depending on the weather, it could take longer.  After running into two storms on the Tasman, I mentally prepared myself for sleepless nights, runaway food and homicidal cooking equipment.

Shore leave in Paihia

Between refit and sailing the Tasman, there has been zero time off.  Thankfully, even with the short turnover before our  next voyage begins, all crew were allocated 24 hours away from the ship. My time started at 6pm Sunday night and ended 6pm Monday.  So what to do with a day off the ship?

First you book a room at a motel in Paihia, a quick skip and jump away from Opua. Aloha resort was everything and more we could have wanted for our stay. Near town, large clean room, TV, kitchen, shower, free Internet and a patio area. Oh and its also cheap as, god love off season prices.

Then you add a little alcohol.

You take a lot of long showers.  None of them are less than 30 seconds.

Perhaps order a takeaway - Indian is preferred.

oh and you'll find yourself glued to the music videos and realise you have no idea who any of the artists are.

You probably will sleep in. The double is too much to resist after life in a single bunk.  But when you do start to stir (and have had your morning coffee), its worth walking to the beach...

The morning is beautiful, the people far between.

After checking out late (already prearranged), you buy a few bits and pieces you 'need' before hitting the Pacific islands. i.e Snorkel gear, sunblock, antiseptic and sunglasses. You buy more coffee, just because you can.
Rain comes in and its time to share a pizza.  But you guys might stop there and leave the wine alone, maybe that's just me.

You also need a haircut, those split ends are terrible. Even though you are more scared of Hairdressers than dentists, you go through with it. It ok, you survived.  have another coffee to calm your nerves. 

And then it was time to head home to the ship, meet our new voyage crew and return to my bunk (good bye double bed, it was great while it lasted!). 

A town like Paihia was the perfect place for our shore leave. Set up for tourists, we could easily feel comfortable without having to ask  around and unnecessarily explore. 

But now, our next journey begins. To Rarotonga we go!!!

Exploring the bay of Islands

The next day we moved over to New Zealand's oldest European settlement, Russell. A sleepy tourist village, after doing some food shopping for the ship, I had about 40 minutes free time.

 I chose to spend my time buying a hat and drinking a little coffee. 

Other crew members decided on another approach....

Yep, two of our deck hands decided that what they really needed to remind them of their ocean passage was matching yellow smiley faces on their arses. No, I am not joking.

After Lunch and all parties were back aboard, The Soren cruised over to Robertson Island, where one of Soren Larsen's old skippers is now care taker.  When I went a shore, I made the decision not to take a camera. Some times we can get so caught up in capturing moments, you're not really present. I walked the beach, looked for interesting shells and sat by a calm lagoon.  It was great to have time alone and not be thinking about anything in particular.  I have to say that island was one of the most beautiful places on earth.

That night we ate mussells, cockles and a BBQ. I was also introduced to fig-eras which tasted amazing.  In the morning there was some sailing to be done - and the ship was taken out to see for the day. Setting anchor at Russell, the voyage crew left on the Friday morning. It was sad to see some great people leave to move on with their travels.

And now, its turn around time. Sitting along side in Opua, all hands are busy setting up the ship for our next big voyage - our 32 day trip to the Cook Islands.

Arriving in New Zealand

A day after sighting land and making our way down the coast, we anchored at Opua to be processed by customs and then stay the night. Have to say, arriving in a new country via a Tall ship is probably the coolest way I've crossed a border.  With a break in the watch system, voyage crew could let off some steam. For me highlights included driving the tender (I am determined to become a pro by the end of the season) and hopping on land to get an ice cream. After the rough seas of the Tasman, the bay of islands welcomed us with calm waters, finally we could make pancakes! Sounds trivial but breakie ideas in a rolling ship can get quite hard to come up with. ....

And the next day, we went to explore the bay of islands further...

Sailing the Tasman sea: From Oz to New Zealand

 Ten days without seeing land - eleven until we anchored.  After leaving the heads of Sydney, we were greeted by a massive swirl...and sea sickness took hold. For the first few days to say I was a little useless was not an over statement. Getting used to the roll of the ship down below and in the galley took some time. The exhaustion from working in a moving environment - holding onto pots and yourself and in fear that some thing will hit you on the head (some thing random like a cheese grater) meant all you want to do is sleep. And then on day two and day five the Tasman unleashed its storms. With the lightning, 40 knot winds and crashing waves, I feel lucky to be alive. But we are and with all that included I wouldn't take my time on this journey away. Because once I got into the routine of ship life, you can appreciate what's around you.

Predominantly, this is a lot of blue ocean.  Everyday the same view, except for small differences. This is usually the weather.  You are alone, maybe every third day you'll see a tanker on the horizon. However sometimes you'll have the odd visitor.....

 Dolphins, I'll never get bored of seeing them play around at the baow of the ship. And there were other wild life. Having  pilot whales near the ship was a great surprise (I had never heard of them before and thought they were some demon dolphins!) and spotting an albatross for the first time was a pivotal moment.

When the sky was clear and the water a little less 'rolly' than usual, being aboard the Soren Larsen in the Tasman seas was a gift.  Sure this was an endurance test rather than a pleasure cruise, but it made me realise I could do this.  And then, land ahoy! on the tenth day, I woke up to see New Zealand for the first time.

Finally, we had arrived...