Land Ho!
After two days at sea, everyone on board was excited at the prospect of setting foot on dry land and stretching legs beyond the realms of the gym and outer decks. Hiking among the protected native forest on Ulva Island offered glimpses into what much of New Zealand must have looked like prior to human intervention. Bird song was a welcome serenade to hiking on terra firma among the dense undergrowth and below towering treetops.
This afternoon, we took Zodiac shuttles in the other direction to Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third largest island. A quick walk over the top of the Island landed us in the small town of Oban, famous for its museum, fish and chip shop, and merino and possum wool clothing store. Several took comfort in the availability of retail therapy, a pastime that hasn’t been available since we set sail from Dunedin at the start of the expedition.
Onwards and northwards to South Island!
