A muse on the Muse to NZ.

[drron]

The village could just be seen through the rain.

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Then it starts to clear as the pilot from the Regatta returns to base.

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[drron]

The optimists are out.

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Some for the rock fanciers.

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[love_the_life]

Think it looks very atmospheric and ethereal with the low cloud and fog, though the rain probably put a bit of a dampener on things.

 

[drron]

A few terns flew by.

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The rain was now very heavy.Bridge cam.

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[drron]

The last of Milford Sound.

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[drron]

As we approached Doubtful Sound the weather was bad.

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But the rain eased off.

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[drron]

The wind though was fierce.

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Probably an old rock fall.

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And an old land slide.

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[drron]

The weather kept improving.

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[drron]

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[drron]

An older landslip.

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Although there was occasional sunshine it was stillcold.

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[drron]

Waterfalls.

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[drron]

The last of Doubtful sound.In truth we hardly spent any time at all in Doubtful sound as it is a complex of several sounds with Doubtful at the interior.It meant we went in one sound and exited another.

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[drron]

The weather turned again as we exited the sounds.

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Dinner that night was in Atlantide.I started with the beef tartare and caviar whilst mrsdrron had the lobster salad.

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They were both very good.We both had the excellent NZ lamb cutlets.

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For desserts mrsdrron had the pavlova whilst I had their version of lemon meringue pie.

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Both excellent.The guest at the next table said I should take a picture of his cheesecake to round out the major desserts.

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[OATEK]

The last of Doubtful sound.In truth we hardly spent any time at all in Doubtful sound as it is a complex of several sounds with Doubtful at the interior.It meant we went in one sound and exited another.

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Sounds confusing.

 

[love_the_life]

The last of Doubtful sound.In truth we hardly spent any time at all in Doubtful sound as it is a complex of several sounds with Doubtful at the interior.It meant we went in one sound and exited another.

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Which seems to be the pattern for cruise ships. The only one that they really spend much time in is Milford.

 

[drron]

We spent just as much time here as Milford but not all in Doubtful sound.

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We came in through Thompson Sound,a short cross via Bradshaw sound and out Doubtful Sound.

 

[drron]

The next morning we awoke to a much nicer day as we approached Stewart Island.

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[drron]

We were meant to visit Stewart Island on the way back from Antarctica in 2011 but the seas were too rough for a landing.A brief sense of deja vu when it was too rough in the primary tender site in Halfmoon Bay and Oban.Fortunately the Captain had been here before when the primary landing site was across the isthmus at Golden Bay.Conditions there were good so off we set.The jetty where the tenders unloaded.

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A landslip with the earth with small trees being left with no support.

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Now mrsdrron had done her homework here and 3 months ago had arranged a rental car for 4 hours.None left on the day.It really was the way to go.Cheaper than the ship's tours and you saw the developed part of the island.This is a very small part of the Island with over 90% being National Park.Only 44Km of sealed road.We headed first to Horseshoe and Lees Bays.
We both like hydrangeas.Here they are magnificent.

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Lovebirds.

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The views are stunning.

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[love_the_life]

We spent just as much time here as Milford but not all in Doubtful sound.

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We came in through Thompson Sound,a short cross via Bradshaw sound and out Doubtful Sound.

Yes, think that is the tried and true cruise passage through the sounds. Milford is the single one they spend most time in though as they go up the sound and then turn around and go out again. The other they spend the hours getting in and out again.

 

[drron]

Horseshoe bay.

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Lots of birds on the beach and mostly not too wary of humans.

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But mother duck quickly got her ducklings out of sight.

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