Gisborne, New Zealand, 2/1/2023, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
Australia and New Zealand
Today we had a choice of three different visits: the National Arboretum, a tour of some local wineries, or the Waipura Station, a working sheep and cattle farm located just outside of town. All three choices were well worth the effort, but my time was spent at Waipura Station, and it offered such wonderful insight into a lifeblood of New Zealand.
Our first stop was the shearing barn, where we were treated to a shearing demonstration and an orientation about a typical sheep farm. We headed off to the main house for a cupper (some tea and coffee) and some treats and finished off with a muster of the sheep by the dogs of the station. The MacLaurin family owns the station, and they could not have been more welcoming. It was hard to get everyone onto the buses for our trip back to the ship.
Steve Morello has had a long and colorful career in the natural history world. Born in New Jersey, he was lucky to be able to summer on the shores of Cape Cod. Whether it was exploring the tidal pools, snorkeling along the beach, or hiking in the dun...
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After breakfast, most of the guests walked off the ship at the Port of Tauranga and took a bus ride to the fascinating area of Rotorua. The drive through the outskirts of one of New Zealand’s largest provincial cities was interesting enough, but when we got to our destination – Te Puia Rotorua – a whole new adventure began. We were met by our guide and walked into the facility to view the area best known for geothermal wonders, breathtaking natural beauty, and a vibrant Māori culture. Our first stop was to observe spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, boiling lakes, and colorful sinter terraces. The viewing area took us up close to the action, and the smell of sulfur was in the air. We also learned about New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, and conservation efforts to protect the species. We observed a couple of the quirky, flightless birds digging and foraging in their special nighttime enclosure. Then we were treated to a traditional Māori greeting and invited into a Marae for a superb cultural performance. An excellent buffet lunch at the Pātaka Kai restaurant followed. Then we enjoyed a visit to the Ahua Gallery to learn about Māori arts and crafts, including woodcarving, weaving, and stone and bone carving. It was an exciting, informative, and wonderful excursion.
Kia Ora from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Today is day one on our Aotearoa Odyssey, and we are eager to take in the wonders of these beautiful islands of New Zealand. Our adventure started at the Scientific Reserve of Tiritiri Matangi Island, home to a diverse environment of endemic trees and plant life and a haven to many local birds. Guests trekked through this rarely visited island treasure with local guides who were excited to share stories of the care they give to the many varieties of birds and plants in their forest. We were met by a slight drizzle of rain as we approached the shore, and this only added to the beauty of the forest walk. We sighted many bird feeding stations along the tracks. The birdsong was deafening but melodious, and the tracks were well marked with great stairways leading us into the dense flora. Guests lunched on sandwiches prepared by Executive Chef Rannie and Chef Andy on the back deck of National Geographic Orion before disembarking. In the late afternoon, we were treated to German hotdogs and ice-cold beers on the back deck as we ship cruised around Little Barrier Island.
The last excursion of this great voyage began with heavy rain. Hopefully this weather is the tail end of an incredible easterly rainstorm that has battered Auckland with the highest rainfall in recorded history. Located in the Hauraki Gulf and the Auckland region, Great Barrier Island was no exception. Our intention at Great Barrier Island, also called Aotea locally, was to visit Glenfern Sanctuary, a predator proof peninsula. Aboard National Geographic Orion, we received a briefing from Steve, the park manager, who explained the incredible history of the peninsula. Ranging from early settlers to World War II bases, the history of the island is rich. Part of this story is the beginning of a guest house in the late 1800s when the park was logged from ancient podocarp forest into grass farmland. More recently, an Auckland sailor had a vision to create a bird sanctuary in this damaged ecosystem. Glenfern began with a predator proof fence to keep out pests like rats, stoats, and cats, followed by a mass native tree planting project. Aboard Zodiacs, we traveled to the peninsula in thoroughly wet conditions…thankfully, smiles were still on our faces! We split into different groups and headed for three main destinations: Sunset Rock for peninsula views; the ancient Kauri for a treetop experience; and the ancient Puriri tree for a look inside the temperate subtropical forest of northern New Zealand. The heavy rain continued, and many of the trails were running with water. The expedition remained unbothered by this as we searched for some of North Island’s unique birdlife and rainforest. Today, we were lucky to see kākās, red-fronted kakariki, fantails/pīwakawakas, New Zealand storm petrels, and tūīs. These were special sightings! One of New Zealand’s most famous tree species is the kauri. It is one of the most striking Northland trees, capable of living for up to 2,000 years. At Glenfern, we had the privilege of clambering into the lofty canopy of a ‘young’ ancient kauri. A final highlight from the 3rd of February was a circumnavigation of Little Barrier Island during dinner.
