3 of 4 Sea Day to Melbourne -Day 49

SAIL THE TASMAN SEA
Just as many Americans and Europeans refer to a trans-Atlantic journey as "hopping the pond," Kiwis and Aussies refer to the Tasman Sea voyage between their countries as "crossing the ditch." The Tasman was named for Dutchman Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first European to set foot on New Zealand and the island of Tasmania in the 1640s. Sailing to trade spices for the Dutch East India Company, he was also in search of "Beach," a fabled land recorded by Marco Polo to overflow with gold. Later, British explorer James Cook sailed these waters, famously passing by the entrance to Milford Sound, believing it too narrow to lead anywhere.Read more