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New Zealand Cruise
  • Lacey Travels
  • Lacey Travels

New Zealand Cruise

A 14-day adventure by Lacey Travels Read more
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  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Photos of Napier before/after the earthquake & fire.
    The museum from the foreshore parkWe dress up with props of the time.The list of those who died - very detailed.List of unidentified bodies published in the newspaper.

    Napier Museum

    December 26, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Napier - the museum. 1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake and tsunami flattened the town and what wasn’t flat was burned in the fires. The town has been rebuilt to the art deco style of the time.
    Facts: Earthquake Feb 3 1931 ; 7.9 on Richter ScaleRead more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    To the south
    Sun baking on the beach, no one swimming.Looking north towards the portBlack pebble beachesRemnants of an old wooden pier. Driftwood is a full log, not a branch.Close up of the beach surface

    Hawkes Bay

    December 26, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Hawkes Bay is a large semi-circular bay which extends for more than 100kms. It has black pebble beaches with a huge tide. There are lots of vineyards in the hinterland.

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Museum Entrance
    Figure of a NZ soldier in Gallipoli ExhibitExtinct Moa skeletons - female is twice the size of the male.NZ SeabirdsDozens of Albatross species are found in NZ.Colossal Squid from the deep ocean. Parts [L-R]= stomach, trunk, head, tentacles.Colossal Squid weighs more than 500 tonnes. Head is just above tentacles.

    Te Papa Museum, Wellington

    December 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Premier Museum of the capital. The galleries of repute are the Gallipoli exhibit, Volcanoes and the Maori Culture. The museum is very crowded during our visit. Most interesting item we found was the Colossal Squid which took up half the room.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    We took the lime green path suitable for wheelchair access.

    Zealandia Conservation Sanctuary

    December 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Zealandia is a protected natural area in Wellington, New Zealand, the first urban completely fenced ecosanctuary, where the biodiversity of 225 ha of forest is being restored.
    The sanctuary, surrounded by a pest-exclusion fence, is a good example of an ecological island, which allows the original natural ecosystems to recover by minimising the impact of introduced flora and fauna.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Custom fence to keep out all mammals. This shows how high each can jump.
    The fence snaking through the forest.Picnic area amidst the first part of reclaimed forest.Lake attracts many birds who fly in and out of this area.

    Zealandia Eco-Experience

    December 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    A world-first, custom-designed fence was constructed around the entire area to keep out all mammalian pests. It was constructed between 1993 and 1999. Natural vegetation is being restored and native animals and birds are being reintroduced. It's a 500 year project!Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    California Pines have been left as habitat for the Kea.A card in the gift shop

    Kea - the rare mountain parrot

    December 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    We are super-lucky to see the Kea in the wild. This rare mountain parrot is endangered but a few have been reintroduced into this area. They are nesting in hollows of the California Pines (an introduced tree) but the Kea love them. Normally they are only found on the South Island. They are an omnivorous bird and were frequently hunted by farmers protecting their sheep. They are very intelligent and curious and have been shown to use tools.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Caroline Bay and the Port of Timaru
    Truck hauling the ropes to recessed bollards.The wet ropes are secured now.Putting the ropes around the recessed bollards.Tide is well out in Caroline Bay as we watch the containers coming & going.

    Timaru - at the dock

    December 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    A very tight port only for smaller ships - The Noordam came in bow first then had to flip around for docking. Manoeuvre took almost 90 minutes. A dock which was just a few metres longer than the ship.
    From our balcony we have a ringside seat for a working dock. Ropes are moved with trucks to recessed bollards. The tides are enormous here as evidenced in Caroline Bay beach.    Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    South Canterbury Museum
    Tuatara - "living fossil" - a reptile, not a lizard.Birds native to the areaEarly Maori tribal hutMaori tools of the area

    South Canterbury Museum, Timaru

    December 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    What's special in this small museum?
    1. The Tuatara specimen = known as the "living fossil", this reptile dates from the dinosaur period. It is the only surviving member of its order dating back 240 million years. It has been reintroduced to Zealandia.
    2. Early Maori settlements in the area.
    3. Early settlers; how they lived in South Canterbury early 1900's.    Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Early map and model ship
    Cramped living conditions onboardPhoto of a rocket launcher used to stabilise ships on this dangerous shore.

    Early Immigrants to Timaru

    December 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    The early European settlers came to the South Island in the 1860's by sailing ship. They were free settlers. Conditions on the journey were less than ideal. Landing at Timaru proved a difficult task owing to the significant tides at Caroline Bay. Rocket launchers were used to send out ropes to ships, then hauled in to stabilise the ship for unloading.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Built of basalt , dressed with Oamaru stone - 1880-1909
    West Window better know as "angels on bicycles".East Window and AltarThe nave - note the Aberdeen granite pillars which came out as ship's ballast.

    St Mary's Anglican Church, Timaru

    December 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Timaru - St Mary’s Church. Really gorgeous little gem. The granite pillars were repurposed after being used as ballast on a ship. There’s even a place to store your top hat under the pew. We sign the visitor book and chat to the volunteers. The church had recently had significant earthquake damage and the roof and pinnacles had to be replaced. It was closed for 2 years.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Built of black basalt and Oamaru limestone
    Mosaic floor of foyer made of Royal Doulton tilesOrnate embellishmentsOrnate appearance, it's branded as the "Gingerbread House"Colonade on the frontDoor from the station to the foyer

    Dunedin Historic Railway Station

    December 29, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Docking at Port Chalmers, we boarded the train for the Taieri Gorge. We travel from the dock into Dunedin historic railway station. A prominent architectural landmark. it was completed in 1906. It is very ornate and has a grand scale with rich embellishments. The foyer has a mosaic floor of 750,000 Royal Doulton porcelain tiles.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Lush farming land
    Equestrian farmsRacecourse which has produced several Melbourne Cup winners.Cattle farmingSheep farming

    Taieri River Valley

    December 29, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    The Valley before we hit the gorge is lush and fertile. Large equestrian farms and sheep are the mainstay along with substantial sustainable logging of radiator pine.

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    End of the line at Taieri Gorge
    Taieri River as it enters the gorgeTrestle viaductWandering around at the top2094 kms to Sydney; 4931 kms to South PoleEnd of the line where the locos switchedYes, it's that steep in the gorge [taken from inside our carriage].

    Taieri Gorge

    December 29, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    We switch to a narrow gauge line to head into the gorge through 6 tunnels and over 3 bridges. The river floods badly during storms. End of the line is Hindon where they switch the locomotives around in a siding, then we head back to Dunedin.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler

    Fiordland, NZ

    December 30, 2023, Tasman Sea

    The rugged, wind-swept south-west of New Zealand which was formed by glaciers. The map shows our sailing route through the fiords. Designated in 1986 as a UNESCO World Heritage Area, Fiordland makes up 5% of NZ's total land area.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Entry pointExit pointWhere the Tasman Sea meets the Southern Ocean.

    Dusky & Breaksea Sound

    December 30, 2023 in New Zealand

    We enter Dusky Sound, travel for some 40 kms and turn into Breaksea Sound. On the port side we have been following Resolution Island. Thickly forested with walls that fall into the water, it's very misty and cold. It was named by Captain Cook in 1770. Dusky Sound is the largest fiord in this area, 40kms long and 8kms at its widest point.Read more

  • Lacey TravelsNew Zealand CruiseTraveler
    Looking further up Doubtful Sound where it narrows dramatically.

    The Turn at Seymour Island

    December 30, 2023 in New Zealand

    We turn into Thompson Sound where this is a small island called Seymour Island. History tells that it was named after a hermit by the name of Seymour. He was a teacher who lived his reclusive subsistence life on this small island in Doubtful Sound.Read more

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