New Zealand Sounds & Tasman Sea

January 30, 2013 en route Hobart, Tasmania, Australia – Transiting New Zealand Fiordland

Leaving Dunedin, Silver Whisper cruised around the southern end of South Island during the night of 29/30 January, and early on the morning of 30 January, we entered Dusky Sound.  From 8:30am to 11:00am, we toured the sound from the ship.

Entering Dusky Sound

Wonderful scenery for a morning walk.

Dusky Sound is one of a number of fiords along the southwest coast of New Zealand that make up Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area.  It was named by Capt. James Cook in 1770 when he sailed past the entrance at dusk.   Later (1775), he returned and spent two months charting and mapping the sound.  The sound extends ~18 miles into the mountains, with the surrounding shoreline a spectacular landscape of sheer 4,000 ft. cliffs, waterfalls and mountain peaks.  The sound contains several large islands.

Landscapes of Dusky Sound

For those less impressed by landscapes, Dusky Sound is the first place beer was brewed in New Zealand by Cook's crew (Sailors will be sailors!).

Viewing these rugged landscapes worked up a voracious appetite; and the ship's culinary staff prepared a magnificent buffett (galley lunch), with specialty dishes from all countries represented on the galley staff.   You gain about two pounds just looking at the selections, especially the desserts.

A Vegetable Koi Pond -- Galley Lunch

Some people will go to any lengths to get you to eat vegetables.

After lunch, we continued north along the west coast of New Zealand.  From the ship, you could see mountain-top glaciers and snow fields, which had not melted even though it was mid-summer.

Glaciers and Snow Fields, West Coast of New Zealand

What a chilling sight!

At about 4:00pm, we entered Milford Sound, named for Milford Haven (a town in Wales) by John Grono, a sealer captain in 1812.  The Sound is 8 miles long and consists of striking mountain and water landscapes, including the 5,560ft. Mitre Peak and the 520ft. Bowen Falls.

Milford Sound Peaks, Glaciers and Snow Fields

It looks cold, icy cold up there.

Bowen Falls, Milford Sound -- Various Views

Some people consider waterfalls VERY photogenic.

Sheer Cliff and Narrow Passages, Milford Sound

Wouldn't this be great fun in a sailing ship?

During the ship's tour of Milford Sound, we played trivia and our team won, as usual.  Those wins are not necessarily because of the team's combined knowledge or memory, but because of our so-called "lucky" team hats.

 Lucky Trivia Hat with Team Logo

"The Pirates of Corsaro" in honor Capt. Corsaro of M/V Silver Whisper

At 6:30pm, just at dusk, we departed Milford Sound and headed westward for our two-day crossing of the Tasman Sea.


January 31 and February 1, 2013 en route Hobart, Tasmania, Australia – Across the Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea, which is situated between the Southern Ocean and the Coral Sea, links New Zealand and Australia.  It is notorius for upsetting cruise passengers and turning them that strange shade of gray-green that says, "I am not a happy cruiser."  This crossing to Hobart, Australia was not as bad as it could have been, but more than a few of our fellow passengers were green at the gills by the second day.

Also, to show Silversea's special appreciation for World Cruise participants, a Caviar and Champagne Breakfast was held in our honor on January 31.  This was great planning.  Nothing is better for that gray-green color than a little caviar and champagne.  It comes up so easily!  Anyway, the Tasman cooperated, and the swells were not so bad.  They would get much worse as we neared Tasmania.  Maybe it was the spirits of Tasmanian devils and tigers, driven to extinction by European settlement, acting up.  Who knows.  Whatever the cause (more likely, meteorological), by the night of February 1, as swells increased to over 10 feet, the vast majority of the ship's passengers and a good number of the ship's crew were praying for an early landfall and calm seas.