PAGE 12 • SUMMER 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
SAILING DESTINATION
Exploring the Serenity of New Zealand’
Photos courtesy of Venture Southland
I
f you’re planning a cruise to New
about 800 nautical miles south of With a little patience you can expect
Zealand, it pays to remember that
Auckland, which offers a great to see real Kiwi in their natural
we’ve a lot more to offer than just
opportunity to give spouses a break habitat. You’ll see few other cruising
the Bay of Islands and Waitemata
ashore to explore by road while you boats, most anchorages (all free of
Harbour (Auckland). If wilderness,
sign on local crew and have a great charge) will be yours alone. You’ll
golden sand beaches with a rich
coastal sail south. There are no need the superb local pilot, Stewart
diversity of wildlife and grand restrictions on coastal cruising in New Island Cruising Guide produced
mountains are your thing, then Stewart Zealand once you have made your by the Mana Cruising Club
Island and the Southern Fiords have a initial clearance, and you can make a (www.manacc.co.nz). Get it direct
lot to offer. If you make the trip south final clearance from Bluff direct to from the club or any major New
you can anchor right under the world- Tasmania, South America or up into the Zealand chandlery. It gives details of
famous Mitre Peak and enjoy its Pacific. what to see, where to anchor and a
special ambience for as long as you
host of other invaluable information.
can stand to be offered freshly caught Into the ‘bush’
crayfish (or catch your own) by the
Stewart Island is low country, mostly
Special places on Stewart Island are
region’s wonderfully hospitable
covered right to the water by the
the Pegasus area, about 10-12 hours
fishermen.
forests New Zealanders call “bush.”
sailing southeast of Halfmoon Bay, and
This means the waters are as clear as
Patersons Inlet, just around a
Both the Stewart Island (about 40 any you will find in the world, making headland. Each offers literally
nautical miles long, 400,000 acres) it a cool but rewarding divers’ hundreds of wonderful bays with
and Fiordland (6.4 million acres, with paradise. The incredible birdlife still golden sand and good anchoring.
World Heritage Status) areas are mostly tries to compete in what Captain Cook Halfmoon Bay is the only inhabited
National Park. You’ll find these places found to be a “cacophony of noise.” area on Stewart Island; population is
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