NZ cruise and weather

[Jean C]

17 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

And if you are interested in rare native NZ birds I highly recommend a trip to Tiri Tiri Matangi, an island that is a bird sanctuary.

Yes, the birds feel so safe on their island sanctuary that they are comfortable around people, you just stop or sit on one of the benches for a few moments and they happily come incredibly close. There's a lighthouse on the island and, of course, the ubiquitous elevated vantage point incredible view to enjoy 😉 

[MMDown Under]

32 minutes ago, Jean C said:

Yes, the birds feel so safe on their island sanctuary that they are comfortable around people, you just stop or sit on one of the benches for a few moments and they happily come incredibly close. There's a lighthouse on the island and, of course, the ubiquitous elevated vantage point incredible view to enjoy 😉 

Sounds wonderful  How do you get there from Auckland?

[Jean C]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Sounds wonderful  How do you get there from Auckland?

There's a ferry from Auckland, and also one from Whangaparoa. Here's a link to the Tiritiri site:

 

https://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/

[OzKiwiJJ]

Just watch out for these characters. They'll poke their beaks into anything that looks interesting.

 

 

[MMDown Under]

24 minutes ago, Jean C said:

There's a ferry from Auckland, and also one from Whangaparoa. Here's a link to the Tiritiri site:

 

https://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/

Thank you  That trip will be on my next visit to Auckland. 

[Ellen495]

Hi again and thanks for such great replies.

 

We are rethinking - looking into other cruise lines rather than HAL where we won't have to sail from Australia (wasted time at sea) and get into smaller ports. I'm feeling overwhelmed at the idea of 3 weeks in Australia, a week by land NZ and then 2 weeks cruise. I'm feeling that we should do EITHER land in NZ no cruise or only a cruise no land...................

[MMDown Under]

On 9/27/2022 at 6:14 AM, Ellen495 said:

Hi again and thanks for such great replies.

 

We are rethinking - looking into other cruise lines rather than HAL where we won't have to sail from Australia (wasted time at sea) and get into smaller ports. I'm feeling overwhelmed at the idea of 3 weeks in Australia, a week by land NZ and then 2 weeks cruise. I'm feeling that we should do EITHER land in NZ no cruise or only a cruise no land...................

Land in NZ is definitely the best to see the country and to meet Kiwis.  Distances are short for driving!

[Ellen495]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Land in NZ is definitely the best to see the country and to meet Kiwis.  Distances are short for driving!

Where do you see the kiwis?

[Aus Traveller]

13 minutes ago, Ellen495 said:

Where do you see the kiwis?

I am pretty sure that MMDown Under meant the New Zealand people who are referred to as Kiwis. The birds are nocturnal so you can really only see them in a wildlife facility. One place is the hot springs park at Rotorua. They have a nocturnal house where you will see kiwis.

[MMDown Under]

3 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I am pretty sure that MMDown Under meant the New Zealand people who are referred to as Kiwis. The birds are nocturnal so you can really only see them in a wildlife facility. One place is the hot springs park at Rotorua. They have a nocturnal house where you will see kiwis.

yes and we are Aussies.  Some Aussies used to call you Yanks, but not sure if that is politically correct these days.