Wellington

We safely arrived in Wellington Chaffers marina in the city at 6am this morning (still in the dark).

Hector Dolphins

This morning we left Akaroa and sailed to Lyttleton. Leaving Akaroa the same dolphin herd as yesterday showed up at all the tourist boats (there were many of them out there because of the cruise ship „Sun Princess" who came in this morning). We just sailed past. As we left the harbour, a few Hector Dolphins came and I was happy I got one shot. Well, at least I had seen a few. But about 1 hr later some showed up and basically the next 2-3 hrs we constantly had them at our bow and/or stern (an Bug und Heck). So, I got the opportunity to get some decent shots. But, more important, I just sat down at the Bow (Bug) and watched them play with Alita and the waves. What a wonderful experience!

Looking back to Akaroa harbour

May I introduce: HECTOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Banks peninsula

 

Lyttelton harbour 

 

 

 

Akaroa

Akaroa, a french town in New Zealand, started by 54 french immigrants who had bought land from the Maoris just before the British signed the contract of Waitangi which added New Zealand to England. 

Beautiful little town with lots of arts. One woman, Josie Martin, bought a house and made her own creativity paradise there by making huge mosaic sculptures. Besides its beauty of being a frenchy town Akaroa will stay in my memory for the dolphins which came into the harbour all the way to the town this morning. Of course we jumped into the Dinghy and I got some nice shots. 

In the pix you will also see Mollyhawks and Albatrosses, which I photographed in the morning when we got here, as well as little blue penguins swimming in the „harbour" (it's acutally a huge bay). This afternoon I needed some work out and walked up the hill for a breathtaking view over the „harbour". Enjoy! Tomorrow we're going on to Lyttleton, closer to Christchurch.