Akaroa, New Zealand, 12/16/2024, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
Australia and New Zealand
National Geographic Orion has gotten into the holiday spirit! Our insanely talented pastry chef, Joseph, constructed the most elaborate gingerbread village the world has ever seen. Pyrotechnics and all! A week’s worth of love put into this amazing display cannot go unnoticed. The family atmosphere onboard is creating a magical holiday spirit.
Born and raised outside Philadelphia; Mike spent his childhood playing around at his family's gymnastics facility. From camping with his family throughout the US to annual ski trips to Park City Utah, he has always had an affinity for the outdoors. H...
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Land Ho! After two days at sea, everyone on board was excited at the prospect of setting foot on dry land and stretching legs beyond the realms of the gym and outer decks. Hiking among the protected native forest on Ulva Island offered glimpses into what much of New Zealand must have looked like prior to human intervention. Bird song was a welcome serenade to hiking on terra firma among the dense undergrowth and below towering treetops. This afternoon, we took Zodiac shuttles in the other direction to Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third largest island. A quick walk over the top of the Island landed us in the small town of Oban, famous for its museum, fish and chip shop, and merino and possum wool clothing store. Several took comfort in the availability of retail therapy, a pastime that hasn’t been available since we set sail from Dunedin at the start of the expedition. Onwards and northwards to South Island!
Kia Ora! We are at sea again today in the Subantarctic Ocean, heading north past the Auckland and Snares Islands towards our destination, Stewart Island. Yesterday’s storms have subsided, leading to more comfortable seas. This has been great, as most of us went on deck after our National Geographic photographer’s presentation to try and improve our photography of the magnificent array of seabirds following us. We also enjoyed a presentation on photo editing by Photography Instructor Lauren Buccholz and a presentation of the ambitious Auckland Island predator free project by our New Zealand Department of Conservation observers. In the afternoon, Global Perspectives speaker, Peter Hillary, spoke about his father, the famous New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary, in a moving speech titled, “A Son’s Tribute to his Father”. It was a full and educational day, and we look forward to visiting Stewart Island tomorrow!
