At Sea en route to Norfolk Island, 10/19/2024, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
Today was nice and relaxing as we made our way south towards Norfolk Island. We had some presentations in the morning, some music, and another presentation in the afternoon, but mostly today was about simply enjoying our time onboard the ship while we bide our time in anticipation for our exciting day tomorrow.
Jeff Litton is a dedicated advocate for our planet, igniting a passion within people to cherish our Earth. His circuitous journey involves leading individuals into the untamed wilderness, where he unveils the hidden splendor of the natural world. Jef...
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Today we reached Aotearoa, New Zealand, the last full day of our incredible journey all the way from the Solomon Islands, a distance of over 2,000 miles. We have seen the range of cultures present on the many islands we visited, connecting the Melanesian and Polynesian people. We visited the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, known as the founding place of the nation, and we experienced the pōwhiri (welcome) that starts in front of Te Whare Rūnanga. Afterward, we went inside for a cultural performance that included the waiata (songs), poi, and a traditional haka (war dance). After this performance we reciprocated by singing the traditional song E Toru Nga, an emotional and moving end to our journey.
We spent the day at sea enjoying life onboard National Geographic Orion . Leaving Norfolk Island and the tropics in our wake, we steered a course 137.5 degrees to the south, destination- Aotearoa. We were entertained by the onboard facilities, enjoyed a scrumptious brunch, and a surprise Fruhschoppen (sausages, pretzels, and pints). We were also regaled with information from the natural history staff about our upcoming destination, the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand.
Today we were exceptionally fortunate that the ocean swell had subsided overnight, allowing us to access the dock by Zodiac and make a safe landing on Norfolk Island. This small volcanic rock in the southern Pacific Ocean is in a very remote location between New Caledonia and New Zealand. It is a territory belonging to Australia and has a remarkable history, including its former time as a British penal colony and its settlement of the descendants of the Tahitian and Bounty mutineers of Pitcairn Island. We toured the beautiful island by bus and enjoyed commentary from local guides describing the inhabitants' everyday lives. On a pleasant sunny day, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of a fish fry in a wonderful outdoor setting on the foreshore. Back onboard, we were entertained by the spectacular National Geographic Orion crew show and we danced late into the evening.
