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After clearing New Zealand Customs and Quarantine yesterday afternoon, we said goodbye to our contingent of Kiwis who took the opportunity to jump ship and get back to see family and friends. At the same time we managed to discharge a little bit of cargo and sort all of the relevant paperwork out.
Most people took the opportunity to get off the ship and look around the local environs. First stop was the Port Chalmers' ATM to stock up on some $NZ, then it was straight into Dunedin. Have to say it looks and feels a lot like Hobart, with remarkably similar architecture and landscapes. We were a bit of a novelty with the locals as our arrival and the dramas with the Janas had generated a significant amount of news coverage in the local newspaper and on the TV. We even had a helicopter buzzing us on the way in.
By all accounts a good run ashore was had by all and everyone behaved themselves, well we didn't receive any police reports. But there was a noticeably slower pace to activities this morning as preparations were made for our departure. The second lot of passengers, choosing the soft option of flying home, left today and it was sad to see them go after experiencing a lot together over the last two weeks. Funny, but it really feels like a lot longer than two weeks, more like two months! Our numbers for the trip to Hobart are down from 70 to 45 so the dinner queue should be shorter and D Deck a lot quieter.
Dunedin put on a great display of sunshine and calm winds for our departure as the lines were let go at 1300 and the pilot took us to sea.
Thank you to Dunedin for looking after us especially with the AUD/NZD exchange rate! Enjoy the World Cup and your magnificent new footy stadium!
We were also happy to see the brown sugar and the 24 litres of cream being loaded to the ship this morning - happy days!
All aboard looking forward to the trip home with reasonable conditions expected on route.
You can stop reading here if you aren't interested in the dessert ramblings:
Due to having to attend to diplomatic duties ashore last night I am unable to provide a dessert report....sorry.
Navy term of the day:
Get wellers - Term referring to remedies for the pain associated with enjoying too much frivolity the night before i.e. bacon and egg burger and a litre of icy cold Coke with a Berroca chaser.
Regards
Rob and Andy
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.