Cruise to New Zealand and Australia

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Sunday, 2 February 2025 - Albatross Encounter boat excursion off Kaikoura observing Northern Giant Petrels, Salvin's Albatross, Snowy Albatross, and Red-billed gulls, with a small shark visiting the fish cage, then visited offshore rocks to photograph New Zealand Fur Seals, ending the day watching dolphins from the Kaikoura shore while having lunch with a scenic ocean view.

Today would be a big day. I loaded up my big lens for the Albatross Encounter excursion. It was a tiny boat holding about 10 people. I snagged a seat at the rear, so I could take pictures port or starboard.

australia2025 — This was the first bird we saw; it began to follow our boat shortly after pulling away from the docks.

It is a Northern Giant Petrel. The name "petrel" refers to the Biblical account of Saint Peter walking on water, which describes the way these birds run on top of the water as they get airborne. We saw this behavior over and over as these huge birds took to the air.

australia2025 — The Salvin's Albatross is also a large bird. The wings of an adult are 8.4 feet tip to tip!!! It is the largest of the "small" albatrosses.

australia2025 — Salvin's Albatross landing.

australia2025 — The Snowy Albatross has the greatest known wingspan of any living bird and is also one of the most far-ranging birds. Some individual Snowy albatross are known to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean three times in one year, covering more than 75,000 miles.

australia2025 — A Snowy Albatross opening wings to frighten other birds.

The boat went very far out and then placed a small cage with dead fish off the end of the boat. This brought all kinds of birds to the small boat.

australia2025 — Snowy Albatross headed right at us. Tip to tip over 10 feet, the biggest at over 11 feet across.

australia2025 — Snowy Albatross turning and circling the boat.

australia2025 — Like all the big seabirds, the Snowy Albatross runs on the water with large webbed feet to get enough speed for takeoff.

australia2025 — A Snowy Albatross looking for a place to land near the boat.

australia2025 — The Red-billed gull is a pretty smaller gull. It is a native of New Zealand.

The birds create pair bonds.

australia2025 — While we were busy taking pictures, a shark swam up to nibble at the cage of fish being used to attract the birds.

It was a small shark and caused quite a disturbance on the boat.

australia2025 — Salvin's Albatross flying near the boat.

australia2025 — Two Snowy Albatross fight over the cage of fish. Quite a lot of squawking.

australia2025 — A Snowy Albatross running to take to the sky.

australia2025 — Red-billed gull poses for the camera.

australia2025 — Gliding Red-billed gull.

australia2025 — Snowy Albatross landing.

australia2025 — Salvin's Albatross flying about.

australia2025 — The Pintado Petrel was a much smaller bird flying around the boat.

australia2025 — And our last bird on the trip was the first bird, the Northern Giant Petrel. He flew along the side of the boat for sometime before flying away.

australia2025 — Our little boat sailed to a set of rocks well offshore. Here there were many Fur Seals, probably New Zealand Fur Seals.

australia2025 — These are females and smaller seals as opposed to the male seal colony we saw in Wellington.

Here is a very young seal scrambling among the rocks.

australia2025 — The bigger ones were mostly sleeping.

australia2025 — A large fur seal.

australia2025 — Mother and pup.

australia2025 — A little furry pup.

australia2025 — Looking for their young??

australia2025 — Just after getting out of the water,

australia2025 — Two youngsters playing on the rocks after swimming.

australia2025 — A mother is weening a pup.

The boat stayed at the rocks for a long time, allowing us to get plenty of pictures.

australia2025 — The coast of Kaikoura as we came back to the docks.

australia2025 — The shore line next to the town of Kaikoura.

australia2025 — A dolphin jumps in the bay off of Kaikoura. It looks like a Hector's dolphin.

This was taken from a very long distance - see the next picture.

australia2025 — Cal steadying his camera on a table to photograph dolphins jumping in the nearby bay.

We were having lunch on the patio with a great view of the bay. Rosemary Milton snapped this picture after pointing out the playful dolphins.

australia2025 — The Pacific ocean from the shores of Kaikoura.

australia2025 — St Pauls Presbyterian Church looking into the bay of Kaikoura.

St Paul's Church was established in Kaikoura in 1877. It was 1879 when the first version of this building opened. The first minister was Reverend William McAra, a Scottish missionary student, who stayed for the 45 years.

australia2025 — Virginia Ann sits amongst the birds.

australia2025 — Virginia Ann and Tricia on the tender headed back to the boat.

australia2025 — David and Rosemary at dinner in the Seabourn Quest Restaurant, enjoying a laugh with Hermon, one of our waitstaff almost every night of our cruise.

australia2025 — A sliver of the moon just after sunset.

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