We had a good run up to Fiordland, jumped on the back of a
front and sailed in 20-30 knots to Dusky Sound, although the swell was up to 4
m at times so things were a bit bouncy. We made for Luncheon Cove, one of our
favourite spots in the sound with one of the major positive factors being the
relative lack of sandflies. We tied up using the permanent bow and stern
mooring lines there and spent some time walking ashore and kayaking around the
islands outside. When we first arrived there were quite a few fur seal pups
around. One tried to see if our kayak was a good haul out spot but was pushed
off by his friend who also wanted a turn. We bought a sectional sea kayak a
while back and this trip is our first real trial of it, so far we really like
it (although we haven’t totally gone over to the dark side, aka flat water
paddling). We went for trips in the yacht to Supper Cove and to the head of
Vancouver Arm in the interconnected Breaksea Sound. But kept returning to
Luncheon Cove to hide from the weather or the sandflies. Tori went for a few
dives, black and red coral, bright
yellow zooanthids, nudibranchs, although the vis wasn’t as good as we have had
previously in Fiordland (which was basically stunning). We checked out some of
the historical sites in Dusky, including Astronomers Point, where Cook tied up
for five weeks, charting the area and taking astronomical observations to fix
the position of the South Island and the site of Richard Henry’s house. Richard
Henry lived in the sound in the early 1900’s and worked to try to protect the
endangered kakapo.
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| View of Dusky Sound from Anchor Island |
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| Looking out to sea from Anchor Island |
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| Vancouver Arm |
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| Vancouver Arm |
