Tuesday, 22 November

High Winds, Big Waves, and Rocking Ship as the Westerdam Sails Back Across the Tasman Sea

Almost two weeks ago, in spite of a nine-hour delay leaving Sydney, the Westerdam made up eight of those hours in a very smooth and high-speed two-and-a-half day crossing to Milford Sound. But the return trip from Auckland to Sydney has been slower and rougher. We departed Auckland at 1pm on Sunday and made speedy progress heading north to the very top of New Zealand and then turning west to Australia. 

But by noon on Monday, the winds shifted to gale force and the seas rose to over 8-foot waves. Overnight the Westerdam had been plowing ahead at 20 knots, higher than its usual speed of 18 or 19. At noon we were slowed down to 15 knots because of headwinds and very high waves. The sky continually shifted between light rain and sunshine, but the sailing was not unpleasant.

Then the captain announced that the seas would get worse over Monday night and all day Tuesday--which indeed they have. Not bad enough for me to wear a seasick patch, but bad enough for me to keep to my stateroom after breakfast rather than risking a fall as the ship shifts back and forth (giving me good time to write this blog).

In order to reach Sydney at our scheduled docking time of 6:45am Wednesday, the Westerdam would need to keep a steady course at 19 knots--which, obviously, we aren't going to achieve. The major issue is that if the ship does not reach the International Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay at 6:45am, she will not be allowed to dock until 9:45am, because, as you have seen in my earlier blogs from Sydney, this area is constantly busy with ferries and other sea traffic.

It isn't really a problem for me because I will be continuing on for another 14 days, but over half the ship's passengers (close to 1,000 of the 1,900 on board), will be finishing their cruise in Sydney and leaving the ship. (Of course, they will be replaced by a horde of new cruisers.) Many of these departing passengers boarded the Westerdam in Seattle as it made its way across the Pacific to Sydney, and have been on board for 42 days. Many of them have plane reservations to return home; most flights to the US leave Sydney between 11am and 2pm. An arrival at 9:45--with the subsequent delays for the port officials to clear the ship's arrival (especially coming from a foreign country), and the slow debarking of so many passengers and their need to go through immigration and customs-- getting to the airport on time might be a problem. I guess they can only wait and see.

But even as my cabin shifts from side to side, I shall take my readers back to my second day in Tauranga/Mt Maunganui and then on to Auckland. Who knows; I might even be caught up by the time the Westerdam gets to Sydney.

Saturday, 19 Nov 2022 

Tauranga/Mt Maunganui, New Zealand

Today is a good day for sleeping in and enjoying breakfast in the Dining Room rather than in the Lido Marketplace. But I am off the ship in time to take the 20-minute ferry ride to Tauranga at 10am. Fortunately, the ferry leaves from a pier just in front of the Westerdam.

Mt Maunganui, a Dormant Volcanic Cone, Looms as I Walk from the Westerdam

The Ferry Ready to Leave Mt Maunganui Pier

Happy Flags Greet the Traveler as He Arrives in Tauranga

Tauranga Has a Short Anglo History and Old
Buildings, Like the Post Office, Are Rare

The Colorful Tree on the Left in the Post Office Picture is a Native Species, Known as the
Christmas Tree Because It Blooms with Bright Red Flowers in Late November and December

Tauranga City is highly industrialized, but the city center that hugs the shoreline is littered with restaurants, cafes, expensive boutiques, and art galleries. In a park lining the shore is a series of contemporary art works:

And the city has a contemporary art gallery in a fine post-modern building. What there is to look at inside is interesting and exciting, but there isn't very much to look at and many of the galleries are empty. 

After wandering through town I take the ferry back to Mt. Maunganui. The ride offers views of the town, the railway bridge, and the bay full of yachts and sailboats.

Upon returning to the pier at Mt. Maunganui, I enjoy lunch at a popular fish-and-chips palace:

A brief walk affords views of Mt. Maunganui and the small local beach. Then it's time to rebournd Westerdam to sail north through the night to Auckland.