Our Journey Continues...

Firstly we would like to Thank you all for helping us along the way.

Our trip started off with some bad weather down to Dusky Sound, we had to be patient & wait it out until the weather became better.

Our five person trip turned into a 2 person trip as time went on. Both Bob & Ian ran out of time & had to get back to work & John left us earlier on.

We were then able to take advantage of the better weather & tides. The Fishing & Charter Boats in Dusky Sound & along the coastline were keeping an eye on us. On our way through Preservation Inlet the guys at Kisbee Lodge were also very helpful.

A big Thanks goes out to Bill & Mary, our friends from Palmerston North now living in Dunedin. Bill had a weather forecast waiting for us every night when we rang. Also Margaret, who relayed messages for us. Thanks to Matt who was our blog man & kept you up to date with our journey.

We will be traveling up to the National Sea Kayak Forum where we will do a presentation of our trip so far around Fiordland. Soon after, we will travel back down to Bluff & carry on our journey up to Dunedin where we will do another presentation at Watercooled Sports.

Made it to Bluff!

Good day to-day and made it to Bluff.
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Winds turned to Southwest and made it very choppy and difficult to paddle into. Were glad to finally struggle around Southwest Point and finally paddle into Bluff Harbour.

After changing into dry clothes we treated ourselves to a delicious meal of fresh Bluff oysters. Then packed up to start our long journey home.

Photo attached is of us at Bluff.

Destination - Oreti Bay

Today our destination was Oreti Bay

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To-day was very long and ended in a rough surf landing at Oreti Beach.
During the trip we kayaked through a bird feeding frenzy of Shearwaters,
shags and several different sea birds - it was a bit scary as fish were also
jumping out of the water. Also, just before surfing into Oreti Beach a
Hectors dolphin swam alongside our kayaks.

Phone call this morning, today will 
be their final day, finishing at Bluff.

They hope to be at Bill's tonight and will send their final report along 
with some more photos. Have to drive back up to Te Anau to get Bob's and 
Ian's kayaks before going to Dunedin.

Kawakaputa Bay

Reached Kawakaputa Bay and stayed for the night. E2110470 N5412717

What the heck are these Easting and Northing coordinates that are posted in each article? Well, if you really want to know then head here...

Te Waewae Bay!

We've finally reached Port Craig (read more about it here) and managed to get cell-phone signal to call in this report (E2075174 N5428253). Port Craig was once the largest timber producing town in New Zealand, with it's own jetty and ships docking regularly, and it's own rail, however - there's no road access to anywhere else!

We can almost see Riverton from where we are - sitting on the jetty, eating tea and watching two dolphins playing. Managed to get everything washed and even had time for a swim.

We plan to cross Te Waewae bay tomorrow (Sunday), then to Bluff on Monday. Expecting a slight southerly but conditions should be good enough.

Another great day

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Another great day - that's two in a row.

42 kms today - conditions good and both feeling pretty good too, especially as we are nearing the completion of our journey. Hope to make Port Craig on Saturday.

Great progress - at last!

Thursday 10th April. Great Progress.

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Paddled down from Newton River into Chalky Inlet, around inland side of Chalky Island and past Gulches Head. Very rough, confused conditions at this point. Paddled into Preservation Inlet and enjoyed going through all the big archways.

Met the very friendly people from Kisbee Lodge who kindly provided us with our evening meal of crayfish and paua. Living like kings. On past the old gold mining town where there had been a pub and a post office but now only an A-frame hut.

Camped on Puysegur Point at oil shed where we have bunks and preparing for a good cookup. Spent 2 hours walking up to the Puysegur Lighthouse.

Really feel like we are making progress now. Plan to get to Knife bad Steel Harbour tomorrow.