Page 68 - 2008 NZ Subantarctic Islands
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there were several more trails we could have ambled, but time

                   constraints  and  the  need  to  share  with  our  fellow  passengers
                   constrained us. However, we break out from the forested areas

                   onto  Boulder  Beach  and  Sydney  Cove  where  we  spotted  fairy
                   (blue)  penguin  footprints  and  saw  a  weka  pair  with  their  fluffy

                   gray chick. Since the parents are a brown color, we surmised that
                   somewhere along life’s way, the little weka chick will become that
                   same hue. And because Ulva is such a protected habitat, there is

                   no  reason  to  fear  that  he  or  she  will  not  grow  up  and  help
                   continue the rise of the weka population here!


                   We were all a little regretful as we left Stewart Island to sail for

                   Dusky  Sound  and  Milford  Sound  on  the  Southwest  coast  of  the
                   South Island. But we should have anticipated that there would be

                   some treats in store for us there too. What we did not bargain for
                   was the gushing downpours of rain and heavy clouds that would
                   change the views of these two famous sounds.



                   Chapter 15. Dusky Sound


                   We  entered  the  long  fjord  which  creates  Dusky  Sound  in  early
                   morning  and  the  rain  was  already  misting  down  from  the  low-

                   hanging  clouds.  The  tops  of  the  walls  forming  the  fjord  were
                   enveloped in the white and gray shawls of cloud, but the beauty

                   was not obscured. The high mountain walls were slick and black
                   and the whole view became a striking black and white scene with

                   the  clouds,  the  dark  waters,  the  grey-white  sky,  and  jet-black
                   granite  surrounding  the  whole  scene.  The  ship  cruised  slowly
                   through the narrow passage and we all were struck by the quiet

                   beauty around us.  As we tooled around the Sound, some of the
                   passengers  were  lucky  enough  to  see  NZ  fur  seals  and  crested

                   fjordland  penguins  on  the  shoreline  and  in  the  water.  These


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