26 Jul 2021

Adventures on Whitewater River

With the wind easing overnight, we woke to the gentle patter of rain on the deck. As we enjoyed breakfast Heritage Explorer weighed anchor and we sailed along George Sound to the mouth of the Whitewater River, where the Zodiacs were launched to explore the river's lower reaches. This morning our experience was of a very atmospheric Fiordland, mist and cloud clung to the mountainsides offering glimpses of grandeur which, all agreed, was even more tantalising than had we been exploring beneath blue skies.

With all aboard we sailed towards Bligh Sound, returning to the open ocean we were accompanied by albatross with sightings of Buller's, White-capped, Royal, Wandering and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross during our hour at sea. Sailing into Bligh Sound the swell dropped away and, as we rounded Turn Round Point, the Bligh Sound revealed itself before as we sailed across its calm waters as we enjoyed lunch en route to our anchorage at the head of the fiord. With the tide high we were able to explore the upper reaches of the fiord by Zodiac and kayak before returning to Heritage Explorer for a well-earned pre-dinner refreshment.

Image from file © Heritage Expeditions