18 Nov 2023

Amidst native trees and sampling organic wine in the valleys of Gisborne

Travelling through light rain, we observed Young Nick's Head as we sailed into Gisborne - the first land sighted by Cabin boy Nicholas Young from the mast of Endeavour when James Cook visited New Zealand in 1769.

The showers persisted but never hampered our excursion - which began with our first chance to board the Zodiacs. After getting off in the marina, we travelled through well-tended horticultural fields into a valley to visit the New Zealand National Arboretum at Eastwoodhill. The Arboretum is home to the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere, and a huge variety of New Zealand natives.

We stopped at Wrights Vineyard and Winery to sample their delicious organically grown wines to see the grapevines and processing facility that produce them. After a visit to the Gisborne city centre, we returned to the Zodiacs and back to the comforts of Heritage Adventurer to prepare for the Captain's Welcome Cocktails.

Images © R. Morris & S. Tranmer, Heritage Expeditions