52. Ni Sa Moce, Fiji—Kia Ora, New Zealand! September-October 2025
Kadavu Island *Vunisea Leaving the beauty of Fulaga made us reflect on how much we had enjoyed our trip in the Lau Group. Our main incentive to leave was that we were out of beer, coffee, fruit, and vegetables (in “relative” alphabetic order of importance). We decided it was time…
51. The Lau Group of Fiji, August-September 2025
The Lau Group is the remote eastern group of 57 Fijian islands, 19 of which are inhabited. They are known for their unspoiled beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, and rich underwater life. There is absolutely no tourism, and it is very much open ocean sailing between the islands. Distances between…
50. Bula Vinaka (once again) Fiji! May-July 2025
The white sand beaches and coral reefs of Fiji beckoned us for just one more season, and New Zealand’s late autumn was the time to leave. We headed north out of New Zealand early May 2025, as soon as the winds were blowing from the south, and the waves were…
49. Our North Island Road Trip, August-October 2024
After flying back to Auckland from the South Island, we rented another car for 2 weeks and headed south. Our goal was a round trip from Auckland to Wellington on the south end of the north island, stopping in interesting places along the way. The Bay of Plenty The Bay…
48. Our South Island Road Trip, September 2024
Touring the South Island by car was an unforgettable experience! We had talked about circumnavigating the South Island with SV JAN, but the west coast has very few anchorages and protection from the gale-force westerly winds typical of those latitudes. Furthermore, in case of any boat problem, repair facilities and…
47. The Kiwi Spirit
The people of Aotearoa, New Zealand, have been affectionately called “Kiwis” since the early 1900s— a nickname that was started by cartoonists during WWI. The name originated from the Kiwi bird, a native flightless bird that is also a national symbol for the country. The term “Kiwi” is a source…
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The Adventures of SV JAN 