Saturday 17 January

Land ahoy was shouted by “young Nick’ from the top mast of Captain Cook’s Endeavour on the 17 October 1769 and this was the first sighting of New Zealand.

As a result Gisborne is big on Cook and the Endeavour

Apart from the bronze of “young Nick” there is a monument to Cook’s landing

and the Endeavour model in the high street

Cook was eager to replenish supplies and explore and set ashore with a few men. The astonished Maoris performed their blood-curdling haka welcome whereupon Cook’s men shot and killed six of them. Not a good start for international relations!

We went to the farmers market and then the wine centre for a tasting, this being an area well known for Chardonnay—Helen bought a bottle of Sauvignon! Then to the camp site by the beach which was full of NZ families but not many camper vans. The swimming was excellent with the water clean and warm. 

Gisborne is also a timber exporting port

with the channel being dredged to allow the bulk carriers alongside the wharf.

It is also proud to be the first city in the world to see the rising sun—needless to say we missed it!