These two will probably be of more interest to the Kiwis but most growers are interested
in the areas where others grow their daffs .The two main Islands in N Z are seperated by Cook
Strait but on a clear day we can just spy each other ..
On a clear day after a recent Southerly storm , the visibility was excellent and I photoed
D , Urville Island — off the very top of the South Island — 50 plus miles away but with
enough high peaks to be visible .
I was on Otaki Beach — N I at lat 40 – 45 . D, Urville is at lat 40 – 50
Nelson , the largest city at the top of the South Is is at lat 41 – 16 .
Jules Dumont d, Urville was a French explorer who visited N Z in 1827 .. He also explored
large areas of Australia, the Western Pacific, South America and Antarctica ..
The very narrow and turbulent pass between D,Urville Island and the South Island is named
— French Pass after D,Urville , who as reputably the first to take a sailing boat through the
dangerous passage but damaged his boat in doing so .
N Z was very nearly a French Colony — we were claimed by the British only weeks before
The French also tried to do so — in 1840 .
Cheers John .