Hope for more ships
It was an odd sight to see a cruise ship in the waters near Riverton yesterday, but it was one residents hope to see more often.
International cruise ship Caledonian Sky travelled from Milford Sound to drop off 108 American and Canadian recreational cyclists to ride to Bluff.
But for the passengers on board it wasn’t as easy as walking off the boat to shore – they had to be transported by Zodiac boats and the Riverton coastguard, before hopping on their bikes.
Southland district mayor Gary Tong, who was at the wharf to welcome the visitors, said it was a great promotion for the district.
He hoped the visit would lead to more cruise ships coming to Riverton and other parts of Southland in the future.
Riverton Aparima Community Board chairman Blair Stewart said he was delighted to see the Caledonian Sky anchored at the entrance to Taramea Bay and its passengers in the town.
‘‘I hope we can somehow encourage more [cruise ships] to come here and bring the passengers ashore for a good look around, hopefully they can stay a day or two.’’
Supervalue Riverton owner Sarah Broderick said the ship was an ‘‘awesome’’ sight.
The speed in which passengers were transported to the wharf impressed her, too. ‘‘It looked a slick operation.’’
Travelling around a country by ship and stopping along the way to take in the scenery with bike rides appealed to Michigan man Charles Harris, 75.
‘‘It’s a wonderful way to maintain fitness and see the world,’’ he said.
Maryland couple Larry and Linda Black have been on 30 cruises with cycling stops included, but they weren’t expecting to be met by the mayor.
‘‘We’ve never had a formal welcome like this before,’’ they said, adding that Riverton residents at the wharf were ‘‘warm and friendly’’.
After lunch, the passengers cycled to Bluff to rejoin the ship for its journey to Port Chalmers in Dunedin.
The bikes were then put into the truck, which is following the ship around New Zealand.
A bus is also following to give passengers the option to take a break from cycling.
United States company Santana Adventures charters the Caledonian Sky off a Swedish company. The ship’s passengers flew to New Zealand to board the Caledonian Sky in Auckland this month.
New Zealand Cruise Association chief executive Kevin O’Sullivan said every year more people holidayed on cruise ships.
He said the latest figures showed cruise ship visits were worth $491 million annually to New Zealand’s economy but indicators suggest that will rise to $695m after this season.
More than 100 cruise ships visit Bluff, Fiordland or Stewart Island most years, but O’Sullivan believes the number will be 130 next year.