Blog Post
Connecting Industries: New Zealand
Will recently wrote about a trip to Galapagos, and highlighted how educational and eye-opening it was. As you can tell, he loves to go on travel adventures during his “shoulder seasons,” roughly in November and again in April. These trips offer an opportunity to recharge after or get ready prior to a new season. He likes to find new and interesting places to visit in the world, with a particular interest in adding to the knowledge we can use here at Osprey’s Echo Sea Kayaking in Maine. Galapagos was all about ecotourism, and is clearly the mecca for that topic. Sometimes his mother and I join him!
This month we all went to New Zealand to learn about fishing and kayaking in this far off land. The truth is that it’s so far from Maine that if you go any further you are on your way back! New Zealand may just be the most beautiful place on this planet. Clearly its remoteness contributes to how unspoiled it is. The beauty of the land and the relaxed attitudes of the natives is quite seductive. The photos I will share here will give you a taste but won’t do it justice.
While visiting New Zealand we learned about their fishing industry – they do have lobsters but I don’t give them a higher rating than the ones in Stonington! They also have a thriving Oyster industry. Will enjoyed trying some Oysters in Auckland, fresh from the North Island!
The most exciting part of our visit came, however, when we visited Doubtful Sound, one of the most remote bodies of water you will ever find. Milford Sound is the more famous one to visit, and in recent years it has become quite popular, mostly because you can drive there and book one of many tours. It is beautiful. Doubtful Sound is not reachable by just driving up to the edge. We found that the only way to get there requires booking a guide, taking a car, then a boat, another car, a second boat and finally arriving at the Sound via a small dock. Our guides admitted that their licensing process isn’t as rigorous as Maine’s, but they were confident and knowledgeable. The boats they brought were legitimate sea kayaks with rudders, much like the ones we provide at Osprey’s Echo. We had time to watch and learn from our guides – studying their preparation, pre-tour talk, safety precautions, and on-tour discussions about the area. It was a great opportunity for Will to compare notes with them. If you are looking for a sea kayak adventure in Fjordland National Park, we highly recommend Doubtful Sound Kayak.
They get rain most days in Doubtful Sound, and our visit was no exception. We assured our guides that we were perfectly happy to go out in the rain, as we do in Stonington quite regularly.
In Doubtful Sound, however, the rain provided an extraordinary advantage… we saw at least 100 waterfalls, and paddled through several.
One of the craziest moments on our tour was running into a young couple visiting from New York who recognized Will (wearing his Osprey’s Echo hat, of course) and said “hey, I went on a kayak tour with you last summer!” The world just keeps getting smaller… and they were happy customers of Osprey’s Echo, so it was good fun chatting with them.
It took about 30 hours of flying to get to New Zealand. It took a couple of hours to get to Doubtful Sound and then we were on the water for 4 hours (like our 1/2 day tours!). It was worth it, and now I can add it to the list of beautiful places we have been kayaking.
Visiting New Zealand and looking for similar adventures? We would be happy to share our itinerary. Contact Will at: will.steinharter@fora.
Subscribe to our blog
Safety, Fun, and Learning: Why Guided Kayak Tours & Instruction Matter More Than Ever
There's a common saying about goals for outdoor instruction and the world of guiding: Safety, Fun, and Learning. In that priority order, these are the principles we adhere to at Osprey's Echo — whether we're kayaking, hiking, backpacking, or skiing. It's the essential...
Watch for Wildlife: The Remarkable Coyote of Deer Isle
So you feel secure from predator species on the isolated haven of Deer Isle, do you? You’ve read while planning your visit that there are no bears on Deer Isle, and its very name suggests that nothing more formidable than a peaceful deer roams these woods. After all, the only predator you’ve read about on this blog is…
Navigating Working Waterfronts
Earlier this summer Osprey’s Echo partnered with Deer Isle Adult & Community Education to host a workshop on navigating working waterfronts. Here, learners got perspective from a sea kayaking guide and a lobsterman, facilitating discussion on how recreation and fishing industry can co-exist. Read this blog to learn more about safety tips for sea kayakers, including route planning, visibility tips, and proper etiquette for sharing the water.
Water Conservation on Deer Isle
BY GUEST BLOGGER: Ben Eisinger On an island like Deer Isle, surrounded by sea and lots of brackish water, fresh water sources are a valuable resource up here. Granted, there are houses with fresh water wells, but these do not serve the needs of a populated town like...
Why Osprey’s Echo Sea Kayaking?
Why sea kayaking in Stonington, Maine, is an experience you won’t forget. Discover sea kayaking tours in Stonington, Maine, with Osprey’s Echo. Beginner-friendly and expert-level tours on Deer Isle’s stunning archipelago. All gear included. Book today!
Watch for Wildlife: Moose Rutting Season in Deer Isle and Penobscot Bay
They are perhaps the single signature animal of northern North America, and the largest animal roaming the entire North American continent. Despite this tremendous size and reputation as a top tourist catch, they can also be remarkably elusive. Yes, even though moose are all but synonymous with Maine wildlife, they are not merely a stone’s throw away from you at any point in the state, despite what the internet might have you believe.
Scallops in Penobscot Bay: Discover Maine’s Hidden Underwater Treasure
If you’ve ever paddled through the calm waters of Penobscot Bay, Maine, you know the experience is a symphony of sights and sounds. Between the calls of seabirds and the gentle rhythm of water against your kayak, the bay offers both tranquility and the occasional surprise. One of the most fascinating — and often overlooked — surprises lies just beneath the surface: scallops.
Connecting Industries: Ecotourism in Galapagos, Ecuador
One of the many highlights of the work I do is the ability to travel during shoulder seasons. November is down time for me. The boats have been packed up. Our last guests came and went paddling mid-October. For me this is a valuable time of the year. A time to reflect and catch my breath, while also a time to travel and explore.