More Cruising

Many of these cities and towns sit in what are called "sounds."  A sound is deep, usually narrow body of water between land.  The sounds of New Zealand are usually in steep valleys or between mountains, making them especially pretty.  Many of these sounds were created by the filling of large dry valleys with water.  Ancient earthquakes would crack these valleys allowing seawater to seep in.  This also helped create many of the fjords in New Zealand.

Some random pictures while cruising Captain Cook Ship Cove and Queen Charlotte Sound...