On 15 April 2017 my family and I went to Quail Island for egg hunting. We ride a Black Cruises ferry to get there. We had to meet up at Lyttelton Port, to get our tickets and register. It was a long drive to get to Lyttelton Port and we couldn't find any parking. It was an amazing view of the mountains and the sea, when we on board.I am so excited because this is my first time to ride a ferry. It takes 2 hours to explore Quail Island.
Quail Island
In 1842, the first European to set foot on the island, Captain Mein Smith, flushed a number of now extinct native quail from the bush and named the island after the birds.
Going to the ferry
Inside the ferry, it was noise and scary, but fun.
Volcanic Cliffs
The Ward Settlement
The Ward brothers bought part of Quail Island in 1851 and erected a small cottage.
They farm the island for just 2 months before tragedy struck;the 2 brothers were drowned when taking firewood to the island.
Shipwrecks
Ballast Quarries
Early sailing ships arriving into Lyttelton often had to load up on
return journeys with ballast rock to keep their ships stable.
Two sites on the island can be seen where tonnes of rocks where
taken 1850-1874
Leprosy Colony
In 1907 the island was home to the first and only leprosy colony in New Zealand.
One lonely soul died here and his grave can be viewed on the island.
Up to 9 patients were housed here at it's peak.
Replica Leper cottage
Walkers Beach
I had a chance to walk to this beach with my bare foot and started to pick some sea shells..
Animal Quarantines
In 1874 a quarantine station was built to isolate those immigrants who had
spent 3 months at sea in cramped conditions with lack of fresh food and exercise.
These condition increased chances of disease and sickness.
All imported stock from England had to be quarantined before
arriving in Lyttelton.
Stock Water dam
As we explore the Quail island we need to collect different colors and
size of popsicle stick and we need to give it to the staff of the
Black Cat Cruises in exchange of Easter eggs.
