National Library NZ on The Commons

Health and safety would have a heart attack now.

MORE INFO →DH89 Dragon Rapide ZK ACO "Tainui", The aircraft was named the “Tainui” after one of the canoes in the Maori migration to New Zealand. It carried the first all-through air mail from England to New Zealand, with covers being stamped at Mildenhall, Melbourne and Palmerston North. Squadron Leader J D Hewitt, Flying Officer C E Kay and Frank Steward were the first to fly between Great Britain and New Zealand. The official time for the flight was 12hrs 9min, and the average speed was about 130mph. (Manawatu Heritage)

beautiful !!

Looks like the vessel is on the southwest end of Quarantine Island (St Martins) in the middle of the Otago Harbour. At the top right is the Flagstaff (Tide and Timeball) above the port, and Goat Island behind the ship

These are fabulous old pictures, thank you for sharing.

I've found a reference to her in "White Wings" on the NZETC website www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Bre01Whit-t1-body-d50.html... the Alcestis, a smart little iron barque of less than 400 tons, was built at Sunderland in 1868, and owned by R. H. Penney. She was chartered by the N.Z. Shipping Co. Early in 1882 the barque was purchased by Messrs. Stone Bros., merchants, of Auckland, and for several years later continued in the London and New Zealand trade. She was later employed in the intercolonial service. THE BARQUE ALCESTIS AT DUNEDIN. the Alcestis had a very rough trip on her voyage to the Bluff in 1885. During one severe gale heavy seas broke on board, smashed the deckhouse and fittings and washed nearly everything movable overboard, including a considerable deck cargo. In 1888, twelve years after she was launched she ran from the Lizard to the Solanders in 93 days. The passages outwards by the Alcestis were:— TO AUCKLAND. Sailed.Arrived.Captain.Days. *Nov. 7, '81Mar. 25, '82Payne— TO WELLINGTON. Nov. 7, '81Mar. 6, '82Payne117 TO DUNEDIN. June 27Oct. 10, '88Norris106 TO BLUFF. June 10Oct. 1, '85Munn113 June 24Oct. 11, '86Munn109 June 12Oct. 8, '87Norris118 *

This is a wonderful shot NLNZ, thank you for sharing and to madbushfarm for the information. Otago harbour looks rugged in those shots!

Hi, long with my family I was on the Atlantis in October 1951 when I believe this photo was taken. We later boarded the over night express for Auckland. She was a lovely old ship and I attended the 40th anniversary of her reunion in Auckland and shot some video of the function. Great to see another picture of her. I have some good ones in my collection. Robert Taylor

Hello, Im trying to track my fathers travells to Wellington and i believe this is the ship he arrived on from the Port of Southampton. It departed on the 31st of March, 1950 and according to records it held a total of 887 passengers. Could this be the same ship? Jess

Mum and I arrived on the Atlantis in October 1951. Poor old Mum was heavily pregnant and had a miserable voyage. I was six years and had the time of my life! We travelled down to Christchurch on the overnight service on the TS Maori , where we met Dad who took us onto our new home at the Hydro village in Roxburgh, Central Otago. The rest is history!