Artwork Information

The Astrolabe's first sighting of the coast of New Zealand was made on 11 January 1827 at Cape Foulwind. The ship continued around the northern tip of the South Island into Tasman Bay where on 14 January members of the crew went ashore, remaining in the surrounds until 22 January. The bay in which they moored was named after the ship, and is shown here viewed from the shore with three French sailors on the beach in the foreground. Two waka are depicted, with the Astrolabe moored beyond. The island in the background was named Adele Island for the Captain Dumont d'Urville's wife.