Finally, at 11:30am on 12th December 1769, the "St Jean Baptiste" sighted the coastline of New Zealand, just south of Hokianga Harbour. The ship continued sailing north, looking for a safe anchorage spot. Weather conditions were bad. On the 13th December de Surville rounded Cape Marie Van Diemen.

It was here that the St Jean Baptiste passed by The Endeavour, with neither ship sighting the other due to the bad weather conditions. This was all the more amazing as both de Surville and Cook were at the same time navigating a land which had not been visited by a European since Tasman, a century earlier.

In the evening of the 17th December, the St Jean Baptiste anchored in a bay which de Surville had baptised "La Baie de Lauriston"," in honour of Lauriston, Governor of French India. Captain James Cook had already named this bay Doubtless Bay, although he had simply sailed by and not anchored at this point.

(Click here for a map (25k) showing the position of Doubtless Bay)

To de Surville's relief, friendly relations were established between the Māori and the French at Doubtless Bay. De Surville was able to replenish the ship's supplies, and commence care for his numerous sick crew members.

Unfortunately, Doubtless Bay, or "La Baie de Lauriston" was not particularly sheltered as a harbour, and de Surville was obliged to consider seeking a more secure spot. However, as the sick crew members were returning to the "St Jean Baptiste" after a day on shore, on the 27th December, a strong wind lifted, forcing their boat back. At the same time, the "St Jean Baptiste" found itself in difficulty, and its anchors were not holding. The risk of the ship striking nearby rocks grew.

After much effort, the crew were finally able to manoeuvre the ship into a small cove, which de Surville named "Refuge Cove". There was considerable damage to the "St Jean Baptiste" - broken rudder, damaged masts and sails, and two anchors had been lost. On 29th December the weather finally permitted the crew to commence repairs.

Suddenly, a yawl, which De Surville had thought lost in the storm, was sighted from the ship two days later. The yawl was being studied with interest by a small group of Māori. On noticing de Surville, the Māori dragged the yawl inland, and hid it from view. Furious, De Surville and his men managed to capture a Māori, and forced him to reveal the whereabouts of the yawl. However, instead of releasing his prisoner De Surville took him aboard the ship, and the "St Jean Baptiste" then hurriedly left New Zealand waters on 31st December 1769 before reprisals by the local Māori.

The prisoner, Ranginui, who happened to be a chief, died from scurvy on the 24th March 1770. De Surville himself drowned in heavy seas off the Peru coast, in April 1770, while seeking help for his once again scurvy ridden crew.

Today there is a commemorative plaque which marks the anchorage of the St Jean Baptiste at Doubtless Bay, which reads: "Jean François Marie de Surville anchored his ship "St Jean Baptiste" in Doubtless Bay 17 - 13 December 1769 to refresh his men. He visited a Pa on this headland, 30 December."

The Surville Cliffs, to the far north of New Zealand, are named after Jean-François-Marie de Surville.