An Arrowtown yachtie has said “bon voyage” to a career on the high seas with an international reality TV show.

Taylor Dennison (24) is one of the latest stars of Peacock Original’s first season of Below Deck: Down Under, which follows the crew on board Australian superyacht Thalassa — real name Keri Lee III — as they host charters around the Whitsunday Islands.

Called in by Captain Jason Chambers to take over third steward duties for the second-to-last charter of the season, Ms Dennison said the experience was “an absolute whirlwind of adrenaline, nerves and excitement”.

“Going in fully unprepared, I was pleasantly surprised by the support of the entire production team and crew, still today.

“Having [fellow New Zealander] Aesha [Scott, chief stewardess] and Jason as leaders was such a breath of fresh air.”

Born and raised in Arrowtown, Ms Dennison said the Wakatipu would always be “home” — her dad, Glen, and younger brother, Luca, still live here, while her older sister, Leah Baines, and mum, Joanna Baines, live in Australia.

She said during her last high school years she had a weekend job at the luge — listening to transient travellers’ stories inspired her to ditch her plan to go to university and study a conjoint degree in law and commerce, a week before she was meant to leave.

After a quick panic, Ms Dennison explored her options and ended up flying to Sydney to complete a marine basic safety course.

“The following week, my 18-year-old self…