Just spent 3.5 weeks in Australia and New Zealand! The first stop was Brisbane to meet Barbara and John Hay, what a stay! Within 4 hours of landing I was holding a Koala and walking with kangaroos. But to do it one better Barbara and John took us to see the Koala in their home environment, eucalyptus trees. We saw one way up hanging out and one actually walking across the road. We also took a riverboat tour down the Brisbane River, such a great way to see the city. The evenings were fabulous with happy hour wine & nibblies, excellent food, & daily Kookaburra feedings. Wonderful company, fast friends and we will miss them.
Flying down to Sydney, the Diamond Princess cruise left Sydney harbor for the 2.5 days across the "Ditch". Having a bit of a cold we had a lot of rest those two days and explored the ship.
First stop, Auckland, where we went into town, went up the Sky Tower and saw Prince Albert Park and the wedding cake house. Was thinking about jumping off the tower but for $225 decided not to, and Ryan had already done it for me when he was there last year!
Next was Tauranga and the tour of the Hobbit houses. Although we thought we knew what we were going to see from the Lord of the Rings movies, we were surprised by all the fabulous flowers that were blooming and that they maintain it as an actual garden, growing all sorts of vegetables! At the the end of the tour, they serve you delicious raspberry/chocolate muffins and cheese scones with ale in the Green Dragon! Totally charming and everyone will be getting a Hobbit house Christmas card this year! Passed by lots of fluffy sheep on the drive to and from the ship (Deb's favorite).
After that Napier, the Art Deco capital, which the people there take very seriously-they met our ship wearing 1920's clothing and driving cars from that era that fit right in with the architecture. Lovely coastal town with beautiful gardens, but it was here we realized that places in both New Zealand & Australia stop serving lunch after 2:00 and don't serve dinner until 6:00 and that we were never hungry at the right times! They have their priorities straight, though, as they ALWAYS serve coffee!
Then on to Wellington where Deb met up with new friend, Cassandra, for the day while I took a tour of Weta Workshop. Saw some great ugly things from Lord Of The Rings, District 9, Ghost in the Shell, etc. Also toured the set where they are filming the new Thunderbird movie.....cool stuff.
We missed our port of call in Akaroa due to a cyclone (!) which made for a rocky day at sea.
Then it was Dunedin and a tour of the only castle in NZ. But the surprise of the day was back in town where we accidentally discovered the Cadbury Chocolate Factory!
Then around the south end and thru the Fjords
Heading back across the ditch we saw the Superbowl on the giant cruise ship screen. I really wanted to see the southern night sky, especially the southern cross and large and small Magellanic clouds. Lucky for me the last night at sea was clear so I got to "see" them. So faint at least the camera could.
We disembarked in Sydney & stayed in Chinatown, walking miles every day, seeing the Observatory, Botanical Gardens, Opera House, etc.
Home now, wonderful trip but it is always good to be back!
Flying down to Sydney, the Diamond Princess cruise left Sydney harbor for the 2.5 days across the "Ditch". Having a bit of a cold we had a lot of rest those two days and explored the ship.
First stop, Auckland, where we went into town, went up the Sky Tower and saw Prince Albert Park and the wedding cake house. Was thinking about jumping off the tower but for $225 decided not to, and Ryan had already done it for me when he was there last year!
Next was Tauranga and the tour of the Hobbit houses. Although we thought we knew what we were going to see from the Lord of the Rings movies, we were surprised by all the fabulous flowers that were blooming and that they maintain it as an actual garden, growing all sorts of vegetables! At the the end of the tour, they serve you delicious raspberry/chocolate muffins and cheese scones with ale in the Green Dragon! Totally charming and everyone will be getting a Hobbit house Christmas card this year! Passed by lots of fluffy sheep on the drive to and from the ship (Deb's favorite).
After that Napier, the Art Deco capital, which the people there take very seriously-they met our ship wearing 1920's clothing and driving cars from that era that fit right in with the architecture. Lovely coastal town with beautiful gardens, but it was here we realized that places in both New Zealand & Australia stop serving lunch after 2:00 and don't serve dinner until 6:00 and that we were never hungry at the right times! They have their priorities straight, though, as they ALWAYS serve coffee!
Then on to Wellington where Deb met up with new friend, Cassandra, for the day while I took a tour of Weta Workshop. Saw some great ugly things from Lord Of The Rings, District 9, Ghost in the Shell, etc. Also toured the set where they are filming the new Thunderbird movie.....cool stuff.
We missed our port of call in Akaroa due to a cyclone (!) which made for a rocky day at sea.
Then it was Dunedin and a tour of the only castle in NZ. But the surprise of the day was back in town where we accidentally discovered the Cadbury Chocolate Factory!
Then around the south end and thru the Fjords
Heading back across the ditch we saw the Superbowl on the giant cruise ship screen. I really wanted to see the southern night sky, especially the southern cross and large and small Magellanic clouds. Lucky for me the last night at sea was clear so I got to "see" them. So faint at least the camera could.
We disembarked in Sydney & stayed in Chinatown, walking miles every day, seeing the Observatory, Botanical Gardens, Opera House, etc.
Home now, wonderful trip but it is always good to be back!
L.A. Airport Lounge is a great place to kill 6 hours
Deb in her airplane sleeping pod
Two of John and Barbara's Kookaburras waiting for a snack.
Holding a Koala hours after landing in Australia! Thanks Barbara and John
Time-lapse leaving Sydney on the cruise. Deb sitting left hand corner of ship.
Endless food and dessert on the ship.
One of the many Hobbit Houses
Fjords in the south of New Zealand
Magellanic Clouds
Sydney harbor on our 4 days in Sydney
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