75 days and counting down
Today I booked cars for Burnie and Hobart. Had to do Burnie by phone, they do not have their downtown pickup point listed online. Thought we would be catching local buses, but problem solved with one quick call to Avis.
New Countdown
Tasmania here we come. Leaving Melbourne on 11th December. 2014 for 5 nights on the Dawn Princess.
Auckland
Wednesday February 12th, 2014
We rode the local bus today for well over an hour. We saw such a lot of the suburbs. When we had done the huge loop we returned to the ship for lunch.
In the afternoon we took a ferry ride.
We rode the local bus today for well over an hour. We saw such a lot of the suburbs. When we had done the huge loop we returned to the ship for lunch.
In the afternoon we took a ferry ride.
Tauranga
Tuesday February 11th, 2014
Our only plan for today was to walk around Mount Maunganui. We did just that...it is used by the locals as a walking/running path.
We then caught the shuttle to Tauranga and looked in the shops.
Our only plan for today was to walk around Mount Maunganui. We did just that...it is used by the locals as a walking/running path.
We then caught the shuttle to Tauranga and looked in the shops.
Napier
Monday February 10th 2014
Today we took the shuttle to the township and just wandered. Lovely little Art Deco town.
Today we took the shuttle to the township and just wandered. Lovely little Art Deco town.
Wellington
Sunday, 9th February, 2014
Cold and windy in Wellington....we walked to the CBD..took 20 chilly minutes. Nothing planned for this port, but we did do the Cable car again. It is only a 5 min ride each way but the track is very steep. The botanical gardens are at the top...but the weather just too chilly. The view over the city lovely, but would have been better without the cloud cover.
Akaroa
Saturday, 8th February, 2014
Today we swam with Hector's dolphins. These little dolphins are on the endangered species list. We bobbed about in the ocean wearing wetsuits and we're lucky enough to have a pod of about 6 swim around us. As they are wild creatures the interaction is entirely up to them.....
Dunedin, New Zealand
Friday, 7th February, 2014
Dunedin.....what a lovely place....we did a private bus tour with Good Company Tours. Well worth the $35 pp.
The ship docked in amongst the timber.
The ship docked in amongst the timber.
Fjordland, New Zealand
Thursday, 6th February, 2013
An absolutely perfect day for sailing through the Fjordlands of New Zealand. Milford this morning and Thompson, Doubtful and
Dusky this afternoon. The picture is of Thompson Sound.
Noumea
Thursday 30th January, 2014
Forcast: Partly cloudy High 25C
We were taken by bus to the Cruise Terminal and there we bought tickets for the Hop On Hop Off bus with a water taxi fare included...$25 each.
We took the HOHO to the Duck Island water taxi stop and taxied to the island.
This is the place to go for snorkelling in Noumea. Tony went quite a way out and was delighted by what he saw...I could not get out as far as I can no longer wear my flippers they are too tight and make my toes numb after wearing them for a short time.. the current was too strong for Tony to tow me so I stayed closer to shore...but...what I did see was pretty good. We will certainly do this again if we ever come to Noumea again.
Forcast: Partly cloudy High 25C
We were taken by bus to the Cruise Terminal and there we bought tickets for the Hop On Hop Off bus with a water taxi fare included...$25 each.
We took the HOHO to the Duck Island water taxi stop and taxied to the island.
This is the place to go for snorkelling in Noumea. Tony went quite a way out and was delighted by what he saw...I could not get out as far as I can no longer wear my flippers they are too tight and make my toes numb after wearing them for a short time.. the current was too strong for Tony to tow me so I stayed closer to shore...but...what I did see was pretty good. We will certainly do this again if we ever come to Noumea again.
Suva
Tuesday 28th January,2014
Forcast: Cloudy high 31C
Stayed on the ship.
We spent the entire day by and in the Pool on deck 12.
A perfect way to spend the day in Suva.
Forcast: Cloudy high 31C
Stayed on the ship.
We spent the entire day by and in the Pool on deck 12.
A perfect way to spend the day in Suva.
Port Denarau
Monday January 27th
Forecast: Partly cloudy High of 30C
Wonderful Blue skies with scattered white clouds...glorious
We were collected front the ship for our tour to 'South Sea Island' by Catarmaran.
Upon arrival at the island we had a drink and found a place to leave our gear...then into the water to snorkel.
Not the best snorkelling but you have to take what you can get. Just as we got out the water a boat was loading for a trip to the outer reef so we got on and were taken on a guided snorkel. This was a better spot.
Lunch was ready when we returned...BBQ meats and salad...wonderful.
More snorkelling after lunch and then back on the Catarmaran for the return trip.......the weather changed...lightning....rain....rain...oh well we had perfect weather on the island so we did not care.
Forecast: Partly cloudy High of 30C
Wonderful Blue skies with scattered white clouds...glorious
We were collected front the ship for our tour to 'South Sea Island' by Catarmaran.
Upon arrival at the island we had a drink and found a place to leave our gear...then into the water to snorkel.
Not the best snorkelling but you have to take what you can get. Just as we got out the water a boat was loading for a trip to the outer reef so we got on and were taken on a guided snorkel. This was a better spot.
Lunch was ready when we returned...BBQ meats and salad...wonderful.
More snorkelling after lunch and then back on the Catarmaran for the return trip.......the weather changed...lightning....rain....rain...oh well we had perfect weather on the island so we did not care.
Vila...
Saturday 25th January
Forecast: Sunny estamated high of 29C
This was are first Port of call. I booked a tour before leaving home with Island Time Kayaking. We were met at the gate of the wharf by Kym and driven a short distance to meet our guide for the morning, Thomas. It was just us two and Thomas. We put on our life jackets...stowed our snorkel gear in the kayaks and off we paddled. We chose singlel kayaks as Kym's husband calls the doubles "divorse" kayaks. i tend to think that may have been right. We did very well in our own kayaks...It was a rather warm morning and Tony cooled himself by wetting his cap in the water...I settled for dipping my arms in.
We paddled past the ship and past the town...3/4 way around Iririki Island. This is a resort island. We landed our kayaks on the island and went for a snorkel. The weather changed..it rained...no problem we were wet already.
on our return trip we paddled around yet another island and we were grateful for the cooling rain.
Kym was waiting for us back on land with a lovely array of fresh fruits ,that she had purchased at the local markets while we were gone.
This tour cost us $45 each and was great. We would do it again.Not as strenuous as we thought it might be.
Back to the ship and after a quick change of clothes we made a quick visit to the town.
Forecast: Sunny estamated high of 29C
This was are first Port of call. I booked a tour before leaving home with Island Time Kayaking. We were met at the gate of the wharf by Kym and driven a short distance to meet our guide for the morning, Thomas. It was just us two and Thomas. We put on our life jackets...stowed our snorkel gear in the kayaks and off we paddled. We chose singlel kayaks as Kym's husband calls the doubles "divorse" kayaks. i tend to think that may have been right. We did very well in our own kayaks...It was a rather warm morning and Tony cooled himself by wetting his cap in the water...I settled for dipping my arms in.
We paddled past the ship and past the town...3/4 way around Iririki Island. This is a resort island. We landed our kayaks on the island and went for a snorkel. The weather changed..it rained...no problem we were wet already.
on our return trip we paddled around yet another island and we were grateful for the cooling rain.
Kym was waiting for us back on land with a lovely array of fresh fruits ,that she had purchased at the local markets while we were gone.
This tour cost us $45 each and was great. We would do it again.Not as strenuous as we thought it might be.
Back to the ship and after a quick change of clothes we made a quick visit to the town.
20 days to go.
The suitcases are out ...the list is printed. 20 sleeps and we will be sailing. Oh so close now.
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