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  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    1
    Day 63

    Somewhere in Tasmanian Sea

    March 5, Tasman Sea ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Today is the second day on our way to NZ. We are crossing the Tasmanian sea. Tomorrow on the schedule was Milford sound, but we are not stopping there. The sea is very rough, swells are up to 25ft. Lots of people, including our cruise director, sick. Yesterday, the dinning room was practically empty. Boris and I are okay, but sleeping is hard.
    The ship’s speed is slow, otherwise it would be even worse. Hopefully by the end of today, the weather will improve.
    Our next stop day after tomorrow is Dunadin, NZ    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 61

    Sydney, Australia Day Two.

    March 3 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    The weather forecast for today promised warmer sunny weather. Yesterday was periods of rain. So for today we decided to go to Bondi beach and walk 5.5km along the shore to Googee beach. It considered one of the best things to do outside of the city.
    We took two public buses to get to Bondi beach. Beautiful beach, lots of people even early in the morning. After all, it is sunny warm Sunday.
    We started our walk. We knew it will be hilly, which is no problem for us. Boris is on the wheelchair with the motor, but what we did not know there are lots of steps. He can walk steps, but I cannot carry his wheelchair.
    I came up with a plan to use public bus that goes along the shore to hop from one beach to another. The space between busses about 20 min, that will give us time to walk a little and take pictures.
    My plan worked really good. When we reached Googee beach, we spent more time there, had lunch and took bus and then light rail to get to the city. Unlimited public transportation ride for the whole day is $8.50.
    We spent another hour in the city and back to the shuttle that took us to our temporary home.

    We will have two sea days in Tasman Sea before reaching Milford sound.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 60

    Sydney, Australia Day One

    March 2 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    On the first day in Sydney, we toured the Centre of the city, went to Friendship Chinese garden, The Rocks (historic part of the city), had lunch there and then came back on the ship to rest.
    In the afternoon, back to the city for waterfront dinner and then walk across Sydney bridge. That day city had the biggest celebration of the year…Gay Pride Parade. Lots of people, traffic was stopped so we tried to avoid it.
    At 9:00pm there was firework in Darling Harbour just when we came back from walking across the bridge.
    We took one of the last shuttles to White Bay where the ship was docked.
    Time to rest for another day in the city tomorrow.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 58

    Port Arthur, Tasmania, AU

    February 29 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Port Arthur was a penal colony in the 1800’s. It has been preserved as a historical site.

    Tasmania’s most famous convict settlement combines an idyllic coastal setting with a brutal history.

    Between 1830 and 1877, about 12,500 convicts served sentences there.

    We were on the first tender and as soon as we hit the ground went to a beautiful information centre, watched 6min video and then we could select a card and find a file of that prisoner.
    We walked the grounds, visited prison and other buildings and came back on the ship to have lunch. At 2:00pm, back on tender and then we took 20min informative boat ride. Very pleasant. The boat ride and tours were included in admission to the port and paid by the cruise company.
    Again, the weather was perfect and it was a beautiful day.

    I forgot to mention…… our ship got miraculously cleaned without being cleaned and we can go to NZ waters.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    1
    Day 57

    Hobart, Tasmania. AU

    February 28 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    For some reason I overlooked this port. Nothing was planned.
    All ship tours were sold out. I found short one tour online to go to Mt. Wellington. Great, we can spent the rest of the day in the town.
    When we came to meet our tour, I asked if they have any afternoon options. They had a tour to historic Richmond Village and Bonorong sanctuary. Great, we will have one hour break between tour to grab some lunch.
    When we got on the bus, the tour guide/driver told us we can stay with him all day long. Some people were taking all day tour.

    The morning drive to Mt. Wellington took 30 min.

    The views from Mount Wellington are amazing. We were fortunate to have a lovely clear day and were able to wander around and see the views in all directions. The road up is narrow, steep, winding and 2 way traffic, including buses, so it's a bit hairy.

    We came back around noon and our next stop was The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Beautifully manicured grounds, unfortunately we had only 40 min to walk around. We rushed to see beautiful Japanese gardens and rushed back to our bus.

    Fifteen minutes later we arrived to Richmond Village.

    The intact colonial-era town has more than 50 Georgian buildings, many operating as cafes, restaurants, galleries and accommodation. Richmond Bridge (1825) is the oldest bridge in Australia.
    We settle in one of this restaurants and has a great lunch. Unfortunately, that did not leave us time to explore the village.

    Back on the bus we went to the sanctuary. Lots of animals. The only probe it was an afternoon and quite warm and animals were resting and hiding from the sun. I had a chance to walk among kangaroos and feed them. Also we saw Tasmanian devil.

    Overall it was a good stop.

    We came back on the ship at 5:30PM, took a shower and were planning to go back on the shore (the ship was in port till 5:00AM next day), for dinner, but then we felt so tired and not very hungry and decided to have a light dinner on the ship and go to sleep. It was a good decision as around 6;30 there was a pouring rain and lightning.
    Tomorrow we have another port day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 54–55

    Melbourne, AU. Overnight

    February 25 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    We landed in Melbourne close to 2:00PM.
    Took Uber to Radisson Hotel and went straight to Queens Victoria Market. Today is Sunday and market opens till 4:00PM, tomorrow it is closed. Also we were starving, last meal was breakfast. We managed to find first food truck and had a light late lunch of dumplings.
    After lunch we still had some time to walk around the market.
    After market we walked to St. Paul Cathedral in the CBD (central business district).

    In style, it looks pretty much like the grand Cathedrals of Europe. The Cathedral is built in the neo-Gothic transitional style, partly Early English and partly Decorated.
    It was build in the second part of 19 century. Across the street you can see a typical railroad station.

    It’s all located near the Federation Square in the very heart of the city. There are many different attractions around, but all of them open till 5:00PM only.

    We wondered in center of the city until we came to the building with observation deck on 88 floor in Europa Tower. We decided to see the city from the top.

    After that we walked along the river to the Crown casino and Entertainment center.
    No interest in gambling, but was getting late and it was our only option to see inside the building.

    By now we were getting ready for some food. We settled on Vietnamese. After dinner, we walked back to the hotel. Time to rest.

    Next morning after breakfast we took subway to Royal Botanic Gardens. The weather was perfect for this. What a beautiful place!

    Instead of lunch, we decided to just have a famous Melbourne coffee and pastry.

    On the way to the restaurant, we stopped at the Shrine of Remembrance, which is the Victorian national memorial to Australians who have served in war and peacekeeping operations.

    Then we walked to the yummy place. Brunettis Cafe. It did not disappoint us. The flourless chocolate cake was delicious and the coffee was first class.

    Happy, we took a tram to the hardware store. The wheelchair motor needs fixing.

    Back to the hotel to get our stored luggage and backpack with motor and then another tram to the ship.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 53–54

    Adelaide, AU. Overnight

    February 24 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    At 7:30AM we had to report for inspection since we were leaving the ship for 3 days. By 8:30 we got cleared and met with my nephew who was waiting for us.
    He drove us to his home and it was very nice to see family again. Last time we saw them in 2019 in London where they lived. At that time their daughter was 8 mounts old and now she is a beautiful 5 years old girl.

    As of sightseeing, we got a tour of the city, went for lunch to the hills, where there lots of wineries and had wonderful family evening.

    In the next morning, we went to see kids swimming lesson and then to the airport for our flight to Melbourne.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 52

    Change of Itinerary. No Kangaroo Island

    February 23 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    At 4:30PM yesterday we were informed our next stop for today is cancelled. No Kangaroo Island today. Not due to the weather, but due to the fact that the bottom of the ship has to be cleaned before New Zealand arrival.
    The ship has be cleaned min of 12 miles from the shore. Now we have 6 divers on the board.
    As I am writing this at 8:45AM, there is another announcement: the sea is too rough for the divers, so no cleaning.
    As I understand, no future plans for today.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 52

    Kangaroo Island, AU at last.

    February 23 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 68 °F

    At 10:00AM our captain announced we are going to Kangaroo Island and departure is extended to 7:00PM.
    The question is what to do with our private tour. Is it still be available?

    By 11:00AM we got informed the tour is going to be available. Some people found a different tour, some decided not to go.
    By noon, we got tender tickets and were on the first tender boat. Found our tour guide and started the tour. 10 minutes into driving our tour guide got a phone call. Eight more people came on the second tender and wanted to join our tour. We turned around to get them.

    Kangaroo Island lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. Over a third of the island is protected in nature reserves, home to native wildlife like sea lions, koalas and diverse bird species.

    Our first stop was honey farm where we could buy local made honey.
    Our second stop was Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery. Again it was a little shop with local produce of lotion, soap and liquor.

    Our next stop was much more interesting and very cold. We stopped at Seal Bay.
    It was a long cold but beautiful walk to the beach with lots of seals on it.

    Then we stopped at place with lots of different animals. Something like a zoo.

    It was time to go back. We took the last tender back on the ship. Quick dinner and then the best show of our trip.
    Tomorrow is an early rise to go on overland trip.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 51

    Port Lincoln, Australia

    February 22 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Our tour started at 9:00AM. The weather is perfect today. Warm, but not hot and a brilliant blue sky.

    Our first stop was Mikkira koala sanctuary.

    Mikkira Station is a tranquil secluded privately owned property 25km South of Port Lincoln near the Southern tip of Eyre Peninsula. It is also possible to camp on the property during winter.

    There we saw koalas with babies, kangaroos, emus, sheep’s and cows.

    We were served coffee and teas with cookies.

    Then we stoped at the numerous places to take pictures. We also stopped at the beautiful winery.
    At 2:00PM our bus stopped in the city. Port Lincoln is the Australian fish capital. We were hoping to have lunch, but it was a little too late.

    We walked around the city (population 15,00) and then took a nice waterfront 1 mile path to the ship. Back on the ship at 3:30PM.    Read more

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