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  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 48

    Albany, AU

    February 19, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Albany is a city at the southern tip of Western Australia.

    It was an uneventful day.
    First, we took a two hours boat tour. Saw some rock formations, one sea lion and birds. The boat ride was pleasant and the captain was very funny.

    After this tour we walked around the town, had lunch and came back on the ship around 3:30PM.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 46

    Perth, AU

    February 17 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Since we are overnight in Fremantle and Perth is only 40 min from it, we booked a walking tour in Perth for 9:00am.

    Perth is a capital of Western Australia.

    We decided to safe some time and energy and not go on public transportation, but took an Uber. When we got to the meeting point, I received a phone call notification that the meeting point has been moved to a different location. Fortunately, it was only 10min walk.

    We met the group of 3 British and one Argentinian. The tour was 2 hours and by 11:15 we were done.

    The tour guide highly recommended Kings Park, but before that we needed pharmacy and lunch. The pharmacy was 15 min walk and right across from it was Japanese restaurant.

    We took another Uber to the park. By that time it was very very hot 95 degrees.
    After spending 90 minutes in the incredible park, we could not take the heat any longer.

    We took free bus to the train station, then train to Fremantle and a shuttle to the ship.

    By 8:00pm we were in bed sleeping. Tomorrow is a sea day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 45

    Fremantle, Australia. Star Gazing

    February 16 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    In the afternoon at 1:00pm we met our group and started to drive north of Fremantle.
    We stopped few times to take some pictures and then arrive at the sand dunes.

    It was a fun stop. Some people chose to stay in the restaurant, but the rest of us went sliding down the sand mountain. The hardest part was to climb up. No chair lifts.
    I managed to go down three times.

    On the way to the desert, we picked people from the restaurant and had a nice 20 minuted walk around.

    After driving for another hour we arrived at the Pinnacle desert. We have never seen anything like that. The pictures cannot do the justice to this magnificent place.

    The Pinnacles are amazing natural limestone structures, formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements. The Pinnacles range in height and dimension - some stand as high as 3.5m.

    After sunset, tour guides sat up telescopes and binoculars to see the stars and were pointing to the formations. They also prepared a simple yummy dinner with wine.

    We left the desert after 9:00pm and arrive back on the ship at 12:15am.
    After shower (I had sand all over my body), straight to bed, have get up early to go to Perth for 9:00am walking tour.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 45

    Morning in Fremantle

    February 16 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Four years ago our world cruise was interrupted in Fremantle due to Covid.

    Today in Fremantle we have an afternoon tour that will end at 11pm. We are staying overnight. In the morning we walked to the center of the city and visited fantastic marker, prison and just walked streets of the town.
    Came back on the ship, had lunch and now ready to go on our tour.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 43

    Exmount, Australia

    February 14, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Yesterday in Exmouth was 111F, today is promised to be much better, only 98F.

    Few month ago I booked HAL snorkeling tour to go to Ningaloo Coast. It is UNESCO heritage site. This very highly anticipated tour got cancelled due to no availability of the boat.

    The whole town is 2500 people and it looked like majority of houses are empty. Local people come here during winter times in Australia. Summer is low season due to the heat.

    So, I booked a rental car in the town and we decide to drive to Ningaloo Coast ourself. According to Google the drive is about 45 min.

    We took tender boat and then shuttle that delivered us to the center of this deserted town. Then we walked a little over a half a mile to rental agency.

    After getting a car, I drove (on the left side) to Discovery Center, where we got info on where to snorkel. Basically we had three choices: one-short drive from Discovery Center and then 1/2 walk and snorkeling without current, two - Turquoise Bay with strong current and third - Oyster Stacks, where snorkeling possibilities only with a high tide because corals are very close to the shore.

    Looked like option one was the only good one for us. The walk to the snorkeling spot thru sand and stones was very difficult. It was hot, the sand was very soft and we were carrying lots of stuff (including three huge bottles of water). But we made it.
    The beach is beautiful, water is perfect temperature, but when we started to swim, we quickly realised there is a pretty strong current and we are the only two in the water.

    After 15 minutes of fighting the current, we decided it’s not worth the risk and turned around. We still had to walk back to the car.
    Not a lot of fish or corals, but it was a pleasant swim.

    We rested a little and went back to our car. It was getting really hot. Back in the car, we drove another 20min to Turquoise Bay.

    The beach is so beautiful and the water is turquoise color. Few people were in the water, but mostly close to the shore and not snorkeling. We spent a little time on the beach and decided to drive back. The last shuttle from the town was at 3:00pm.

    On the way back, we were debating to eat something in the town, or go back on the ship. We had breakfast at 6:30 and it was 2:00pm now. After swimming and walking we were really hungry. We decided to go to the ship.
    I dropped Boris and all our stuff at the shuttle stop and drove to rental place. After returning the car I walked back. That 10min walk was like walking in the hot plate.

    Back on the ship, we had a quick bite, then shower, rest and a Valentine dinner.
    After dinner, there was a party, but we did not attend. Too tired to party.

    Overall we enjoyed today, the drive was easy and the swimming was good.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 41

    Broome, Australia.

    February 12 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Some ports are less interesting than others. I think cruise ships stop in these ports to save money. Parking is less expensive.
    The ship arrived at 5:00AM, but the shuttles from so called port started at 8:00AM. Walking is not allowed.
    We took first shuttle to the town. It was already very hot. Everything was closed, except supermarket. We walked around for a while and then took city sightseeing bus which started running at 9:00 AM to Cable Beach. The bus runs loops, stopping at shopping centre, resorts and beach.
    Swimming is not advised due to big waves and jellyfish in the summer.

    Cable Beach is a 22 km stretch of white sand beach on the eastern Indian Ocean and the name of the surrounding suburb in Broome, Western Australia. Cable Beach was named after the telegraph cable laid between Broome and Java in 1889.

    Very popular is camel 🐪 rides on Cable Beach. We were told that Australia had the biggest wild camels population in the world. We have not seen any. Probably too hot for camels.😅😅

    The heat was unbearable and after 30 min, we took another bus back to the shuttle and shuttle back to the ship.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 39

    Darwin, Australia

    February 10 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Our second time in Darwin. First time was in 2017 when we visited Territory National Park.
    This time we decided to spend a day a little different.
    The ship arrived at 7:00AM and we got off the ship shortly after that. We took a shuttle provided by the town to CBD (center) of the town, walked few minutes to the barber shop that opened at 8:00AM and by 8:20 Boris was all set.
    We had to kill time till 9:30 before taking city bus to go to Art Museum. We walked few blocks to Woolworth (supermarket) and then to the pharmacy.

    Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory's principal site, MAGNT Darwin, is home to internationally renowned artistic, cultural and scientific collections and research programs. We enjoyed this museum very much.

    Back on the city bus and to the city. Visited another store to stock up on chocolate.

    Then we had reservation at the highly rated restaurant for lunch. The lunch was a selection of three tapas and a glass of sangria. Between two of us we tasted six small dishes.

    A little more walking (too hot to do anything else) we took a shuttle back to the port.

    It was still too early to go back on the ship, so we took advantage of the covered walkway along the water.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 36

    Komodo Island, Indonesia

    February 7 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    We visited Komodo Island in 2017. No interest to see dragons again. I signed up for snorkeling tour on the pink beach, but then we thought it would be difficult for Boris to get on and off a small boat, so I cancelled our tour. Yesterday I was thinking “May be I can go without Boris” . I contacted the tour organiser, but it was too late. So we are spending a relaxing day on the ship.
    Just a proof we were there.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 31

    Cairns, Australia

    February 2 ⋅ 🌬 84 °F

    As soon as we arrived in Cairns at 8:00AM, I walked to the city center and tried to find a hair salon. After stopping at 4 salons with no results….cant take without appointment, I found one. Nice haircut.

    I returned to the ship to get ready for our afternoon tour of the city. This is our third time in Cairns. First time we went snorkeling in Great Barrier Reef, second visit in 2020 weeks took a cable car to Kuranda.
    This time we are touring the city.

    Our first stop was St. Monica’s Cathedral This Heritage Listed cathedral, dedicated as a memorial to the Battle of the Coral Sea, houses 24 unique stained-glass windows depicting the creation story. They are reputably the largest themed stained-glass windows in the world.

    Our second stop was Cairns Museum. Offering a snapshot of region and its people,

    Then to botanical garden. The Cairns Botanic Gardens is a tropical paradise, renowned for having one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia.

    We spent 30-40 min in the garden. Definitely not enough. Next stop is a coffee shop for refreshments and scones, then overlook point.
    Back on the ship by 4:00PM.
    Quick shower after hot and humid day and dinner with cruise director.

    We have few days to rest before next port.
    Next port is Komodo Island. We are not planning to go ashore since we have seen dragons before.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 30

    Townsville, Magnetic Island, AU

    February 1 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    We visited Townsville in 2017 when we walked in the city and visited aquarium. So for today I wanted to visit Magnetic Island. Unfortunately, 9:00AM arrival of the the ship was too late to join a private tour in the island.

    Few months prior to our cruise I contacted a small company in the island and asked them if they will be willing to customise their tour. They agree to pick us up from cruise terminal, drive us to the ferry, have slightly shorter tour of the island, back to the ferry and drive us back to terminal. To make the tour affordable I needed 14 people. I advertised this tour on Cruise Critic and within 2 hours the group was formed.

    Captain James Cook who, in 1770, while navigating the Australian coast, called the island Magnetical Island, as a magnetic pull interfering with his vessel's compass appeared to emanate from the island. People have since explored the general area of Magnetic Island with various instruments to discover what might have caused the effect that Cook reported, but nothing has been discovered. Our guide said probably Jane’s Cook had too much rum.

    The tour was great. The guide was a native to Magnetic Island. He was telling us stories, explaining everything about plans and animals. We saw rock wallabies, had wonderful lunch on the beach and then visited our guide’s house where he has koala’s hospital. Him and his wife take care of injured koalas, nursing them to health and if possible releasing koalas to the wild.
    At the present time they have 3 adult and 6 baby koalas.

    That was a real treat to be so close to these animals.

    Now it was time to go back to catch 3:00PM ferry. We all got in the van, start driving and within one minute the guide stopped and informed us we have a flat tire.
    His wife was ready to drive 4 people at the time to the ferry, but then two small vans came and we all arrive on time.

    It was a fantastic day on Magnetic Island.    Read more

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