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Australia and NZ 2024Australia and NZ 2024
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Australia and NZ 2024

January - April 2024
Round trip cruise from San Diego on HAL Read more
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  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    3

    Mystery Island, Vanuatu

    January 25, 2024 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    Mystery Island (also known as Inyeug) is a small island located in the country’s south. The island is typically uninhabited, though residents of neighbouring Aneityum journey across on days that cruise ships visit.
    We took a tender boat to the island at 8:00 AM and found a nice shady spot with chairs.
    We enjoyed a day of swimming and snorkelling.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024

    Easo, New Caledonia

    January 26, 2024 in New Caledonia ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    Today was another beach/snorkelling day.
    We took tender boat at 8:00AM, walked of the pier and found a place on the beach.
    The water is calm, perfect temperature and the air is not hot. Wonderful!
    After 4 hours on the beach, came back on the ship and continue our usual routine.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024

    Noumea, New Caledonia

    January 27, 2024 in New Caledonia ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    This is our second time in Noumea. First time in 2017 we went to Amédée Island.

    Amedee Island is a tiny coral atoll located just 30-40 minutes from Noumea where we spent a day swimming, snorkelling and eating.

    For today we booked a tour to visit aquarium and then to have some free time to explore.

    Our first stop was overlook point on the top of the hill. We spent 10 min taking pictures and admiring the scenery.
    The second stop was the aquarium. It is small but well designed and maintained.

    We still had 2.5 hour before the bus back to the port, so we went on the beach. We had a nice swim and a pleasant time on the beach. Only later we discovered that we went to a wrong beach. The waters there were without a net to protect us from sharks and venomous jellyfish. Likely we did not see any.

    We then walked to a restaurant for lunch and then rushed back to the bus.

    After returning to the port, we went to a supermarket to get chocolate and then stopped for some pastries and a good coffee.

    We were so full, we skipped dinner. Only some fruits in the evening.

    Tomorrow is a sea day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024

    Brisbaine, Australia

    January 30, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 81 °F

    The ship arrived at 7:30AM to a new cruise ship terminal, approximately 30km from the city center. The ship provided a shuttle for $25 round trip. We decided not to take it, but instead call Uber. It costed us a little more, but it was quicker and more comfortable.
    We arrived at Anzac square at around 9:00AM.

    ANZAC Square is a heritage-listed town square and war memorial in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a state memorial to the men and women who participated in overseas armed service and is named in honour of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
    The weather forecast promises 90 percent of rain and when we arrived at the memorial, it was raining. By the time we finished with walking around and taking pictures the rain turned into a drizzle. We decided the best is to go to a few museums.
    The first museum we decided to visit was 15-20 minutes walk.
    Queensland Museum featuring science, culture & natural history exhibits specific to the Queensland region. Big collection of animals, butterflies and insects.
    After museum, we stopped at coffee shop for a light lunch and a good cup of coffee.
    By now the rain stopped and we walked back to Queen Street Mall. It is an open street mall with over 500 stores and restaurants.

    Our next museum was Museum of Brisbane. It is located on the 3rd level of City Hall. Museum of Brisbane is a social history museum and art gallery. Great museum to learn the history of the region.

    The City Hall has a clock tower. I researched days before that you need tickets to go to clock tower. They allow max 6 people every 15 minutes.

    The tour includes a ride in the old freight elevator in the middle of the building, seeing all 4 of the clock faces from behind, all the mechanics which operate the clock and the views from the top is pretty good.

    Now it was time to go back. Another Uber and by 4:00PM we were back on the ship.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024

    Townsville, Magnetic Island, AU

    February 1, 2024 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

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024

    Cairns, Australia

    February 2, 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌬 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

    Komodo Island, Indonesia

    February 7, 2024 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

    Darwin, Australia

    February 10, 2024 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

    Broome, Australia.

    February 12, 2024 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

    Exmount, Australia

    February 14, 2024, 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

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