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Australia and NZ 2024
  • Sonia Gelman

Australia and NZ 2024

Round trip cruise from San Diego on HAL Read more
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  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Kangaroo Island, AU at last.

    February 23, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman

    Change of Itinerary. No Kangaroo Island

    February 23, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman

    Adelaide, AU. Overnight

    Feb 24–25, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman

    Melbourne, AU. Overnight

    Feb 25–26, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman
    1

    Hobart, Tasmania. AU

    February 28, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman

    Port Arthur, Tasmania, AU

    February 29, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman

    Sydney, Australia Day One

    March 2, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman

    Sydney, Australia Day Two.

    March 3, 2024 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 2024Sonia Gelman
    1

    Somewhere in Tasmanian Sea

    March 5, 2024, 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 2024Sonia Gelman

    PortChalmers/Dunadin, NZ

    March 7, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    After three days of rough sea we arrived to Port Charmers, which is gateway to Dunadin. We visited it in 2017 and had a tour. For today we booked a tour which we knew will repeat few things we did in 2017, but will also cover new stuff.

    It's known for its Scottish and Maori heritage, Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and a large student population.

    We visited the steepest street in the world. The angle is 38.4 degrees. Then we drove to the overlook of the city and monument to the pioneer who came to the area first.
    We stopped at the university of Ortego where 30,000 students trying to learn something.
    Then we stopped at the botanical garden to see different birds. Some of them talked.
    We toured Dunadin railroad station. It was build in 1906 and its magnificent Renaissance stile has Oamaru limestone facing on black basalt rock.
    Inside floor has 750,000 porcelain tiles.
    After beautiful ride our last stop was Royal Albatross Centre where we had lunch and then a presentation and a walk to see albatross and chicks few weeks old.

    Then I took another beautiful walk to see sea lions on the beach.

    It took one hour to get back to the ship.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Timaru, NZ

    March 8, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    Timaru is a port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand.
    It is a small town, population 48,000.
    We did not have any plans for today.
    The weather was cool, but sunny. Perfect for walking.
    Our first stop was South Canterbury Museum. Its collections include natural history specimens, Māori artefacts, European settlement and recent social history and documentary history.
    Two most memorable things in this museum: kiwi and the size of an egg it carries. Poor mama. It is a very unique bird….cannot fly, has very strong legs and whiskers like a cat.
    Another was Richard Pearse's plane he flew in 1903. Pearse was an Australian farmer and flew this plane nine months before Wright Brothers.

    Then we visited St. Mary’s church, walked more and had coffee. After they with the renewed energy we visited two art galleries, had good lunch, walked to the beach on Caroline Bay and came back on the ship around 3:30 pm.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman
    The pianoSelf sculpture

    Akaroa, NZ

    March 9, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Today is another small port. Really small. Population is 624.

    Canterbury's oldest town, Akaroa was founded in August 1840 by French settlers. It has been suggested that French interest in New Zealand speeded up Britain's decision to annex New Zealand. By the time French settlers arrived, the Treaty of Waitangi between the British Crown and Māori chiefs had been signed.
    The town still fills somewhat French. The street names, french cafes.

    I forgot to mention it is a tender port, so by the time we got on land it was almost 10:00am. We had two things we wanted to see: The Giants House and Alpaca Farm.

    Little information on the street told us the price of a taxi to Alpaca Farm is $120 and admission is $55pp. Although it’s NZ money, still we thought too expensive.
    The little van to The Giants House was $15pp. We settle on that.
    It is hard to describe what it is.
    The house was built in 1880 and was named by a small girl looking up to it from the valley below, who said it was so big it must be the house of a Giant.

    Now it is a little park with mosaic sculptures around the house. The sculptures created by the artist Josie Martin. She is a modern artist, painter and sculptor.
    We really enjoyed this magnificent sculpture garden.

    After walk in the gardens we stopped for a delicious lunch at french restaurant. We walked around small town, stopping at the stores and ice cream, walked to the lighthouse and back to the tender boat.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Wellington, NZ

    March 10, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    This is our second time in the capital of NZ, Wellington. It is not the biggest city in NZ. Auckland and Christchurch have greater population.
    The weather promised to be perfect for walking, so we decided not to go to the famous Te Papa museum since we have been there before, but just be outside and experience the city.
    The shuttle dropped us across Parliament building. It was too early to go on the tour of Parliament, instead we walked to the waterfront which lead up to Te Papa museum. Across the street from the museum is interesting modern new convention center. We walked inside to use toilet.
    Then on the walk to Cuba street. The street is full of cafes, restaurants, book stores and music venues, but it was Sunday morning and most places were closed. I guess this street is alive in the evening.
    We then took a bus and arrived at the so called “cable car”. Five minutes later we at the top.
    The Wellington Cable Car is a funicular railway between Lambton Quay, the main shopping street, and Kelburn, a suburb in the hills overlooking the central city, rising 120 m over a length of 609 m.
    By that time we felt a little hungry and decided to split pizza.
    We then walked down (cannot suggest this to anyone with a wheelchair) to the Rose Garden and thru cemetery to the Parliament.
    Unfortunately, all tour have been sold out, but we manage to get inside and took few pictures.
    In front of the building soldiers were practising for tomorrow’s greetings of Chinese delegation.
    Back on the shuttle we had just enough time to take shower and dress for dinner.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman
    Symbol of the city

    Napier, NZ

    March 11, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Napier, a coastal city on New Zealand's North Island, is set amid the renowned wine-producing region of Hawke's Bay. Rebuilt after a 1931 earthquake, the city is known for art deco landmarks like the zigzag-patterned Daily Telegraph Building. Along the tree-lined waterfront promenade the Marine Parade, the Pania of the Reef statue depicting a Maori maiden, is a symbol of the city.

    Today we joined the tour to see colony of gannets.
    The drive to see these birds was magnificent, the views of the cliffs, the wineries. We drove through the private grounds where only this tour company allowed to visit gannet colony.
    We could come within few feet to the colony could see adults and young nesting in serried rows carrying out their daily routine. In the air above our heads, these amazing birds with their 6-foot wingspan (2 m) swooped and dove as they carried back fish. On the ground, just a few feet away, the pairs preen and perform the dance of the gannets’ recognition ritual.

    These birds mate for life and produce only one offspring per year. Both parents take care of their offspring. When the baby is bigger than parents, it flies to Australia. Only 20-30 percent of them survive this journey. Three year later they come back and start their own family.

    After we came back, we walked around the town and its beautiful waterfront.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Tauranga, NZ

    March 12, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Tauranga is one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand. Located on the east coast of the North Island. The main industry of the city is lumber. We saw truck after truck coming to the port full of lumber for export to China.

    For today we joined few other people in a tour that promised to be very good. Unfortunately, sometimes the tour guide makes it not so good. That was the case today.
    There was a lot of driving. We stopped at the volcanic area that resembles Yellowstone. We soaked our feet in a hot mineral water, then we drove to see waterfall, hiked a little and came back to the town. Boris went back on the ship and I walked in the town for 30min. Tried their ice cream and came back.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Auckland, NZ. Day one

    March 13, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    No tours today.
    Walked out of the ship and we are in downtown of Auckland.
    Today’s plan-just walk and explore the city.
    We walked to Albert Park, which was set aside as a reserve in the 1870s, and developed as a park in the 1880s.
    The steep paths were very challenging for a wheelchair, so Boris walked and I pushed the wheelchair. From the park we wend to adjacent Art Museum of Auckland.
    One of the highlights of this museum was the Goa Pei exhibit, the extravagance and breath-taking fashion of globally renowned Chinese designer Guo Pei.
    Finished with museum, we had coffee break and then walked to so called Auckland Domain. It’s a huge park consisting of 75 hectares (190 acres) of land, Auckland Domain is the oldest park in the city. Again path up and down (mostly up).
    We finally reached War Memorial Museum,
    which sits prominently on the crater rim.

    We were debating to see museum or not. We decided not to see it. By now we were very tired from walking and the motor on the wheelchair was out of power.
    We called Uber and in 15 min were back on the ship. Time to rest before evening.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Auckland, NZ. Day One. Evening

    March 13, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 68 °F

    After some rest we left ship around 5:00PM for afternoon stroll. Then dinner by the water and beautiful evening. Came back on the ship by 9:00PM for local Māori show.
    Tomorrow is another day in the city.Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Auckland, NZ. Day 2

    March 14, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    For the second day in Auckland we decided to take it easy and get out of the city. The plan was to walk along the shore to Mission Bay. It is a resort town approximately 7-8km from the city centre.
    The weather was perfect and the walk was very pleasant. We passed the Aquarium which we visited in 2017 and few nice beaches. By 12:30PM we were in Mission Bay. The place has laid back feeling with beach and street lined up with restaurants.
    After great lunch in Italian restaurants, we spent time at the beach. No swimming, the water is only 72 degrees.
    We took bus back to the city and after walking some more returned to the ship.
    We had a pass to the spa and it was a wonderful relaxing end to this day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman
    One of a kind toiletA boardwalk built for Queen Elizabeth when she visited. She said its lovely and never stepped on it

    Waitangi (Bay of Islands), NZ

    March 15, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Today’s our last day of 9 days port marathon and we are tired.

    Waitangi is the site of the signing of the first accord between the British Crown and the Maori people, but we are not going there. Instead we booked a Viator tour to other places.

    Today was a tour to see glow worms and chocolate. What an odd combination. The glow worms were interesting. They lit up the ceiling of the cave in complete darkness.

    We next stopped at a chocolate factory. They have very good chocolates. Then was lunch. It was at a bakery with about 20 varieties of savory pies. Both Australia and New Zealand do a lot of them. I had meat and cheese and it was delicious.

    Our next stop was a forest of kauri trees, their largest. It was a beautiful forest full of ferns and big trees. After we stopped at a waterfall, a lookout spot to take pics of our ship, then back to the ship. It was a long day. Now we have 2 sea days. I am looking forward to it.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman
    King's ceremonial palace
    Locals dancingOur guide

    Kingdom of Tonga

    March 18, 2024 in Tonga ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    This is our second time in Tonga. First time was in 2020 during Covid just before we were kicked off the ship in southern Australia.

    Tonga is located in South Pacific. It is the only country that was never colonized. Consisting of 176 islands, Tonga has a history dating back over 3000 years and the monarchy was in place around 1000 years. Tonga was given the nickname " the Friendly Islands" after Captain James Cook arrived here in 1776.
    In the 19th century missionaries arrived, converting local population to Christianity. Country's capital Nuku'alofa translates to "Abode of Love"

    In 2020 we visited a stunning beach where Boris went for a short snorkeling swim. The waves were pretty big and did not feel safe. He saw corals, colorful fish and we hoped for some good snorkeling this time.

    Today we decided to go on the beach again and try our luck in snorkelling. We found a taxi and upon arriving on the beach were surprised….no palms, no shade. The beach looked pretty ugly. We were told - in 2022 there was an offshore volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami. The effect of it still evident.
    There was nothing in the water: no corals, very few fish.
    We asked our driver to take us somewhere else and after checking another beach with what looked like a remains of the resort, we decided to see something else.
    Our nice driver took us to see blowhole, then burial place of royalty, then three brunches coconut tree (usually only one brunch). Then we stop at the wood carving store and had an ice cream next to it. Finally we saw remaining of the church.

    It was getting very hot so we went back on the ship.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Rarotonga, Cooks Island

    March 20, 2024 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    After two March 19 days, we were looking forward to a great day of snorkelling. The weather is perfect. We got up at 6:00AM and by 7:00 I was in line for tender tickets.
    Got ticket for the first tender boat. All looked good. It felt a little suspicious that the ship was changing orientations and then at 7:30 the captain announced the swell is too big and it’s not safe for tender operation. Bummer!
    Two days at sea instead of one before Bora Bora.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman
    Boris is petting stingray
    On the boatCrystalclear blue waterReady for lunchLuch is being preparedAt the restaurant

    Bora Bora, French Polynesia

    March 22, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    We arrived at our not planned port at 8:00AM. Likely I managed to get a tour two days prior to the stop at this port. As this is a tender port, we had to get up early to be inline for tender tickets.
    Got ticket for the first tender and by 8:20 we were on the shore. The tour started at 9:00AM. Our little boat had 12 people.
    Our first stop was at the shallow location to basically pet stingrays and small sharks. That was fun. The water is blue and very clear.
    The second location was normal snorkeling with corals and fish. No pictures since Boris lost his camera in Tonga and we did not want to pay $300 for the new one. That is what is available on the ship.
    After that-delicious lunch on the Motu and music, dancing and performance.
    We got back on the ship around 3:00PM.
    After shower and a little rest, I met with another lady to go for a dinner ashore. Boris decided to stay on the ship.
    Sarah and I walked 10 min to the restaurant and had a wonderful dinner in a beautiful setting.
    We took last tender boat at 8:00PM. We were the only two on the tender boat and last ones to board the ship.
    It was a great day in Bora Bora.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Moorea, French Polynesia. Day 1.

    Mar 23–24, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    No plans for today.
    Our two friends from 2023 world cruise who are staying in Moorea suggested to visit Temae beach near Sofitel Hotel.
    So another couple from Canada and us hired a taxi and in 30 min we were on the beach. It’s a long strip beach. The taxi dropped us at the north side of the beach.
    Right away we went snorkeling. Not good. The coral reef was very far and there was some current.
    We decided to walk south toward resort.
    Much better…corals were very close to the shore and in good shape. Lots of colorful fish. No camera and no pictures.
    We spent the rest of the time snorkeling. At 1:00PM the taxi picked us up and we were back on the ship in one hour.
    We were too tired to go anywhere in the evening, so we rested before tomorrow’s whole day tour.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Moorea, French Polynesia. Day 2

    March 24, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Today we scheduled a full day snorkeling tour departing from the tender pier at 9:00PM.
    Since we stayed overnight, I thought we can take tender boat at 8:00AM and be on time for the tour.
    Coming back to our cabin from breakfast at 6:55AM, I met another passenger who told me we have to be on tender boat at 7:00AM. After that only cruise ship tour passengers will get tender tickets.
    We had 5 minutes together ready. Luckily we were packed, but I had to change to a swim suit and get to the tender boat. We made it!

    At 9:00AM we got on the tour boat. We had two snorkeling stops and then the most delicious lunch on the Motu.

    Again, some music, coconut breaking, cooking presentation, hat making lessons, plant medicine presentation and other useful stuff. Lots of fun. It was a fantastic day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024Sonia Gelman

    Huahine, French Polynesia.

    March 26, 2024, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Huahine is known as one of the most authentic islands in French Polynesia, where the ancestral culture is still very much alive in local traditions and customs.
    The population of the island is 6000.
    We took a tender boat to the island without any plans. All I knew there is a wonderful beach and a resort, but it’s required taxi or a car rental.
    We start talking to another couple, they were going to rent a car and I offer them to split the cost. The rental for a day is pretty expensive. Also, all cars are manual transmission. I do not drive manual.
    The island consist of two separate islands, connected by the bridge. First, we drove around bigger north island, stopping at view points, private shell museum, vanilla plantation and then we arrived at remains of the resort with good looking beach.
    I decided to “test the water”. The current was extremely strong. After 30 minutes, we continue driving stopping at the place where we could see blue eyed eels.

    They live near the village of Faie and are considered sacred and have been habituated to humans for hundreds of years. These are massive 1.5-2m long fish that live in small caves and holes under the bridge and come out to feed in the fresh waters of the river. Locals and tourists feed them with mackerel. The most amazing is that the eels have absolutely blue eyes, almost porcelain blue that nearly glow in the water. They live up to 80 years.
    Finally we end up in Avea Beach with very nice resort. It was close to 1:00PM and we were hangry. The lunch at the resort restaurant was very good.
    After lunch we still had few hours to enjoy beautiful beach and fantastic snorkelling.

    Back to the tender pier by 4:00PM. Very nice day.    Read more

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