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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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  • 55footprints
  • 12countries
  • 95days
  • 450photos
  • 22videos
  • 24.9kmiles
  • 7.4kmiles
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  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 21

    Lautoka, Fiji snorkeling

    January 23 in Fiji ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Overnight we moved from roughly south side of Fiji to southern side.

    For today I booked a snorkelling tour. We met with our group at 8:45AM in Ocean Bar. I was a little concerned since the group was 25 people. We walked out of the ship under pouring rain and after short walk boarded our boat. The boat was very comfortable with 6 sailors and shortly I was not concerned any more.

    After 45 min of fastride we arrived at our first snorkelling destination. We went on 40 minutes snorkelling along beautiful corals and colourful fish. Snorkelling away from the boat was pretty easy. Only later I realised that it was current helping us. Boris decided to turn back and after few minutes I followed him. Swimming against the current was not easy. I came back on the boat totally exhausted.
    It took another 15 minutes for everyone to get on board.
    Unfortunately, we forgot underwater camera at home, so no corals and fish pictures.

    Another 20 minutes later we arrived to the island where movie Cast Away with Tom Hanks was filmed.
    While crew was transferring food to the island from the boat and preparing our lunch, we were snorkelling along the reef.

    After that we boarded a small boat and had a wonderful lunch. Washed the lunch with a local beer.

    After lunch we went on the guided hike to see locations of the movie.

    Back on the boat, we arrived 10 min before final bearding at 4:30pm.
    Shower, dinner and the show and then bed at 8:30 PM. Tomorrow is much needed sea day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    3
    Day 23

    Mystery Island, Vanuatu

    January 25 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
    Day 24

    Easo, New Caledonia

    January 26 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
    Day 25

    Noumea, New Caledonia

    January 27 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
    Day 28

    Brisbaine, Australia

    January 30 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
    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

  • 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 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 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 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

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