Australia & New Zealand

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Day 19
Friday, November 3, 2023 at 3:10 PM
☁️ 59 °F
Altitude: 26 ft
New Zealand Black Jacks Point -45.868848, 170.52492445°52’8” S 170°31’30” E
3
Dunedin Craft Beer Festival!
November 3, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
Can you believe it? We are staying 1.5 miles from Dunedin's once a year beer festival!!!!

Little pricy, but it's definitely a must do....when in Rome... I mean New Zealand
Traveler Oh thank goodness it's a beer fest and not the
11/3/23Reply
TravelerI shouldn't type after festing!!!!
11/3/23Reply
Traveler The beet fest
11/3/23Reply
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Day 20–21
November 4, 2023 at 4:15 PM - November 5, 2023
1 night
☁️ 48 °F
Altitude: 856 ft
New Zealand Milford Sound -44.651185, 167.90000444°39’4” S 167°54’0” E
1
Milford Sound
Nov 4–5, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F
WOW! We left Dunedin this morning and headed to Milford Sound. No words or photos can explain the beauty and wonder here. Technically, these are Fjords and not sounds, but does it really matter?

We were on an overnight ship that sleeps about 50. We were offered the chance to kayak or go out of a small boat to explore. We took the kayaks. Luckily, we changed into our swim bottoms as we did get pretty wet with the oars. 48°F both in the water and outside. We know this first hand as we also took the opportunity to jump off the boat into the water for a swim. Seize the day!! Then a warm shower and red wine!!Read more
Traveler Wow!
11/4/23Reply
TravelerThe water looks wonderful!
11/6/23Reply
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Day 21
Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 8:33 AM
⛅ 43 °F
Altitude: Sea level
New Zealand The Lion -44.609456, 167.87123644°36’34” S 167°52’16” E
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Milford Sound morning, Queenstown eve
November 5, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F
So today is Sunday, and I was up and out on the deck before the sunrise. There is no better place to praise God than when surrounded by his beauty in the place. So quiet. So peaceful. So amazing. I spent several hours on deck as we sailed out into the Tasman Sea. We saw penguins, dolphins, birds, and seals. We watched the sun coming up, and the blue sky developed. It was much different than the rains here yesterday.
We will load the bus and head to Queenstown. Great visit!!!Read more
Traveler Beautiful!
11/6/23Reply
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Day 22
Monday, November 6, 2023 at 8:51 AM
☁️ 41 °F
Altitude: 1,040 ft
New Zealand Peninsula Hill -45.034415, 168.66190245°2’4” S 168°39’43” E
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Queenstown & Middle Earth
November 6, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F
I'm still amazed at the beauty! Our hotel room looks out over the Wakatipu Lake.

We started our day with a tour about town and then a stop and personal tour of the Queenstown fire station. They took us for a firetruck ride around the town. It was awesome, especially when we passed the people from our tour group. 😉

We then went on a jetboat tour of the Dart River. It is a river flowing from the glaciers and melting snow caps. It flows into the Wakatipu (or Whakatipu) Lake. It is very rocky and shallow, but the boats are made for that! They can run in as little as 6 inches of water. They took us on a trip into MIDDLE EARTH (where many scenes from the movies were filmed).

We then ventured on our own and took a trip up the gondola to the top, about 450 meters. Breathtaking views.

We are capping off our evening with a high-end local butchery restaurant.
The skies are finally clear, so we will try to spot the southern cross tonight!!Read more
Traveler Lol
11/6/23Reply
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Day 23
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 10:04 AM
⛅ 48 °F
Altitude: 1,339 ft
New Zealand Bush Creek -44.938744, 168.83149944°56’19” S 168°49’53” E
Last full day 😟. Arrowtown
November 7, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
Well, the dream trip is coming to an end. We went by bus this morning to a place called Arrowtown. It is an old historic gold mining town. It has a wild west feel about it. It is very frustrating that cars are allowed to park on both sides of the street, so there are no good photos. We tooled around town for the afternoon, and Brian completed his New Zealand beer goals.

We ended the day with a farewell party where our tour leader went one person at a time and highlighted each person's influence on him and the tour. Very nice. Then, we had an impromptu dance from one of our couples followed by another impromptu dance by our tour leader. I haven't laughed so hard in a while.

We then took a steam ship over to Walter's Peak Farm for dinner and a sheep show.Read more
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Day 24
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 1:57 PM
☁️ 54 °F
Altitude: 1,158 ft
New Zealand Queenstown Airport -45.021449, 168.73946445°1’17” S 168°44’22” E
1
Leaving New Zealand!
November 8, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
But not without one more adventure!

I decided to try paragliding! Why not? So we took the transport up to Coronet Peak! Brian was allowed to go as a spectator.

We ended up waiting 2 hours and 15 minutes for the clouds we were in to lift! Rules are you have to see a landing zone before you can go. Once it cleared, we started. I was the last of the 5 to run off the cliff.

I swear to you, it was peaceful and no anxiety. Run when he says run, and you just float away! ( my panic day was yesterday )

We are now preparing for our 28 hour journey home. Queenstown to Auckland to LA to Dallas to Cincinnati...ughhhh.Read more
TravelerThanks for sharing your adventures.
11/11/23Reply
Traveler So brave!!
11/27/23Reply
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Trip end
November 8, 2023

Australia & New Zealand

Dunedin Craft Beer Festival!

Milford Sound

Milford Sound morning, Queenstown eve

Queenstown & Middle Earth

Last full day 😟. Arrowtown

Leaving New Zealand!