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New Zealand and Australia
  • Wendy Morris

New Zealand and Australia

A 24-day adventure by Wendy Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 14, 2025
  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Fiji

    January 16 in Fiji ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    We arrived in the wee hours to Nadi, Fiji and a guitar player greeted us even though it was 530am.
    We were picked up by Rosie Holidays tour driver, Luke ,who brought us to the beautiful Sheraton Resort on Denarau Island.
    After checking in, we made our way to a lovely breakfast and then spent a good bit of time lounging by the pool after walking the property. We even found the fitness center to do our stretching.
    Back to the room in the afternoon for a rest. I walked around and found cute handmade trinkets for the boys.
    Dinner finished our day in a true paradise.
    We watched the fire twirling while dining outdoors with a beach view. Our final stop was a quick beach walk to watch the sun disappear.
    Bula (hello and welcome)!
    And vinaka to Fiji (thank you!)    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Island tour of Fiji

    January 17 in Fiji ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Today, after a delightful continental breakfast, we hired a taxi with a local Fijian, who drove us to the sights on the island. We started at the farmer's market in town. It is full of villagers selling their crops. Tapioca, Kava, melons, pineapples, and so much more. Beautiful flowers are also sold there. We learned about Kava, ground from roots, and how it is a relaxing drink for Islanders.
    Next, we drove past sugar cane fields, the main crop of Nadi. It is harvested in April, s it's not mature yet. The bay of Nadi is tge water we could see.
    Onto the village of Vieseisei- the first founded village after the missionaries arrived. It has a chief, and most Fijians are part of village life, which is very family based. Gina guided us around to see the monument, church, and chief's house. In the church, the original buttons from the coat of the first missionary who brought Christianity to a cannibal country are mounted on the wall. The villagers are very proud of this church. And of course we had to buy something from her, so a pearl bracelet is coming home with me.
    After Gina's tour, we headed to the Valley of the Sleeping Giant Orchid garden. Thousands of plants and walkways to explore. It was started by Raymond Burr who apparently loved Fiji. A refreshing glass of punch is offered to everyone at the end of the visit
    Next, we drove to see the hot springs and mud bath but not to go in. It was a hot day already!
    On our way back, we drove through the main street of the town after making a quick stop at the largest Hindu temple in Fiji.
    The street looks like any bustling street of many foreign countries.
    Back to the Sheraton for lunch at the golf course and a swim in the pool rounded out a glorious day in this far-off island world.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Off to New Zealand!

    January 18 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    This day began with an amazing rainbow on the beach! I was on my way to a 7am yoga and spotted a rainbow over the ocean. During the class at the little white chapel patio, we watched it cross the sky!
    It was a lovely way to start my day!
    We checked out and were driven to the airport for our next leg of our adventure. Boarded a flight on Air New Zealand to Aukland. It was an easy flight, and coming in was kind of special. Upon arrival, we were met and driven to our Hilton hotel by the wharf.
    We took a short walk along the quay. We saw the city tower ahead of us and the old Ferry building as well as the downtown highrises. A delicious salad and a glass of Rose were found at Wahlberg's, which was fun.
    Our day ended with a look at the 4th floor pool overlooking the harbor. Maybe we will test it out in the morning, but for now, goodnight!    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler
    1

    On Board the Westerdam

    January 19, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    Today we boarded the ship, Westerdam after breakfast and a stroll through the downtown main street of Aukland. Queen Street is the large, mostly pedestrian shopping street with designer shops and restaurants. We made it up to Albert Park, past the Art Museum. Strolling through the park was lovely on a Sunday morning with statues and lots of flowers in bloom. We passed the Art Deco theater, the clock tower, and the university. We even saw the speakers' corner!
    Then back to check out of the Hilton, which is very close to Queens Wharf. The onboarding was smooth, and our room was lovely - 6059. Dinner reservations made, and our first meal was delicious. We then listened to the history of Holland America and all about our first upcoming ports.
    It was a full but very fun day.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Tauranga

    January 20, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    We arrived at Tauranga( pronounced Toe-wrong-a) at 930am. We hopped on a bus for our tour to Rotorua and the Maori cultural center . It took an hour, and we passed the Kiwi fruit orchards, the cultivated forests and the volcanic hills. It's a beautiful country! The kiwi is a huge export and carefully grown.
    Lunch was served on our arrival, which was an abundant buffet.
    Then we watched a Maori show with singing and native dancing.
    The dancers use sticks and balls to make it even more exciting. Next was a walk through the gardens of the park to visit the geysers but along the way we stopped to see the kiwi birds in a special night- like enclosure since they are nocturnal. We were very lucky to see a 9 week old baby kiwi digging for worms! No pictures are allowed, so memory will have to serve.
    Finally, we watched the mud bubbling and the geysers shoot up with 176 degree water. Smells like rotten eggs, but it was amazing!
    On the return to the ship we passed the sand beach and volcanic hill called the Mount.
    What a fun excursion and full day!
    Back in our room was a cute elephant to greet us with chocolate eyes! So cute!    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler
    1

    Napier

    January 21, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    I arose early this morning to watch the first sunrise of the day in the world, and it was beautiful. Napier is a little town with a lot of art deco architecture defining the town. After a 7.8 earthquake in 1931, the town banded together to rebuild with an art deco theme. It shows in the streets and the buildings.
    We took the Hawkes Bay Express, which is a 2- car hand-built train that tours the town. Our driver gave interesting information about the quake, the logging trade, and the people who live there. The customs house told the history, and the big pot was used by whalers a century ago.
    We walked the main street before heading back to the ship. There are quaint statues , old cars, and even costumes in some windows. Bill's favorite car was the Morris Minor.
    Another new adventure to log!    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Wellington

    January 22, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    What a "crackin day!" According to the Kiwis that means great,and it was a beautiful day. Perfect weather, and such a fun adventure. We took the free shuttle to the middle of town, got a map, and found our way towards Cuba Street. It's the bohemian part with a diverse selection of restaurants and shops. We were looking for Fortune Favours brewery. Fun place, and Bill found a good beer and a souvenir shirt.
    Then, we tried to find the next one after strolling the funky street. There is a famous bucket fountain and a funny statue! We found ForkBrew. It was such a fun upstairs restaurant and micro brew. I tried fried polenta sticks, which were awesome.
    Then, on to the Wellington Cable car up to the Botanical Garden. It's gorgeous at the top of a mountain. We walked down through the gardens, including a rose garden and a hydrangea forest! The walk took us through the cemetery of 1865, past the veteran memorial ending at the Beehive, a new government building that looks like a hive!
    The shuttle picked us up there, and we arrived back at the ship in time for a quick swim before dinner and a fabulous dance show.
    It was truly a Crackin Day! We made it back to our room just in time to watch the sun set over the water.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    South Island, Picton and Marlborough

    January 23 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Today we woke to the news of a fire near Meggies house and evacuation orders for her, Angler and Chris. Scary to be so far away but grateful for the communication. We were scheduled for a wine tasting excursion in the countryside, so after hearing they were all safe, we headed out on the bus where the local ladies gave each passenger a flower to pin on our shirts. 3 wineries were on the list as well as a chocolate factory. None were disappointing! The bus through the valley from the dock was beautiful with cows, swamps and a river to see along the way. The first was Hunters- a family owned vineyard with several types of wine. Our favorite was the "bubbly." Next, we headed to Adam Scott Winery which is also a family owned and operated business. It seemed a bit more posh, and the wines were very tasty.
    Our final winery was my personal favorite - the SpyValley winery. Also, family run with the same wines- sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, rose and a pinot noir.
    It was a casual atmosphere and I liked the rose best.
    Our last stop was the Makana Chocolate Boutique with a macadamia nut bark full of deliciousness.
    We arrived back in time for a light lunch and time to relax. I sat and painted a bit, then watched the dock workers load and sort logs to be shipped.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Littleton and Christchurch

    January 24, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Today, we took a shuttle from the port in Littleton to a gondola on the other side of the mountain through a modern tunnel. This area is called the Southern Alps, and I guess it's quite snowy in the winter. But sheep were grazing on a steep grassy rise. The view from the peak was gorgeous. Littleton is on one side and Christchurch on the other. It is the 2nd largest city in New Zealand.
    After a look around and a ride that explained the history of the area, we took the gondola back down the mountain and picked up the #8 public bus to Christchurch for $4 a person which was good for a round-trip within 2 hours. So we made a circle walking tour from the downtown bus depot around the main sights. We found the Cardboard cathedral first. It truly is made from Cardboard after the big earthquake destroyed the big one a few years ago. It's right next to the new stadium. So many buildings have large painted murals!
    We then walked past the main square to the Riverwalk by the Avon River. Lots of shops and restaurants line the river with a public market on the corner of a major intersection. The Riverside market was a fun place to find another local craft beer- this one from Test Lab called Pale Alien.
    After a short chat with the locals, we headed back to the bus, which delivered us to Littleton. It's a quaint 2 street town on a hillside next to the water. We found a fun place to have a late lunch- Eruption micro brew with good beer and the best loaded nachos ever! We passed the mascot - a statue of a working sheep dog on the way back to our shuttle, which took us back to the ship in time for us to watch the comedy show. It rounded out another full day on the South Island.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler
    1

    Port Chalmers and Dunedin

    January 25 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We docked in Port Chalmers, a tiny working dock town, but the main sights are a bit farther in a town named after a Scottish land. Dunedin is Gaelic for Edinburgh, and lots of Robert Burns' influence is around. In fact, we arrived on his birth date, Jan. 25th.
    The shuttle stopped next to the old railway station, which is still in business but now holds a lovely art gallery as well.
    I bought a couple of prints of local artists.
    The grounds were beautiful ,filled with flowers! From there, we walked up the hill to the big Octagon (the main plaza) right adjacent to St. Paul's cathedral. A parade of old cars was on display.
    The cathedral had a fire years back, which is evident by the two styles within the sanctuary.
    After a look there, we decided to walk to the Botanical Garden of Dunedin. It turned out to be much farther than we thought! We enjoyed St George Street with a playground in the middle, then passed the world's steepest stairway close to the steepest street. An hour later, we reached the outskirts of the garden. It was a large park area full of green grass and trees. In a drizzle, we turned and headed back to the city center, passing the University of Otago and a Rugby club field in search of lunch and another craft beer. Rugby is the national sport of New Zealand.
    We found a quaint pub called the Craic where we enjoyed a typical Scottish meal of fish and chips.
    We had a short stroll back to the shuttle, which delivered us back to our home away from home .    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Fjordland National Park

    January 27, Tasman Sea ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    After passing by the very southern tip of New Zealand, today we spent the whole day cruising the fjords of New Zealand called Fjordland. It is a very large area on the southeast corner of the South Island. We visited 3 of the major inlets- Dusky, Doubtful, and Milford. Glaciers formed the canyons to the sea, which are now full of Fauna and Flora. Only small animals, but tons of Marine life. We were looking for fur seals, penguins, and dolphins along with lots of birds. The penguins find small caves by the water to nest, and the male incubates the egg. Then he molts completely before going back into the water. We saw caves, but no little guys . I was able to spot an albatross off the back of the ship and some seals sunning on a rock. A small pod of Bottlenose dolphins swam by for a quick look at us! The mountains go straight to the sea, with waterfalls streaming into the water. It truly is quite magical. We had a nature expert on board for the day who gave lots of facts about the area. We were able to spend time on the bow of the ship which is not usually open. It gives some perspective on how big the mountains are.
    After our last fjord, the small pilot boat came alongside and picked him up. That was even fun to watch.
    I did about 6 miles of laps around the deck all day to see the natural wonders. It's my kind of day for sure!    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    At sea

    January 28 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Yesterday and today were both At Sea days, which meant time doing fun activities that the ship offered . Listening to talks about Australia was enlightening for our next ports. Then there was art class, watercolor, a poker tournament for Bill and lots of food! I had some time looking in the shops and the library and even sat by the pool after working out in the fitness center. The seas were rocking, so the pool was closed, but the sun is supposed to come out tomorrow in time for Tasmania.
    We had a lovely dinner in the fancy restaurant called the Pinnacle. Then we had an equally great dinner at the Italian restaurant. There is a tradition with Holland America to have a day of Orange, which is a special color for the cruise line. We joined in the Orange party and danced in the lounge to mostly 70's rock and roll!
    The days aboard the ship definitely have been a fun vacation in itself!    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Tasmania!

    January 30, Bass Strait ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    This little part of Australia is just amazing! We arrived at Hobart Harbor after cruising up the river Derwent, the largest river in this part of the world. It is the deepest harbor in the Southern hemisphere. Hobart was built after the British sent prisoners to the island as punishment, including women, all of whom were mistreated. The indigenous people died out due to disease - quite a rough past for this state of Australia.
    We did customs and then took a bus tour to the small old town of Richmond, which reminded us of a mini Williamsburg. The old church was similar to the mission style. there was a woodcraft studio and a cute little park with a path for ducks. On the way to the town, we passed Mt. Wellington, the tallest mountain in Tasmania and passed vineyards and farms in the Coal Valley.
    Then we were rode on to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary for rescued native Australian animals. Birds, snakes, wombats, echidnas, a baby Tasmanian Devil and... kangaroos!!! This was one of the best days because we were allowed to feed and pet kangaroos. The fur felt like a soft bunny, and the animals were very gentle eating out of my hand. So cool!! I bought some stuffed animals for the boys to celebrate and help the cause of getting the animals healed and back to their environment.
    We bussed back to Hobart for a stroll around town in time to find another craft brewery and lunch. This one was Fox Friday, which had a fun vibe. As we walked back by the pier, we encountered a lobster fisherman who gave us great information about his industry. Hard work!
    Then we boarded our ship and enjoyed the evening of a fish dinner, Beatles trivia, and the Step Dancers. They were incredible.
    Oh my, this day was indeed a highlight for me.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Melbourne

    January 31 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Cruising into Melbourne in the early morning was an opportunity to see a beautiful sunrise. We arrived at the pier adjacent to the Princes pier, which is just pylons now. We were on our own today - no excursion booked, so we took the 109 bus after purchasing a Myki card. It was a Tap On system good for the day for $17.00 each. Once in town,a walk across the river Yarra over an interesting bridge gets to a free tram that circles the city or to other trams that go to different parts of the city. This was more confusing than we hoped, but after asking lots of questions, we found our way. Federation Square is a venue with restaurants and shops. We peeked around, then decided to find the Parliament building next. A long walk through Chinatown took us to that part of town. Across from the old government building was the exhibition hall and the Melbourne Museum. We strolled the grounds, used the facilities, and realized it was similar to a Natural History Museum with dinosaur and science exhibits.
    So after trying again to get the tram and failing, we took another hike to the Queen Victoria Market. It is the largest public market in the Southern hemisphere and looked like the Fair on steroids!
    But, we found a great spot to have some lunch and a craft beer called Brick Lane. Bill had a Wagyu burger with a West Coast IPA, and I had a pickle plate with a ginger beer. We loved the Superbowl sign with Monday, Feb. 10th!
    We felt better after that our delightful meal.
    We then explored the market, finally finding the #58 tram back to the city center. The city is home to over 5 million people and bigger than we had anticipated, but the modern architecture is stunning. More than a day would do this city justice, but we did get a feel for it in the short time we had. We definitely have more to see on another trip!    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Sydney

    February 2 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We arrived into the Sydney harbor before dawn this morning, so we rose to watch the ship pass the Opera House and then below the Harbor Bridge. Ours is the only cruise ship that fits under the bridge, and it makes it with 7 feet to spare! It was impressive to watch. We then docked right near the city, so it was a short drive to the Crown Plaza Hotel. After checking in, we headed out on our own to discover the sights of the city.
    Our first stop was St. Andrew's cathedral, which is Anglican and lovely. Then, we passed by the town hall and on to Queen Victoria Mall. It's a beautiful assortment of high-end shops in a large building that was an open market originally.
    We followed George Street down to Circular Quay with lots of shops and restaurants and many ferry boats to all parts of the city. After strolling under the Harbor Bridge and through the farmers market, we found a fun eating place called Endeavor Tap room with outside tables and a view of the water in the area called The Rocks. Then on to the Opera house for a 2pm tour of the concert hall and the outside architecture. Wow! It's a modern Unesco site - a real wonder! It's hard to describe how amazing the structure it is having been built over 50 years ago. The concrete roof holds itself up, the roof tiles reflect light and keep it clean, and the wood is accoustically perfect. The story behind the two men who designed it is sad because one never got to see the project finished. The other was not recognized for his contribution until after he died. But the whole building now belongs to the people.
    It was hard to absorb all the information from the tour being so awe struck just walking through it.
    We decompressed at the Fortune of War pub, which is the oldest pub in Australia. We met two Aussies, Patrick and James, at the bar and had a fun chat before taking a long walk back up George Street to our hotel on Darling Quay. Dinner was all we could muster after a 20,000 step day. Sydney did not disappoint!    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler
    1

    Sydney and the Blue Mountains

    February 3 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Today was another awesome adventure starting at 6:30 a.m. to catch a smaller tour group for an all-day trip to the Blue Mountains. Spanning miles, these mountains are mostly Eucalyptus and Fern with canyons and waterfalls that are stunning. We stopped for a quick coffee in the quaint town of Glenbrook. The ride to the mountains took about 1 1/2 hours, and our first stop was a lookout called the Three Sisters, which is a rock formation of three jutting rocks rising from the canyon floor. It was magical.
    We went from that lookout to a part of the National Park called the Scenic World. A cable car ride crosses the gorge and was a pretty spectacular view of the waterfall as we glided along.
    Then it took us to a descending train like a Disney ride with dinosaur models on each side. I loved the ride! At the end of the train ride, our tour guide Tom led us through the rainforest down at the bottom of the gorge. Lots of Fern trees and all sorts vines and various Eucalyptus tree surround ed us. Dinosaurs peeked out from the bush, too.
    After a really great experience in the Scenic World, we stopped at Boar's Head lookout for a last view of the mountains before stopping for lunch at the RSL club. What a beautiful facility for veterans and the community.
    Our final stop of the tour was the Sydney zoo. We saw native animals like kangaroos, wombats, and koalas. Even a salt water crocodile and reptiles were on display, including poisonous snakes and nocturnal animals like the Quoll.
    Our way back to the city was by ferry to Circular Quay passing under multiple bridges past the Opera house and tall buildings.
    We walked back to the hotel after a stop for supper at Lord Nelson's brewery, the second oldest in Australia.
    This was one more amazing day full of beauty and fun.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler

    Cairns

    February 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Well, today was kind of a "pivot" day. We left Sydney on an early morning flight to Cairns, which is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. We landed in the pouring rain, and it had been raining for a few days, flooding parts of the area. Even the baggage pick-up screams Reef! So, instead of heading to Kuranda- the koala sanctuary - we took a couple of umbrellas and wandered the little town. We found a cute little park, some turtles kissing, and some aboriginal art. Then, off the boardwalk strip, there was an animal entertainment and education center and low and behold! Koala pictures were part of the entrance fee. So, after seeing the exhibits with some exotic birds, Bill held our stuff, and I waited to get my picture with Vera, the two year old Koala. She was like a fuzzy bowling ball. That definitely made my dreary day so much better!
    After a quick swim at the hotel in the drizzle (the temperature was still 80 degrees outside), we found Hemingway craft brewery and restaurant for a delicious reef fish dinner.
    The day was not what was planned but turned out to be a fun adventure anyway.
    Crossed fingers for tomorrow - snorkeling the reef was already canceled, so another pivotal day is ahead.    Read more

  • Wendy MorrisNew Zealand and AustraliaTraveler
    1

    Great Barrier Reef

    February 5, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    We made it! Our first choice was canceled so we went early this morning to the terminal that all the reef boats depart from to see if any other boats were going out today after the big rain of the last few days. Big Cat Green Island Cruises was operating a large catamaran to a small island just at the edge of the reef.
    We were able to get some last-minute seats to the island that is an hour and a half ride from Cairns - it was a majority of Asian tour groups, which was fine by me.
    Once at Green Island, we were given snorkeling equipment as well as a glass bottom boat ride.
    The skipper was very informative about what we were seeing - the coral of several types and many fish. That was a real treat for me.
    After the ride, we gathered our fins, masks, and suits ( they have lycra suits head to toe to keep the marine stingers or jellyfish from hurting anyone). The water was about 80 degrees and a little bit murky from the storm. Still, I could see enough to find a sea turtle and follow it along for a bit. I also had a reef shark swim right past me, and one tried to catch a heron by almost beaching itself! What a sight! Many small fish swam in the sea grass right beneath me.
    The island is big enough for it to have lunch spots and plenty of changing facilities. It is very rainforest like, not barren at all. We enjoyed a full day of island bliss before a gentle trip back to Cairns. It made for a magical last day in Australia. As we walked back to the Hilton after a delightful dinner, the boats lit the harbor by the boardwalk. I feel extremely blessed to have been able to experience this "Down Under" world!    Read more

    Trip end
    February 6, 2025
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