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Australia & New Zealand
  • Bruce Hassold
  • Stacy Hassold
  • Bruce Hassold
  • Stacy Hassold

Australia & New Zealand

A 24-day adventure by Bruce & Stacy Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 27, 2024
  • Australia & New Zealand
    A view of the inside of the sailsThe Opera HallThe Sydney Opera HouseSydney Harbor BridgeStacy, Bruce, Jan, Mike, Ralph, and Bev3

    The Sydney Opera House

    February 29, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F

    We arrived in Sydney this morning, and after clearing customs and immigration we took an Uber to our hotel downtown. It was too early to check in, but we changed clothes and dropped our bags, and then set off to explore.

    Our first stop was a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. The iconic design was conceived by Jørn Utzen, a then unknown Danish architect who won an international design competition in 1957. Construction took 16 years, hampered by numerous engineering, construction, managerial, and political challenges. The project was ultimately completed by a group of three Australian architects and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973.

    Today, the Opera House serves as a multipurpose event center hosting opera, plays, concerts, and even performances by local students. It's a beautiful building, and definitely the pride of Sydney.    Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand
    The Historic Australian Hotel
    A view of the Opera House from under the Sydney Harbor BridgeThe Hero of WaterlooThe Garrison ChurchThe Lord NelsonEnjoying a taste of "Lord Nelson's Blood," the house stout.1A view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge from Marrinawi CoveThe Sydney Harbor BridgeThe Circular Quay

    The Rocks

    February 29, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F

    This afternoon, we joined a walking tour in The Rocks district of Sydney. We visited several historic pubs, all claiming to be the oldest in Sydney. We learned that the original laws in Sydney only allowed an establishment to serve alcohol if they also provided food and accommodations. So the truly oldest are all hotels. This can be confusing today because they retain the hotel name, but many no longer offer rooms.

    As we walked through The Rocks, we learned that the British established the area as a penal colony after landing in Sydney Cove in 1788. The soldiers, and gentlemen and ladies of society were given fertile land close to the river that fed into the cove. But the prisoners were forced to make due with the harsh sandstone outcropping on the hillside west of the cove. The Rocks quickly grew to become the shady side of town, with numerous hotels (pubs), prostitution, and gangs.

    We concluded our tour at The Lord Nelson Hotel with a beer and dinner choice of fish and chips or meat pie. Everything was delicious!    Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand
    Boarding the Majestic Princess
    Aslan Coffee RoastersThe Rocks Push1The Rocks3Yes, Stacy's having this much fun!The Sydney Opera HouseThe Sydney Harbor Bridge1Leaving Sydney Harbor

    Embarkation Day

    March 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Today, we boarded the Majestic Princess to begin our cruise to New Zealand. The day began with a delicious breakfast at The Nook. Then we made our way to the ship and dropped off our bags. We had a free hour before boarding would begin, so we did a bit more exploring in The Rocks. Once onboard, we settled into our room and spent some time exploring the ship.Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand
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    Crossing the Tasman Sea

    March 2, 2024, Tasman Sea ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    Today we enjoyed a relaxing day at sea. Our internal clocks are still a bit off, so we woke up to the sunrise. Stacy had fun at Zumba, and then we both attended a presentation on the history of New Zealand. We participated in a Poi dance class hosted by our Moari embassadors. The Maori practiced with the Poi to sharpen their hand-eye coordination in preparation for fighting. After dinner, Bev and Ralph taught us how to play a card game called "Swish," and then we attended an Elvis impersonator concert.Read more

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    Sailing towards Bay of Islands

    March 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F

    This afternoon, we attended a Haka workshop hosted by our Moari embassadors. We learned the history of the Haka and were then taught a specific Haka dance and chant that warriors performed to prepare for war.

    Tonight was a formal dinner followed by a concert of opera and classical music.    Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand

    Bay of Islands canceled; day at sea

    March 4, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 70 °F

    Unfortunately, our visit to the Bay of Islands was canceled due to the threat of stormy weather later in the day. Heavy rain and wind gusts of 40 knots would have made the journey ashore by tender too dangerous. We entered the bay briefly and cruises around but then returned to sea. It's disappointing, but hopefully the weather will be more cooperative at other ports.Read more

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    Aukland canceled; another day at sea

    March 5, 2024, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 64 °F

    Our call at the port of Aukland was canceled due to stormy weather, so we're at sea again today. The captain tried to arrange for us to visit Aukland tomorrow, but the port is full. If that plan had come to pass, all of our port visits would have been pushed back one day. That alone would have been a logistical challenge. So the plan is to sail slowly toward Tauranga today and port there on schedule tomorrow.Read more

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    The ShireThe ShireThe ShireThe Garden & OrchardsThe Party Tree

    Hobbiton

    March 6, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team of location scouts were searching for a place to build Hobbiton. There were only a few requirements: rolling hills, tall trees, a river or lake, and it had to be secluded. An aerial search led them to the Alexander farm, a 1,250 acre sheep farm in the heart of Waikato. Construction took 9 months and included help from the New Zealand army to build a road. Many of the soldiers also had roles in "The Lord of the Rings" films as part of the orc army. In 2009, in preparation for filming of "The Hobbit", Jackson's team returned. This time, they built a more permanent Hobbiton that included 44 Hobbit holes. The set has been maintained and expanded over the years with the addition of the Green Dragon Inn and building and furnishing the interiors of a few Hobbit holes. It was a wonderful experience that truly made the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien come alive!Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand

    Woodend Gardens & Vineyard

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

    This morning, we arrived in Picton on the south island of New Zealand. Woodend Gardens & Vineyard is located in the heart of the Marlborough wine region. The 7 acre garden and 10 acre vineyard of sauvignon blanc grapes are owned and tended by Brian & Margaret Herd. As members of the Marlborough grape growers cooperative, their grapes are combined with the grapes of other family vineyards in the area and shipped to California where the wine is produced and sold under the Cupcake Wines brand. The gardens were beautiful, and the mid-morning tea and fruit bread were delicious!Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand

    Kekerengu

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

    We stopped in the small coastal town of Kekerengu for lunch at "The Store." In spite of the lackluster name, we enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch with fresh meats, salads, beverages, and brownies for dessert. After lunch we enjoyed a relaxing walk along the coastline.Read more

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    Winterhome Farm

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

    Winterhome is a sheep and cattle farm on the Marlborough coast owned and operated by the MacFarlane family. We were greeted by the farm manager, Ben, who gave us a demonstration of sheep herding with two of his dogs. One dog was trained to be less forceful and guided the sheep only by moving around them while the second was trained to bark at the sheep while he was mustering. Ben also gave us a demonstration of sheep shearing. With the current price of wool, it costs more to shear a sheep than the value of the wool that's obtained. Yet it's still necessary twice a year for the wellbeing of the sheep. It was a wonderful visit, and we especially enjoyed seeing the dogs at work.Read more

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    Winterhome Garden

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

    Winterhome Garden is located on the Marlborough coastline, directly adjacent to the family sheep and cattle farm. The beautiful 10-acre garden has been recognised as a garden of national significance in New Zealand.Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand
    Ross and his sheep herding dog Snowy
    Lyttelton HarbourDriving across the scenic Banks PeninsulaSnowy waits at Ross's command after retrieving the sheep from the hillsideThe shearing barnSheep shearing2A freshly shorn lambThe Manderley FarmhouseThe Bridge of Remembrance in Christchurch3Overlooking the Avon River

    Manderley Farm & Christchurch

    March 9, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    We left the port of Lyttelton this morning to visit the Manderley Farm near Little River on the Banks Peninsula. We drove along the shoreline of Lyttelton Harbor and then headed south through the scenic countryside. Mary and Ross Millar operate a 750-acre farm stocked with 1600 sheep and 100 beef cattle. The terrain is quite steep, but that didn't slow down the dog Ross sent by whistle commands to the top of the hillside to round up and retrieve a group of sheep. Ross also gave us a sheep shearing demonstration, and then Mary treated us to morning tea with shortbread and sausage rolls. After tea, we made our way into Christchurch for lunch, gelato, and a bit of shopping before returning to the ship.Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand

    Fiordland National Park

    March 11, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    We spent the day cruising in beautiful Fiordland National Park. The park ranger who came onboard told us that we were lucky because there are only three kinds of weather in Fiordland: raining, just finished raining, and about to start raining! We made our way from south to north, passing through Dusky Sound, Breaksea Sound, Doubtful Sound, Thompson Sound, and Milford Sound. The scenery was spectacular with steep mountains, numerous waterfalls, and narrow fiords. It reminded us quite a bit of Norway. Spectacular!Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand
    Formal Night

    Leaving New Zealand

    March 12, 2024, Tasman Sea ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    We spent the day crossing the Tasman Sea on our way back to Sydney. Stacy enjoyed Zumba with Sergio and a walk on the treadmill. I had a relaxing time reading and exploring the ship. In the evening, we attended the Captain's Dinner, watched a trivia game show, and then a movie. Tomorrow will be our final day at sea before we embark on our land tour of Australia.Read more

  • Australia & New Zealand
    Road trip across the Red Center
    The road to Alice SpringsOur hotel in Uluru: Sails in the DesertSails in the Desert HotelWild camels in the Outback"Fool-Uru" (Mt. Conner)Roadhouse lunch stopEmu!Alice Springs mural

    Bus to Alice Springs; flight to Darwin

    March 15, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    We left Uluru this morning for a 5 hour bus trip across the Red Center of Australia to Alice Springs. We stopped for lunch at the Urlunda Roadhouse (picture a gas station convenience store) with the added bonus of a small emu zoo. From Alice Springs, we caught a 2 hour flight to Darwin.Read more

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