• Cyn's Adventures
  • Cyn's Adventures

Roadtripping New Zealand

En 23-dags äventyr från Cyn's Adventures Läs mer
  • Charleston, New Zealand

    8 november 2017, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Great stop at Mitchell's Gully Gold Mine!! Amy and I donned the headlamps and went exploring all of the old mining tunnels and equipment. There are a few "what the heck is that?" moments and one "which way now?" moment, but we loved every dark, dank meter of it! And found glow worms!Läs mer

  • Kaikoura, New Zealand

    10 november 2017, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    We decided on lighter day today...drove to Kaikoura to see the sights on this coastal "eco" town. Lots of sea life tours here, as well as a thriving seal colony right outside of town. Had a blast tramping along the coastline and seeing the seals hanging out along the rocks. We're going to stay here tonight and relax, catch up on laundry (my surf tumbling adventure cut into my wardrobe!) and give Alexis time to rest as she fights off a nasty head cold. Tomorrow, we're off to Christchurch, where our caravan road trip begins and ends.Läs mer

  • Christchurch, New Zealand

    11 november 2017, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Orana Wildlife Park - Part 1
    We left Kaikora early in the morning so that we could check out New Zealand's only open range animal reserve. Great park with lots of focus on education...very cool to see some of these guys close up in more natural setting!Läs mer

  • Christchurch, New Zealand

    11 november 2017, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Orana Wildlife Park - Part 2
    Lion Encounter!!! Lexi had the brilliant idea to get back to Christchurch in time to fit in this up-close encounter with a pride of lions. We're in a cage on the back of a truck...can't get any closer than this (without being a keeper or losing an appendage or two). Amazing!!Läs mer

  • Christchurch, New Zealand

    12 november 2017, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    I checked out the International Antarctic Center while the girls rested up at the Jucy Snooze (yes, we hit 3 of their 4 service areas: camper van rental, cruise and snooze...they do make it convenient!). Very cool (literally!) facility with lots of interactive exhibits. I got a chance to feel the effects of an Antarctic ice storm...brrrrrr...and got to ride up front in a Hagglund. What a ride! We're off to Oz very early tomorrow and then catching the boat for the reef dives. So excited!Läs mer

  • Christchurch, New Zealand

    13 november 2017, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    Today was pretty much a travel and plan day...getting ready to head out on the boat tomorrow morning and making some last minute travel arrangement changes for the trip back (rather than spend a layover night in Melbourne, decided to change my flight to spend an extra night in Sydney...which let me fit in a cool day trip to the Blue Mountains). <Insert excited face here>. I did get a spectacular view of the Southern Alps on the way to Australia...check it out!Läs mer

  • Thatford Reef, Great Barrier Reef Day 1

    14 november 2017, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    We boarded the Rum Runner, a 20m motor sailing schooner, in Cairns on Tuesday morning (7 AM!) for 2 days out on the reef. That mean 6 dives, including a night dive...more diving in such a short time frame than this adventurer has ever done...and how I felt it after dive 4 on day 1. The space on the ship was cozy, we'll say...but not at capacity, which was helpful. The crew was fantastic and really made it a terrific trip...I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Shout out to Soaps, Sabrina, Hannah, Jase and Masa!

    The reef lived up to expectations, although I'd hoped for calmer waters for better visibility. I was awed at the size and complexity of the coral colonies and the vibrant life in, on and around them. We could see some of the effects of coral bleaching, unfortunately...not unexpected but I'd hoped not to see evidence of reef damage close up. So hard to pick out 10 photos that give a flavor for the trip. So, I'm doing day 1 and day 2 posts to give myself more leeway. Trip adventures must be shared!
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  • Thatford Reef, Great Barrier Reef Day 2

    15 november 2017, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Day 2 on the reef started at 6:45...up and at the wetsuits! Today was calmer, which was especially nice for our snorkelers (Amy and Alexis). We got to see a sea turtle on the surface...and our lucky snorkelers saw a shark. So jealous! Sadly, no sharks for the divers, but it's hard to have a bad dive on the GBR. Our last dive spot was Canyons - home of tall coral towers and ravines. So much fun threading the needle in some of them! 2 dives today, then back to Cairns for more land adventures. Goodbye GBR...I'll be back! 🐠🦀🐟🐡🐢❤️Läs mer

  • Smithfield, Australia

    16 november 2017, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    Today was so interesting! Decided to head to the rainforest while the girls went to find their bucket list critters (koala for Alexis and crocodile for Amy).

    Hopped on the Skyrail to ride up to Kuranda and the Kuranda Scenic Railroad back down to Cairns. The rainforest is fascinating - such lush vegetation and variation. I picked the right time to go, as I was in between the morning and afternoon rushes...and got my own private glass bottom sky car as a result.Läs mer

  • Kuranda, Australia

    16 november 2017, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    After my cool skyrail trip up to the rainforest, had fun exploring Kuranda. Loved all of the Australian arts and met one of my favorite Aussies there. Meg is about 75, runs a cute little shop in town and is retired from a career in Finance, not an easy feat for a woman in her generation. She has a son and 2 lovely grandchildren in Vancouver, which just goes to show that it really is a small world. We had a great chat and, when I told her I wanted to come back to spend more time in Australia, she gave me a beautiful red stone from the area to encourage me to return. Meg, I want to come back just to visit you!Läs mer

  • Cairns City, Australia

    16 november 2017, Australien ⋅ 🌙 75 °F

    Cairns lights up at night...literally. Explored the Esplanade, Promenade and Lagoon area by the harbor after my Kuranda adventures. Such a cool area, with laser light displays, colored lighting and the music of the night...aka bats. Yep...lots of BIG fruit bats! So cool!! Unfortunately, it's our last night here before we head to Sydney...and home for Alexis and Amy. I'll be in Sydney for 1.5 days before heading home.Läs mer

  • Sydney, Australia

    17 november 2017, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Spent some time wandering around Circular Quay here in Sydney before heading back to the hotel for an early night. The harbor is hopping, with ferries, shuttles, party boats and the odd cruise liner all coming through as I watched the day ease into night. The opera house is an impressive architectural feat...if I had more time (and evening attire!), I'd love to catch a performance there. Maybe next time, as I plan to come back to more thoroughly explore Australia! I promised Meg, my lovely new Kuranda shopkeeper friend that I would.Läs mer

  • Doonside, Australia

    18 november 2017, Australien ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    I decided to do a day trip to Featherdale Wildlife Park and the Blue Mountains on my last day in Australia. My tour picked me up at my hotel just before 8 AM and we were off to see the animals at the park. So many critters to see...and some to pet, including a number of small red kangaroos who were able to come in and out of their enclosure. So, so cool! Work crew - the selfies are for you...upgraded from the stuffed variety. Couldn't work in the big hat or knife, though.

    If you buy me a cider, I'll tell you the somewhat embarrassing story of my mythical Cassowary sighting in the wild in the Kuranda rainforest. Maybe 2 ciders.
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  • Blue Mountains, Australia

    18 november 2017, Australien ⋅ 🌧 61 °F

    The 2nd half of today's day trip was a trip to Scenic World, in the Blue Mountains. Unfortunately, they were more like the misty, wet mountains for us, as it poured for a good chunk of the day and visibility was nil. Still an interesting trip, though...enjoyed the walk through the Jameson Rain Forest and trying to get a peek at the Three Sisters (no go). Also enjoyed the brief ride on the world's steepest train. We came back to Circular Quay (pronounced "key") via ferry which gave some great views of the Opera House and city from the water.

    Now working on the final pack for the trip back to the States tomorrow morning. Australia, I feel I barely got to say "hi". I'll be back!
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  • Back to Detroit

    19 november 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ ⛅ 32 °F

    Back to reality...and to my first taste of Michigan winter. Brrrr! Made it back with only 1 small addition to the bags and I believe that I used every single thing I packed at one time or another. I tend to be a "what if" packer, so proud of that! Even the band aids came in handy between scrapes from tidal wave adventures and banging my heel against the dive ladder (the name of my little dive group was the one sock brigade, as all but 1 had a scrape of some sort that we were trying to keep the fins from aggravating).

    Hope folks had fun following my travel blog experiment! Signing off until the next adventure.
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    Resans slut
    19 november 2017