A Legendary Voyage
17 november 2024, Australië ⋅ 🌩️ 22 °C
Holland America Legendary Voyage Nov 17-Dec 22, 2024 - Westerdam, Cabin 5176.
Leaving Sydney
17 november 2024, Australië ⋅ 🌩️ 26 °C
An overcast day as we left White Bay Cruise Terminal. Now a thunderstorm has hit at sea but it is mostly a lot of noise.
Newcastle Harbour
18 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Sailed up the channel into Newcastle Harbour on a cool drizzly day. Even so, walkers were out along the breakwater. Nobby’s Lighthouse is located on Nobbs Headland. This is a historic lighthouseMeer informatie
Port watching
18 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
When it’s raining, we port-watch! The Sunrise Glory, bulk carrier containing chemicals, is slotted into the berth behind us. Photos taken over approx 30 mins show the skill of the tug pilots.
And finally the sun came out
18 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
….At 2pm - too late to go off-ship.
Day 3 - Sea day
19 november 2024, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
Sea Day - still grey and overcast with light rain. Seas are not too bad, reasonably smooth sailing. Got up late for a leisurely breakfast and passed the day relaxing, eating and drinking. Tonight wasMeer informatie
Day 4 - Docking in Brisbane
20 november 2024, Australië ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
Sailed into the Brisbane River and are docked on the north side adjacent to the airport. It’s a busy port and the rain gets heavier through the day.
The old and the new in Brisbane City
20 november 2024, Australië ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
As we travel by shuttle into the city, it’s a 30 minute journey. The juxtaposition of old colonial stone buildings with new skyscrapers provides for some very interesting architecture.
Brisbane River
20 november 2024, Australië ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
The river is very high after a lot of rainfall over the past couple of weeks.
Sea-Day, my 75th Birthday
21 november 2024, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
Leisurely day at sea - breakfast; port talk about Airlie Beach (our stop tomorrow on Day 6); an interesting guest speaker on Australia’s Indigenous Languages; lunch in the Dining Room.
Birthday surprise
21 november 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
A card from the Captain and crew with a birthday cupcake was delivered to our room.
Birthday Dinner at “A Taste of Tamarind”
21 november 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌬 24 °C
To cap off a fantastic day, we reserved a table at this specialty restaurant. There was another birthday cake which I later shared with our serving team (when they get off shift), a chocolate mousseMeer informatie
Day 6 - Airlie Beach
22 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Right in the centre of town is a huge lagoon for safe swimming, away from the stingers on the beach in summer. It’s very warm and humid. The lagoon is in 3 parts - shallow for the little kids; up toMeer informatie
Along the promenade
22 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
We walked along the promenade back to the marina terminal. Amazing gardens all along the way and some serious money in boats in that marina.
The ferry shuttles in Airlie Beach
22 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
As we go out, another shuttle arrives from the Westerdam. Airlie Beach is a small town surrounded by high hills covered in tropical rainforest.
Coral Sea day
23 november 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
What you do when you don’t have to be anywhere!
8:30am - Late get-up
10:00am - 3 course Brunch with an Aussie couple from Adelaide and a US couple from Phoenix, AZ. Drinks = Mimosa & BloodyMeer informatie
Cairns, Qld
24 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Saw the sun rise for the first time today and we are about to dock in Cairns. Here the rain forest is right to the ocean and there are lots of mangroves. Looking down on the city early in the morning,Meer informatie
Kuranda Village
24 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Kuranda, up on the tableland behind Cairns. A small population of around 3,000 people, it has a vibrant ‘market’ style town centre. We sidestep the obvious tourist to-do’s like Butterfly WorldMeer informatie
Walking to Kuranda Station
24 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
A steep downhill track in leafy shade down to the station, we come across a brush turkey who scratches around in the leaf litter. John finds a “hard” seat made of reclaimed rail tracks. TheMeer informatie
At the station
24 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
The station has old world charm. The platform abounds in lush plantings and gardens with a great little cafe. The train is waiting at the station. The line, bridges and tunnels were built betweenMeer informatie
Barron Falls
24 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Barron Gorge has steep loose sides and plunges deep into the ravine carved by millions of years of racing water. The falls have plenty of water today but can be a raging torrent after rain. TheMeer informatie
The views we pass
24 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
The train has great views to the coast and hinterland. The railway was built to facilitate the developing mineral and agricultural areas of FNQ. In WW2 it serviced military hospitals and units in theMeer informatie
Stoney Creek Falls
24 november 2024, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
After going thru a couple of tunnels, we cross one of the iron truss bridges which allows us to see both the front and the back of the train. Gold Class carriage in which we are travelling is in theMeer informatie
Sailing in the GBR
25 november 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
Waking up this morning we are north of the Daintree and at Cape Melville National Park (the last big bump before we head towards the tip of Cape York). It’s very rocky, some of those rocks areMeer informatie
Sea day activities
25 november 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌬 28 °C
Riding the glass elevator over the ocean (took the pic too late & got the deck).
Michael Adams, podcaster (Forgotten Australia) - super interesting. Talked about the Japanese in/around Darwin from theMeer informatie