Dream vacation

March - April 2023

I never thought this early in life that I'd be going on my dream vacation. The opportunity arose last June, and I couldn't turn it down.
I'm starting in Auckland, New Zealand and will end in Sydney, Australia. Read more

32footprints
3countries
21days
396photos
9videos
13.8kmiles
12.3kmiles

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Traveler Dream vacation
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- Apr 9, 2023, 3:54pm
- 🌬 68 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- Australia New South Wales Sydney Dawes Point Sydney Opera House -33.856667, 151.21533°51’24” S 151°12’54” E
Day 20
Sydney Opera House Tour
April 9, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 68 °F
Information from the tour. It was really impressive.
Multi-event center, opera just one
1st picture: used to have 2 windows. Opened it up for better views
No columns, all concrete beams have a metal rod in them. Used galvanized steel so not to rust like other buildings
Flooring can be removed hence the screws
Concert hall separate wooden facility
All done by mathematical computation no computers to help construct it. It can be taken apart and put back together just like legos.
16 years not 6 and 20x as much. Architect wanted one to see the architecture so everything is left exposed.
Inspired by shells, ships, sails - fusion ancient with the modern
Each hall is sound proof.
Petals there are to catch the sound since ceiling is too high and can lose the sound.
Ceiling is soft white birch, floors and seating are hard timber. Acoustics have been enhanced since.
Seating material absorbs sound like a person.
Over a million tiles shipped to construct the "roof". They aren't actually white but cream with a translucent glaze to reflect seashells.Read more
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- Apr 8, 2023, 3:22pm
- 🌬 73 °F
- Altitude: 46 ft
- Australia New South Wales Sydney The Rocks Government House -33.861667, 151.21333333°51’42” S 151°12’48” E
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Day 19
Royal Botanic Gardens
April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 73 °F
Many stops today; one of them being to the Royal Botanic Gardens. It was quite impressive to see such gardens in the downtown area. These are some highlights from my walk around the gardens.
Beautiful. I would love to see it. [Nancy]
4/9/23Reply
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- Apr 8, 2023, 12:03pm
- 🌬 73 °F
- Altitude: 20 ft
- Australia New South Wales Sydney The Rocks Museum of Contemporary Art -33.86, 151.2133°51’36” S 151°12’36” E
Day 19
Harbor Cruise
April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 73 °F
After we got to the hotel and settled in, we got on the hop-on hop off bus and caught the harbor cruise. It was great seeing all of Sydney Harbor.
▪︎Russell Crowe bought an apartment in this harbor several years ago for $14.35 million 😮
▪︎One of these views is a neighborhood that starts at $100 million for houses.
▪︎Also, the Sydney to Hobart sailing race starts in this harbor. It's 600+ nautical miles over some rough seas.Read more
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- Apr 8, 2023, 12:03pm
- 🌬 73 °F
- Altitude: 20 ft
- Australia New South Wales Sydney The Rocks Museum of Contemporary Art -33.86, 151.2133°51’36” S 151°12’36” E
Day 19
Random views around Sydney
April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 73 °F
Lots of different scenes around Sydney with some random facts thrown in too.
Sydney Stock Exchange - 9th largest in the world
Convicts sent here made to work. They used to be sent to America until the American Revolution when Americans said they wouldn't take them anymore.
Martin Place- iconic and seen in mamy movies like the lady in the red dress from the Matrix
King's Cross was formerly Queen's Cross in honor of Queen Victoria Jubilee. It changed wirh King Edward the 7th.
Dedicated to the soldiers in WWII for winning the Battle of El Alamein. The fountain was erected in honor of the soldiers who fought.
Pott's Pitt- Harry's Pies - traditional Aussie pies.
Naval base, still active and the pier/wharf was going to go to ruin until a few years ago. They decided to create luxury apartments with a private dock.
Macquarie brought Australia from a struggling colony to a thriving country. Street named after him.
St. James Church- oldest church in Sydney
Largest Catholic Church- St. Mary's Cathedral
ABC- Australian Broadcast Center
Ian Thorpe Aquatic Center- opened in 2007 - 8 lines, spa, sauna and the like. Opened to the public.
Fish Market- 50 tons of fish sold here. Largest fish market in the southern hemisphere.Read more
Love the history. [Nancy]
4/9/23Reply
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- Apr 8, 2023, 6:10am
- 🌙 61 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- Australia New South Wales Sydney Dawes Point Campbell’s Cove -33.856667, 151.21166733°51’24” S 151°12’42” E
Day 19
Sydney Opera House
April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 61 °F
Lots of pictures of the most photographed and iconic building here in Sydney. Some are from the cruise ship before disembarking; others from the harbor cruise or from actually going there in person. Tomorrow, I'll actually be touring the Sydney Opera House 😁
Also, pictures of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It's quite spectacular too.Read more
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- Apr 7, 2023, 7:42pm
- ☁️ 64 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- New Zealand Bay of Plenty Tauranga City Mount Maunganui Maunganui Roads -37.643333, 176.1837°38’36” S 176°10’48” E
Day 18
Food
April 7, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
No vacation is without food, especially on a cruise ship. Here's lots of random food pics mainly from dinner. Don't let the desserts fool you. They look good, but they were disappointing. Also, the lighting in the dining room wasn't great, so there's a shadow on some of the plates. 🙄😀
These plates came with like no veggies or two sprigs of one. We ordered alternating plates of broccoli and mushrooms and cabbage and green beans. Some nights, I made my own plate from the items on the menu such as a salmon Caesar salad.
Lastly, we had wonderful ladies who sat at the table beside us each night.Read more
Glad you met some nice friends. [Nancy]
4/9/23Reply
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- Apr 6, 2023, 7:08am
- ☁️ 55 °F
- Altitude: 75 ft
- Australia Victoria Melbourne West Melbourne -37.806898, 144.95673137°48’25” S 144°57’24” E
Day 17
Melbourne: Queen Victoria Market
April 6, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
Today, we docked in Melbourne, and our excursion took us to
Queen Victoria Market aka SHOPPING 😁
I provided a brief history from the website for the Market below.
_____________
The pictures today range from the sunrise in Port Melbourne to the buildings, houses, skyline, and the market while on the bus to and from the port. Sydney is next! Can't believe the cruise is almost over.
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A Brief History

Queen Vic Market HistoryOfficially opened on 20 March 1878, the Market has been serving the people of Melbourne for more than 140 years. The Market has seen many transformations and was added to the National Heritage List in recognition of its links to the early colonial population of Melbourne and its ability to demonstrate the principal characteristics of a 19th century metropolitan produce market.

Also known affectionately as ‘Vic Market’ or ‘Queen Vic’, the Queen Victoria Market has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for more than a century. An historic landmark spread over two city blocks, it’s a vibrant and bustling inner-city market where you can shop at over 600 small businesses for everything from Australian fruit and vegetables, local and imported gourmet foods, clothing and souvenirs.
Use the link for more information about the Market’s history: https://qvm.com.au/about/Read more
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- Apr 4, 2023, 3:10pm
- Altitude: 262 ft
- Australia Tasmania Brighton Council Honeywood Jews Hill -42.708333, 147.2742°42’30” S 147°16’12” E
Day 15
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
April 4, 2023 in Australia
24hr rescue service for wildlife animals. All animals are native of Tasmania. Many animals are being raised for release unless they are injured, orphaned or simply unable to survive in the wild in their ownRead more
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- Apr 4, 2023, 11:17am
- Altitude: 328 ft
- Australia Tasmania Jones Gully -42.631667, 146.8542°37’54” S 146°51’0” E
Day 15
Meadowbank Vineyard
April 4, 2023 in Australia
The best vineyard I've been to, and I think this was my 5th.
Beautiful vineyard, wonderful wines, nice staff, and the food was amazing!

Meadowbank Winery
The guy who started it was a first and pioneer of growing grapes and making wine in Tasmania as he was told it was too cold here to grow grapes. They have 240 hectoacres of vineyard from Mount Field (where I saw the falls) to the Danbar River. They specialize in sparkling wine, riesling, and pinot noir.Read more
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- Apr 4, 2023, 9:40am
- Altitude: 587 ft
- Australia Tasmania Central Highlands National Park Mount Field National Park -42.681667, 146.71542°40’54” S 146°42’54” E
Day 15
Mount Field National Park
April 4, 2023 in Australia
The first stop of the day was to Mount Field National Park. Absolutely stunning!
I saw Russell Falls and Horseshoe Falls. The climb to Horseshoe Falls was like 1500 stepa. The view was worth it!
Beatiful place. [Nancy]
4/9/23Reply
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