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Australia
  • Sue Wharton
sep. – nov. 2017

Australia

Een 67-daags avontuur van Sue Meer informatie
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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Bay of Islands & Waitangi, North Island.

    15 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ 🌙 10 °C

    An amazing day! If this is a sign of things to come I will be gobsmacked for the rest of the tour. We started the day early making sure we were at Paihia Wharf by 8.45 am to catch our Catamaran for an Island tour with Fullers Great Sights - a 4 hrs cruise to include the Hole-in-the-Rock on Percy Island off Cape Brett at the Bay's eastern edge. Our first stop was Russell (Kororareka) an historic seaside town on the opposite side of the Bay, it is also served by ferries from Paihia, we picked up more passengers here. Russell was known as ' The hell hole of the Pacific' when it was a magnet for fleeing convicts, whalers and drunken sailors and Charles Darwin described it as full of 'the refuse of society'. We then stopped at Roberton Island (Motuarohia) and sounded the ship's horn, this is to tell the inhabitants that we had supplies. The people are 'caretakers' of the house and Islands. Captain James Cook anchored the 'Endeavour' off this island, a pyramid Plymouth marks the spot where he came a shore. Out in the bay around this area we encountered a 'pod' of dolphins including young ones. To start with they were just playing around the boat on both sides, front and back of the boat, they stayed for quite a while. As we needed to get to 'Hole in the Rock' by a certain time , the captain started moving away slowly then gradually faster, but the dolphins loved chasing the boat and many jumped into the air as they were following - there were lots of Oohs and Aahs! Moturua Island is 1 of 2 islands that have Kiwis on them and rapidly regenerating native forest; the dominant vegetation is Manuka and Hanuka trees. We slowly took the narrow pass between Urupukapuka and Waewaetorea. Then onto 'Hole in the Rock' (Percy Island), where the Captain showed both sides of the boat the 'hole' before trying to see if he could drive through. After 3 attempts he decided the currents were too strong and pulling the boat side ways. We did go round to the other side though and on the rocks there saw New Zealand fur seals. We came back via Cape Brett and saw the lighthouse, this had been lit since 1910 until 1978 when it was automated. We landed at Otehei bay on the south side of Urupukapuka, for a 30 min break for a stroll and paddle if wanted. American author Zane Grey lived here in 1926 and loved big game fishing here - for striped Marlins - he made game fishing famous in the islands. We continued back dropping passengers first at Russell then Paihia, those who wanted to stop at a different quay could get a free ferry ticket to get back to their starting point.
    We went back to the flat and had leftover ribs etc for lunch then headed out to Waitangi across an old one way bridge. Waitangi is where the Treaty grounds are, the location for the signing of the agreement between Maori Chiefs and British settlers, the founding document for the nation of New Zealand. The area contains the Treaty House ( which was the British residency) and where the Treaty of Waitangi was drawn up, the carved meeting house - Te Whare Runanga stands facing the Treaty House, symbolizing the partnership between Maori and British crown. The Flagstaff marking the spot where the Treaty was signed and the world's greatest War canoe that needs 76 paddlers. It also houses the 'Te Kongahu Museum of Waitangi. It was a very atmospheric area and the views over the Bay were stunning. Even more atmospheric was the cultural experience at the carved meeting house - A Maori welcome was given, a 'chief' volunteered for the visitors accepted the symbol to show that we came in piece and we were then welcomed into the meeting house. Inside the Maori chief gave a welcoming speech the the visitors chief had to reply - he was told that anything less than 5 mins would be deemed an insult. Our chief was in fact a visiting native American who answered in his people's language and gave a brilliant speech. The traditional greeting was given by both chiefs of touching noses and the welcome ceremony was complete. We were then shown various traditional dances, war ceremonies with songs and demonstrations. The group then stayed to allow visitors to meet with them, ask questions and take photos with them. Wow!
    We took a look at Te Kongahu museum (Te Kongahu is a Ngapuhi word referring to the unborn child) and then headed back to Paihia to take the ferry to Russell for dinner at The Duke of Marlborough - great food!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Whangarei Falls, North Island

    17 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We're unfortunately heading back to Auckland. The Bay of Islands is a friendly, beautiful area - we loved our stay - Everything about the stay was a highlight. A long drive back but we broke it up into three sections. A brief stop about an hour out from Paihia, was at Whangarei Falls. We stayed at the top of the falls rather than head down the walkway to the bottom - the guide book said it would take 5 minutes - down probably, up not sure!! It was worth the stop, smaller than some but still lovely. Our next stop was the same area we stopped on the way down - Kaiwaka. A little bakery on the main highway, Last Nonna Italian Bakery - all breads and pastries are baked fresh each day. Going down we had filled Foccacia breads - one marinated Lamb and the other chicken with avo. We liked it so much that we kept an eye out on the way back - this time we had egg, bacon and salad filled mixed grain naps - both meals were lovely! We finally arrived back in Auckland, over the harbour bridge which gave amazing views!
    Again we have a lovely suite in Auckland and I think the best thing is the view from the harbour bridge - the tower looks good but not sure I could make it up there!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Hamilton & Hobbiton, North Island

    18 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    From Auckland to Hamilton, then.......Middle Earth!
    Our drive from Auckland to Hamilton was pretty uneventful though we again passed through beautiful countryside as it is in the heart of dairy farming country. We arrived in Hamilton with enough time to wander and have a look around - this was being used as a base to visit 2 of the areas most visited sites. Hamilton is officially NZ's fourth-largest city, one of Hamilton's more unusual public artworks is a life-sized statue of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' writer Richard O'Brien, aka Riff Raff, the time-warping alien from the planet Transsexual. It looks over a small park on the site of the former Embassy Theatre where O'Brien worked as a hairdresser. There is also a chance to do the time-warp to camera and the public toilets are based in a container painted as Frankenfurter's laboratory. We had lunch sitting outside the Waikato museum in a very pleasant seating area which had a colourful water feature - Michael Parekowhai's 'Tongue of the Dog' Sculpture, it tells the Maori legend behind the creation of the Waikato River.
    We headed back to the hotel and collected what we needed for the Hobbiton event and using the Sat Nav headed to 501 Buckland Road - the way it took us was very reminiscent of the roads and scenery around the Cotswolds. However, when we got there the notice at the exit to the car park recommends visitors to turn RIGHT out of the car park NOT left as we had come in! We decided to follow their advice on the way back as it would be in the dark!
    Due to copyright, all the movie sets around NZ were actually dismantled after the filming of TLOTR, but the Alexander family who owned the sheep farm negotiated with Peter Jackson to keep their Hobbit holes which were then rebuilt in more sturdy materials for the filming of The Hobbit. The tour we were booked on was the evening banquet Tour. Our tour started at twilight and we were driven down in a group to the car park at the entrance to the set through the Alexander's farmland. The group were then divided into two and each had a guide - some had worked at the film site or been extras, so the tour was packed full of interesting stories and anecdotes about the making of all the films. We had time at each stop to ask questions or take pictures and our guide also offered to take pictures of us as well. In both groups there were tourists who were dedicated 'Hobbit-botherers' - for one couple it was a treat within their honeymoon, the other the partner was dragged there with her Hobbit partner - who was dressed up including Hobbit feet! Once we got down to the Green Dragon Inn we were able to choose a mug of Ale or Cider to create a convivial atmosphere before the unveiling of the banquet. Counting down from 10, our newly weds were the ones to do the 'reveal'!
    An amazing spread to help ourselves and others to; pulling apart chickens, passing mushrooms and potatoes or munching around a lamb shank. Once most people had eaten their fill dessert arrived!
    After dinner, our guide took us back out to stroll the winding paths of Hobbiton, illuminating our way with individually hand-held lanterns, path lighting and the glittering starlight. We started by heading around the lake and meeting at the party meadow where we made a circle, our guide sang and everyone had to dance in some way 'for our supper'. further stories were told on the way back past the Hobbit holes and some were lit for us to take evening photos.
    Our coach trip back was filled with further info, reminders to look back at Hobbiton and the Green Dragon for last views and corny Hobbiton jokes like:
    "Two elves walked into a bar. Two hobbits laughed and then walked under"
    It was an amazing evening with a very mixed bunch of 'Travellers' though all were really friendly and entered into the spirit of the event. A longish drive back in the dark in a car and coach train initially and a late night to bed - but what an evening!!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Waitomo caves, Otorohanga, North Island

    19 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We were able to have a later start as we didn't have too much driving to do today. We were heading to Rotorua with a stop at Waitomo Caves complex near Otoranga. It was not made really clear as to where we should go so we headed to the first cave on the list which was the Glow Worm Caves and showed our booking - no one said that we needed to book times for all three before we started!
    So off we went to the first one, The Glow Worm Caves. As there was a boat trip in a small boat through a low, pitch black cave at the end Trev decided to give this one a miss! We had a great Maori guide, the grand daughter of the chief who first discovered them (Chief Tane Tinorau and his wife took tours around from 1889) who told us the history of the cave linked to her family and about how the caves were formed. The cave system was amazing (but we were unable to take pictures), we saw and learnt how Glow worms trapped their prey in one of the caverns and near the end of the tour we had come down quite a way to the river that comes out into the gorge below. At this point our guide explained that we had to now be silent and the area where we boarded the boat would be dark to accustom our eyes to the surroundings. We were carefully helped into a wide but shallowish boat and punted SILENTLY through the pitch black cave, the boatman using ropes and his hands to push / pull us through.. As our eyes became accustomed to the dark we saw a 'Milky Way' of little lights surrounding us - pin prick LED's - these were the glow worms! It was stunning and quite eerie. We came out through the original entrance to the caves - where the explorers found them, then back to the cafe via a stepped walkway through the bush.
    We had an early lunch at the cafe and then headed to the third cave - deciding that the second cave Ruakuri with a 2 hr walk was a little long when we still had a drive to do after. So, heading up to Aranui Cave, we sat at the meeting place to wait for the guide. He was not expecting us and explained that we should have gone to the i-site visitors centre to be booked into all three caves at the beginning - so back to the booking office, to get things sorted and a quick return drive to the third cave to get on the 2 o'clock tour, arriving just in time to go! This cave although not the most popular or biggest is said by most of the guides to be the most beautiful. After a walk up through the bush, with a number of stops as it got quite steep, but it is worth the climb and our guide did take it slow and stopped for people to catch their breath! Again he was one of the ancestors of Ruruku Aranui, who first found the beautiful cave back in 1910. The entrance is quite narrow but not as narrow as the original entrance that Aranui followed his dog through, which is pointed out once you get into the cave. Although this is the smallest of the three caves it is the most decorative. Pale pink, white and brown stalactites hang from almost every surface and delicate formations of cave coral and flowerstone adorn the walls. We did have to watch our heads in places and there were sensors in some places to warn you if you got too close to some of the fragile formations.It was stunning and well worth the climb!
    Once back at the car we drove back down the Waitomo hills back towards Hamilton - passing through Otorohanga,a town which proudly celebrates and displays everything Kiwi. No fewer than 24 Kiwiana displays grace the main road through the town,ranging from buzzy bees and pavlovas to Jandals (flip-flops) and the All Blacks, plus there is a very large Kiwi statue in the centre of the town. We then cut across to Rotorua, the town you really need to have smell-a-vision for to know what it means when we say it has a permanent aroma! we had a lovely meal at the hotel, a buffet meal where we paid one amount and could choose what we ate. The chef cooked any meats wanted in front of us! We had some venison which was locally sourced from farmed deer - a lovely flavour!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Rotorua, North Island

    20 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Clothes washing and wandering in 30 minute stints - It was a pity I didn't bring my swimsuit as the hotel had hot mineral springs! Coffee at The Terrace cafe, near the lake shore and back there later for lunch - lovely food all cooked or made fresh, they even have their own raised beds for herbs and salads! We explored the Government Gardens in the afternoon before packing and getting ready for the Maori cultural evening and meal. We were collected from our hotel and taken to Te Puia, set in a thermal reserve 3 km south of the city and features more than 500 hot springs the most famous is Pohutu. Pōhutu (‘poor-hoo-too’) is the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere. She erupts once or twice every hour and sometimes reaches heights of 30 metres (100 feet). Pōhutu means ‘constant splashing’ in Māori.
    Te Tohu geyser was also named ‘Prince of Wales Feathers’ geyser in 1901, in honour of a British royal visit to Whakarewarewa. The royal guests noticed a resemblance between Te Tohu’s plume and the feathers on the coat of arms of the Prince of Wales. Te Tohu is called an ‘indicator’ geyser – it usually erupts just before Pōhutu, its neighbour. Te Tohu first sprang to life in 1886 following the eruption of Mount Tarawera. It has played almost continuously since 1992 – erupting to heights of up to 7 metres (21 feet).
    We were able to see some of the steam valley from the top while it was light and we were waiting for the evening to begin. The cultural experience included a welcome and peace offering; a chosen chief from the group had to pick it up then we entered the meeting house speeches of welcome were done and then a show was performed by the family who run the event and are ancestors of the Maori people who settled here. The guys were invited to have a go at a Haka and the ladies a traditional Poi dance. We were then invited to the dining room for a meal where the chicken, sweet potato and other foods were cooked in the traditional Maori way in a deep hot stone oven. The Hangi prepared meals are accompanied by flavoured meats, chicken, lamb, vegetables and salads. After the meal we were driven down to the steam valley to sit on hot stones, sipping Hot chocolate and waiting for Pohotu to perform and see the stars - however mother nature would not cooperate only the smaller geyser was seen and it was cloudy so no stars!!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Christchurch, South Island

    21 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We dropped JYM back to the Hertz space in the Airport car park reasonable early - check in was completely empty, it was eerie! We left Rotorua Airport on a twin jet prop plane - a little bumpy on ascent and descent but otherwise smooth. Great views though. As we arrived at our hotel in Christchurch, North Harbour Rugby team were just leaving for their match against Canterbury in the city centre - however, Harbour lost by about 10 points!
    We took a wander around Christchurch city centre and took a (shortened) tram tour - a very odd experience. In places it was very English - our hotel restaurant was Bloody Mary's after Queen Mary 1st with Latimer Square outside! Street names - Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford Street; the Avon river as well as Beckenham and Sydenham as areas in the city. There are old style (or reproduction) buildings; interesting new builds; buildings being repaired or propped up; wasteland being rejuvenated and many buildings with boarding around and unsafe noted all round - however it is still working! A new triangular cathedral made from cardboard type building material; lovely boutique streets with shops and eateries; an art trail with murals, sculptures and installations around the city including the cathedral square and a statue by Anthony Gormley in the centre of the river Avon. Trams still tour the city with workmen opening fencing gates so they can continue their circuit. On the tour we stopped at one halt and a couple who had just got married asked if they could take some pictures before we moved on! The city is still a mess - roads closed, wasteland car parks and some tourist sites still closed - but there are signs of development and repair. It would be great to see it again in another 2 - 3 years as long as fate allows.
    Our waitress at the hotel was from Littlehampton and spent some time reminiscing about Britain - she'd been away touring for about 2 years. Now to watch the Bledisloe Cup - Oz v NZ, just who do we support?!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Lake Tekapo, South Island

    22 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    A picturesque, though long journey today from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo with a quick stop for coffee and lunch in Timaru. From Timaru we followed SH8 gradually going up - though you wouldn't realize it as it was so gradual! Lake Tekapo is 710 metres above sea level. In Maori: teka = sleeping mat and po = night. The turquoise blue of the water is created by 'rock flour'. The glaciers in the headwaters of Tekapo grind rock into dust on their journey down towards the lake. The 'rock flour' is suspended in the water and when combined with sunlight creates the unique water colour. Not only did we have a good view from the balcony, but also when lying in the bath!
    Lake Tekapo is in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve (est. 2012). It has one of the world's clearest, darkest and most spectacular night skies. There is an Observatory at the summit of Mount John to take advantage of this. We took a wander down to the lake to see the most photographed church in NZ. On the shores of the lake you'll see the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, where the altar window frames a perfect view of the Southern Alps beyond the lake. The church was built in 1935 for the pioneer families of the Mackenzie district. A bronze memorial to working collie dogs, such as Friday, was commissioned in 1968 by local farmers and now stands on the shores of Lake Tekapo near the Church of the Good Shepherd. In the main village there is some building and rejuvenation of the area going on including the making of a park - statues of Kiwi and Moa (extinct bird from the time of the dinosaurs) are part of this
    After dinner Trevor and I had some wine, nibbles, a veranda and thick jumpers so we watched The Dish, until it was dark then went on to the veranda to enjoy the stars at night under the clear dark skies!!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Dunedin, South Island

    23 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    We were lucky with the weather when we arrived in Dunedin, as after a couple of cups of tea the rain stopped allowing us to explore in the dry. Our travelling was a bit hit and miss - low clouds, mizzle and heavy rain. We left Lake Tekapo at around 10 am and chose to take the same route back which led to about 4 hrs drive! In hindsight we should have probably chosen to go via Twizel and the other side of the range, oh well! Still had amazing scenery though and stopped for coffee after 1 hrs 30 mins at a 'drivers rest' point - to give a break from the rain, a lovely ginger slice and coffee, could have had an early lunch - the food looked amazing!
    We drove through Omaru which looked beautiful; then took a driver break after an hour at Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe beach, along the rugged Otago coastline.
    We didn't know what this was when we stopped but we had a wander following a track down to the beach where large, spherical boulders litter the beach. Some have cracked, some are buried in the sandy beach or in the Cliffside. Local Māori legends explained the boulders as the remains of eel baskets, calabashes, and kumara washed ashore from the wreck of Arai-te-uru, a large sailing canoe. This legend tells of the rocky shoals that extend seaward from Shag Point as being the petrified hull of this wreck and a nearby rocky promontory as being the body of the canoe's captain.
    After this stretch of our legs we finished the last part of the journey to Dunedin (the old Gaelic word for Edinburgh). The centre of the city is based around an Octagon and you can explore from the centre out. We passed Cadbury World, home of Cadbury in NZ but not in time for a tour! Further down Stuart Street we arrived at Dunedin Railway Station building (houses the NZ Sports hall of Fame on the second floor) which has a stunning ticket office hall and stained glass window. There are two steam engines based along here, one by the station and one in The Toitu Otago Settlers Museum. We had a good 30 mins here but could have spent longer.
    The museum traces the lives of Otago settlers – indigenous Māori, the early Chinese, and the following waves of migrant groups – and their technological innovation, art, fashion, domestic life and transport.
    It is housed in the original Edwardian galleries, Dunedin's former New Zealand Rail Road Transport Building and the modern entrance foyer. The museum first opened in 1908, the 60th anniversary of the founding of Dunedin city and the Otago Province.
    We then wandered around to the Chinese Garden but it was just closing so took pictures outside. May be able to see it before we leave tomorrow.    Meer informatie

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    Te Anau, South Island

    24 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    A longish drive today from Dunedin to Te Anau today. We went over the six arch concrete bridge over the Clutha river. When the original bridge was built in 1868 it was an engineering feat. Since then it has been rebuilt twice, once when damaged by flood and then again when it became unsuitable for the amount of traffic.
    Our lunch stop was Gore a small township where they had a factory using oats but we were unsure what they were making and a older, heritage store.
    We arrived at Te Anau which is the largest lake in South Island and the second biggest lake in New Zealand. It was a bit dull and breezy but we were still able to go for a walk around the area before having our evening meal at the hotel. There were people using the water in a range of activities - helicopter flights, sea plane flights and kite surfing. We headed down to the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre and had a wander around the grounds. There’s also a bird sanctuary that specialises in native birds, but we were unable to go round it as it had closed by the time we got there. We topped up with petrol and were able to check timings for tomorrow with the petrol station owner - we were advised to leave early to avoid traffic and allow 2 hours at least for our drive.    Meer informatie

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    Milford Sound, South Island

    25 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Well, an early start 7 am and a little wet. The journey starts in Te Anau and ends in the the world famous fjord of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, a memorable 120 km journey into the heart of Fiordland National Park. There are many view points along the route: te Anau downs, Lake Mistletoe, Eglinton valley - flat and wilderness like, Mackay Creek with views of Pyramid Peak, Mirror Lakes, Cascade Creek and Lake Gunn. At 84 km the vegetation changes as you pass across The Divide - the lowest East - West pass in the Southern Alps. From The Divide the road falls into the beech forest of Hollyford valley. The drive is reasonably good, windy up and down but fine. From Gertrude Saddle the way gets steeper, much tighter corners, deep ravines, single track bridges and the Homer tunnel - at an altitude of 945 km above sea level, pierces the sheer rock to allow access to Milford sound, framed by a high-walled, ice-carved amphitheatre. Opened in 1954, it is 1.27 km long and at peak times controlled by lights as it is basically single track - especially if you met a coach coming the other way! Hewn out of rock and unlined, the dark and dripping with water tunnel finally emerges at the head of a spectacular valley where the road down is a number of tight Z bends until you reach the lower levels of the sound. All-in-all quite a scary 90 - 120 min drive!
    It was still raining when we arrived, but a Kea was being mischievous on top of the car next to us, then jumped onto ours afterwards - visitors are warned not to get too close to them or distracted. One Kea may be dancing to entertain while another makes off with your stuff! The Kea is a flightless alpine parrot.
    We had some coffee then settled down to wait for the boat that was taking us on our tour - The Milford Mariner. The New Zealand guide was excellent, with the correct amount of information given, a sense of humour and extremely patient with Spanish tourists! As the area had had a lot of rain (and was still raining) there was not only the 2 permanent waterfalls - Lady Elizabeth Bowen and Stirling but many more, can be up to 100, so rain is always good for seeing Milford Sound at its best! The most famous peak, Mitre Peak (Rahotu) the spectacular 1,692 m mountain rising from the dark waters of the sound is something to behold and makes you feel very small.
    We saw amazing peaks, waterfalls, rain-forest, sheer cliffs, NZ fur seals and Fiordland crested penguin, the grandeur, magnificence and awe inspiring scenery was never far away
    Then for the drive back to Te Anau! After a coffee at Te Annau we swapped drivers and Trev headed to Queenstown via a slightly less trying route.    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Queenstown, South Island

    26 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Well our Scenic suite is up on the top floor with beautiful views over the lake and completely surrounded by snow capped mountains. As we are a little higher above the sea, the air is definitely cooler - it said 3 degrees this morning first thing! Everything is so clear and the colours are sharper. Again we had washing to do but sensibly, got most of it done the night before and during breakfast. We had a wander around this morning, collected our tickets for the evening steam boat / farmland and meal tour, bought a new camera for Trevor (will claim on insurance for the dropped one) and had a lovely coffee and cake at a lake front cafe - we keep bumping in to ex-pats, the camera guy was originally from the IOW and the cafe waitress on a 2 yr travel visa from England as well. Everybody here is so friendly and helpful, nothing is too much trouble and they are always interested in where you come from, what you're doing now and what you plan to do - family & country - always very genuine!
    In the evening we headed out onto Lake Wakatipu in the Lady of the Lake, the twin screw Steamer TSS Earnslaw. She is the last remaining commercial passenger carrying, coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere. She is owned by Real Journeys and now shuttles customers from Queenstown to Walter Peak homestead, originally owned by the Mackenzie family. After a fire in 1977, the homestead was carefully reconstructed. Real Journeys embarked on a major conservation project to return the land around the homestead back to native plants and removing invasive non-native plants. We enjoyed an evening BBQ buffet at the homestead - the food was amazing, a great spread for the money. The evening finished with a farm show, where a local lass put two dogs to work bringing in sheep and talked about the types of dog they use; she also described the work done on the farm, which includes the Colonal's Homestead in its grounds, talked about the sheep and cattle raised there and what they are used for and finally showed us how to shear a sheep. It was a great evening and the service was impeccable as it always is in most hotels, restaurants, Cafes etc. in this country. We finished by heading back across the star strewn lake, with a sing song on the boat going home, as the lights of Queenstown came into view.    Meer informatie

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    Franz Josef , South Island

    27 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Well, we had another of our long drives today coming all the way north from Queenstown to Franz Josef 355 km (approx 4.41 hrs). We decided the best way to do this was share the driving and slot it into blocks. Trevor started and we kept aiming for townships only to find the route bypassed them. We stopped for the first time near Makarora which ended up nearer early lunch than coffee time - Trevor had stretched his legs at a lookout over Lake Wanaka (on the left of SH 6) just after driving the length of Lake Hawea (on the right of SH 6) as we missed the township of Wanaka itself! At this point we swapped driver and I did the next stage through the Haast pass and down to Haast township, where we remembered to turn off! For the first time in ages we had a pot of English Tea with a pot of hot water to top it up! As well as a piece of lovely carrot cake. Trevor did the next stage to Bruce Bay where we had gorgeous views over the Tasman sea and an ice cream. Last stage to Franz Josef done by me - a little bit windier than expected! Once settled at our hotel, with amazing views again, we went for a wander along the main street - as in Queenstown we did feel decidedly old. There were families and some people our age or older, but the main emphasis was as a centre for extreme sports / events - sky diving, etc. Again a lovely meal at the hotel restaurant - we noticed that if the restaurant has a view they sit diners so they can see it while eating their meal; turning tables on the slant, seating 2 people to sides and leaving the other sides clear etc.
    We have a flight at 9 am tomorrow to see the glaciers, before heading to Hokitika for once only an hour away and able to relax, spend time and shop for souvenirs.    Meer informatie

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    Franz Josef & Hokitika, South Island

    28 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    An early, light breakfast then walk up to Helicopter line tours for 8.30 am - weigh in and safety talk, then walk over the road to the helicopter - which our 'strap in' guide said was the most dangerous part of the journey! Straps on, headphones on and away we go! Up into the air, then the helicopter's nose tipped forward and it rose gently towards the 2 glaciers - amazing views of Mount Cook (Aoraki) and Mount Tasman and the Southern Alps. Due to rain in the area during the week there had been fresh snow fall. Our pilot, Clark explained how glaciers worked, and pointed out various features of interest throughout the flight as well as making us feel at ease. We went up Fox glacier and landed at the top, on the neves, taking first steps onto virgin snow - our pilot Clark took photos for us on our cameras as well as an official one. Surprisingly, it was really warm in the bright sunshine! He answered questions while we had around 5 - 10 minutes on the glacier. We then climbed back in the helicopter and prepared for take off. We went up again and crossed the mountains, people spotting in the snow below and Clark pointing out various landmarks adding extra information as we went down over Franz Joseph Glacier. Wow, Amazing, highlight of visit - though one of many!
    We collected the car and drove down through farmland, forests and prospecting country, stopping to get the last photos of the mountain at Lake Mapourika and seeing a rare white heron as we crossed Macdonald's Creek. We arrived at Hokitika feeling hungry, as we had found nowhere really to top up our breakfast at coffee time and headed for a local cafe Stellas for brunch - BLT and chips. We took a look around the town, visited the national kiwi centre and watched giant eels and Kiwis being fed; bought some Pounamu (Green stone) souvenirs and walked back to our seafront hotel along the beach. We then made sure that all the packing was done so that we only needed to open the small case at our last stop over, as the car goes back tomorrow - Bye bye Ken (KF start of number plate).
    Our evening meal was again at the hotel and our waiter, Steve was a local lad and was able to give us some tips for the next day as to where to go for lunch and what to see on the way into Greymouth. A last walk and sit along the beachfront before a coffee on our balcony and watching the sun go down with the sound of the sea gently rolling onto the beach.    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Greymouth

    29 oktober 2017, Nieuw-Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We left Hokitika after a late breakfast at Stellas and drove the 30 mins to Greymouth - very grey and very dead on a Sunday! We dropped the car, signed in luggage at the station and then tried to find something to do - so coffee, sit, wander around the local market, sit, walk along the warf, have lunch, sit and finally boarding time at 13.50! We should have stayed longer in Hokitika as there was absolutely NOTHING to do in Greymouth!!!
    The Trans Alpine is one of the world's great train journeys, transversing the Southern alps between Greymouth and Christchurch from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean, passing through Arthur's pass national Park. En route is a sequence of dramatic landscapes, from a lake fringed with cabbage trees, beech-forested river valleys, an 8.5 km tunnel ( where you are in the dark with no connections and no card machine only cash to pay at the cafe car), over via ducts and through smaller tunnels, through narrow alpine gorges and then finally to the flat, alluvial planes of Canterbury. Stops were made at a few place to pick up passengers and drop people off, the main one being Arthur's Pass, 737 metres above sea level. The 4 hr 30 mins journey is unforgettable - even though it was grey in Greymouth the sun soon came out and continued for the rest of the journey.
    We arrived in Christchurch about 6.30 pm and shared a shuttle bus with a number of fellow travellers. Again our driver was a character who hailed us with information stories and anecdotes while trying to negotiate the ever changing roadworks to the various drop-off points - we saw other areas and art works in the town that we hadn't seen on our first visit!
    Eventually arriving at the hotel at 7.00 pm, we booked in, booked a table for dinner at 7.30 pm and Trev did his back in having a shower! Just made the dinner booking and then worried if he'd be able to get out of bed in the morning for our early start at the airport!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Back in Brisbane!

    30 oktober 2017, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Weather did not look brilliant today. We decided to have a quiet day and have a breather after the busy 16 days. Washing done, catching up with travel log by adding photos and planning the trip to Mackay. Sarah took us out for lunch at Coffee Club and we topped up food shopping for Clare. We had Yoshi's company again. During the afternoon it tipped it down including hail, thunder and lightening!Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt. Coot-tha

    1 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today Trev asked whether I would like to go up to the Botanic Gardens as we didn't have time when we came up last time to the look out. The Brisbane Botanic Gardens are recognised as Queensland's premier subtropical botanic gardens, displaying distinctly different gardens arranged in thematic and geographical displays. The themed sections include a fragrant garden, bamboo grove, arid zone, Japanese Gardens, waterfalls, 'Kitchen in the Garden', tropical dome and the largest collection of Australian native rainforest trees in the world. the Japanese Garden was designed by one of Japan's leading landscape architects, the late Kenzo Ogata, the theme of the garden is ‘tsuki-yama-chisen’ or 'mountain-pond-stream'. It features the key elements of stone, water, paths and vegetation.
    The path follows an S-shape curve. As you approach one vegetation area, the view of the next section is hidden. This adds an element of mystery or surprise for visitors.
    A warning is given about being careful and on the lookout for spiders and snakes!
    It is a beautiful area and we spent a couple of hours or more wandering around with a vague plan but occasionally, just going where the signs pointed - we could have spent a lot longer and still wouldn't have seen everything! Sarah intends to go back and visit the planetarium next time.    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Mount Glorious, Moreton Bay

    5 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Clare decided to take us for a drive up to Mount Glorious which was lovely and very bendy! The views over the rainforest were amazing. We were going to stop on top at the village of Mount Glorious, but there were many, many motorbikes at the cafe where Clare planned to stop. We planned to turn round and come back but no space to do so; so we followed the road down the other side - going over beautiful creeks and views of Lake Wivenhoe. We finally stopped at Fernvale, with more bikies as their was a car & bike show today! Old Fernvale bakery advertised the best pies and over 120 fillings to choose from - there was a board inside that advertised Camel, kangaroo, crocodile, yak and Emu as well as Yarrow specials? Yummo!!Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Farleigh, Mackay & Cape Hillsborough

    6 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Ok, so a 1 hr 30 min flight by Jet Star to Mackay and we were up on the East Coast of Queensland. We were met at the airport by Barbara, Ken's sister. Once the car was loaded with cases we were taken for a tour of the area that Ken grew up in, with Barbara pointing out where the family lived, cane farms owned by their uncle and stories about family members.
    We arrived at their homestead in Farleigh which is up a farm road, over a cane train track and finally up the hill with 2 trees on top via a rough track, keeping an eye out for cows or wildlife. This means that their homestead can be easily spotted from 360 degrees around the hill and when you sit on the veranda you have an amazing view to look at! The Wedge-tailed eagle that Chris described appeared on cue.
    Chris had been looking after Stretton and Eden, their grand children (Amanda's children) in the morning, so he was going to show us the area around Mackay after lunch as a reward. Michael dropped in to say 'hello' ( long hair, vegan, hippy) and Neil, Ken's brother joined us for lunch and brought some information on the places that B & C had planned to take us which he thought might be useful to us, plus a bottle of wine to share.
    Chris's tour started at a high point in Mackay, very steep road up, which meant we could see a 180 view over the city and surrounding area, including the Pioneer River, and in the far distant the many islands and coral sea. Throughout his tour, Chris gave us info about the area, historical, familial and anecdotal and gave us an insight into his character. Next stop was Lamberts lookout which offered stunning views overlooking Lamberts Beach, the Cumberland Islands and Slade Point. This is also a popular viewing platform to see the migrating whales as they breach and play off the coast of Mackay. However, we did not see whales but a sea turtle and a Kestrel hunting and catching his prey!
    Chris has a boat and is a keen fisherman so he just couldn't leave out the marina & harbour which has just been repaired and sea walls renewed and made wider with more large rocks. The marina is next to sandy Harbour Beach and home to the Pine Islet Lighthouse, one of the only working kerosene lighthouses left in the world. The marina itself contains 328 berths, with six Mega Berths of 60-metre capacity and alongside vehicle access, 18 new big boat berths, which can hold boats of up to 38 metres and 32 fishing berths - plus one maintenance berth. We spent some time deciding which boat we were each going to keep! It was now coming to the highlight of the tour which was to head out to the Hibiscus Coast to hopefully see wallabies on the beach at dusk! The highway took us through this ruggedly scenic park which includes rainforest, eucalypt forest, beaches, rocky headlands covered in hoop pines and lovely beaches. We stopped at Seaforth beach front first and then on to Cape Hillsborough Beach which we hoped would provide one of the most iconic Australian photo backdrops, the famous “Roo on the beach.” Unfortunately we only had the beautiful beach and sun-setting over the Pacific - Roos decided not to show. We headed home for dinner on the verandah in the cool and watching the red lines of cane fires glowing in the dark below!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    North Beaches & Eungella, Queensland

    7 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After breakfast and the visit from one of the cows this morning, Barbara took us out to visit the Northern beaches all of which are said to 'offer sun, sand and sensational ocean views that have the ambience of a tropical retreat whilst only being 20 minutes from Mackay’s CBD'. The first on her tour was Shoal Point where apart from miles of sand we could view incredible scenery toward Cape Hillsborough from the sparkling water. The shallow water and nearby islands make it the perfect place to launch a small boat. However, we didn't expect to see one launched in the way we did - coming along the road on three wheels was a boat being driven on top by a gentleman, looking like a king of all he surveyed! He drove the boat on wheels down the boat ramp and into the water, then once deep enough the back wheels were lifted up to either side and the front tucked underneath, the outboard motor dropped down and of he went speeding towards the mainland opposite!
    The next on the tour was Bucasia Beach a picturesque sandy haven, with soft white sand underfoot. Approximately four kilometres in length, Bucasia Beach is one of the longest beaches in the Mackay Region. Our next stop was for a coffee or cold drink at the nearby Eimeo Pacific Hotel, with an elevated coastal view. The pub's enviable position overlooks the Coral Sea and Eimeo Beach with views toward the southern Whitsunday islands. Eimeo Beach, (pronounced I-me-o), is a popular retreat for locals. Nestled in Sunset Bay, the beach is seasonally patrolled by volunteer lifesavers. A must-see is 80-year old Mango Avenue. This heritage-listed attraction stretches between Whittles Lane and Heidke Street, forming a shaded canopy above the streetscape.
    A beautiful part of Mackay's Northern Beaches, Dolphin Heads is a rocky and sandy headland, popular with photography enthusiasts. It can be reached by car within 15 minutes from Mackay's Central Business District. The area is thought to have been named after the shape of the headland, which looks similar to the shape of two dolphin heads. The view looks out toward southern Whitsunday islands, including Brampton Island. At low tide it is possible to walk from Dolphin Heads to neighbouring Eimeo Beach across the tidal creek bed. Here Barbara took us up to the complex of very posh houses nestled on the headland and actually found her way out, which it seems is usually quite unusual! Last was a drive past Black’s Beach which is the longest beach in the Mackay region, its golden sand stretching 6km in length. After this we dropped in to the garage to meet Barbara's son Steven, before heading back to the farm for Lunch and to switch cars.
    Chris's turn next - this time we were heading out to Eungella National Park to hopefully see Platypus in the wild at twilight. We made a few stops on the way, the first unfortunately closed at lunchtime - although we were ables to drive up and have a look from the outside.
    Greenmount Homestead (five kilometres west of Walkerston) is one of Mackay's most valued historic attractions. Greenmount was developed by AA Cook on the cattle run first taken up by Captain John Mackay and was gifted to the city by the Cook Family in 1984.
    Next was Nellie Melba's House by the side of the Pioneer river which has been turned into a craft shop, cafe and information centre. "Her soft brown eyes captured the hearts of men, her voice cast a magic spell on audiences in London, Paris and many other cities in Europe as well as the United States of America, the legendary diva Dame Nellie Melba". Few know that the acclaimed opera singer spent the first year of her married life in a small house right here in the heart of the Pioneer Valley, in Marian. The house where the diva with the golden voice lived, is now open to the public for free. It shows a beautiful array of photos, recordings, memorabilia, books and furniture of her time. A statue of a Cane Cutter, erected in 1994 as a memorial to the pioneering families of the Marian district, is situated in Edward Lloyd Park approximately 50 metres from Melba House. Plaques on the plinth list the names of the residents - those who settled the district prior to 1900 are on the front; the remaining three sides list those families which became residents since 1900. During the Rugby League season the Canecutter shows his support for the Maroons by dressing in the team colours and waving the Queensland flag.
    Then we headed towards the Eungella National Park and the Chalet. Located adjacent to the head of the Mackay Highlands Great Walk, and built in 1933 as a guest house for people requiring clear mountain air, the Eungella Chalet has been a landmark in the local area for decades. Today the Eungella Chalet still operates, providing clear mountain air, with some advancements in the way of creature comforts. The Chalet is a renowned pit stop for the weary traveler, providing a licensed bar and restaurant along with fantastic Pioneer Valley Views. On this day it was decorated with horses andjockeys for a Melbourne Cup lunch. In the garden were carved wooden statues of wizards, dragons and toadstools; as well as a staging area for anybody who wanted to do paragliding! Eungella is nestled on the very edge of the Clark Range, the city of Mackay located 80km to the east can be seen beyond the towns dotted along the meandering Pioneer River as it cuts through the flood plains of the Pioneer Valley. We sat and had soft drinks and enjoyed the stunning view back along the windy road to Mackay and beyond. Once finished and refreshed we continued the drive onto Broken River in the National Park which is recognised as the world’s best place to see Platypus, unusual semi-aquatic egg-laying mammals. This extremely shy creature is tough to spot, but your best chance of seeing it is at sunrise or sunset. The platypus viewing deck is near Broken River's picnic grounds. We tried the main viewing platform first and looked for air bubbles and ripples in the water, these are the signs that there could be a platypus below - however after 30 - 45 mins we had only seen a couple of snakes, turtles and bubbles with a triangular wake. We were about to give up but Barbara reminded Chris that there was one more platform underneath the bridge over the river. Finally, after staying still and quiet to improve our chances of seeing one, the little creatures decided to show themselves - Platypus are smaller that you think and really fast! Just as you get your camera ready to take a picture he disappears again! But we each got pictures and Chris felt a little better that this twilight trip had worked!
    Unfortunately, we could not drop into see Amanda on the way back as she was not feeling well. It is amazing how much quicker we got home - I think it was the speed Chris came down the range and followed the road along the river! Dinner was had again on the veranda - breaded steak, mash, Pumpkin and peas/sweetcorn. With the the occasional Dingo, cow or frog heard in the background.    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Bowen & Airlie Beach, Queensland

    8 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today was an early start - partly planned, mostly 'cos we were all up early. Chris was again the driver and we were heading to Bowen to visit the area that Lizi lived for 2 - 3 months when she was working on The Queensland music festival production, 'Behind the Cane'. We had a long drive as Bowen is situated 189 km north of Mackay. However, our cases etc were loaded into the car as we were coming back via Proserpine Airport in the evening, rather than Mackay, so Chris and Barbara would drop us off on the way home.
    Bowen sits on a square peninsula, with the Coral Sea to the north, east, and south. To the south-east is Port Denison. On the western side, where the peninsula connects with the mainland, the Don River's alluvial plain provides fertile soil that supports a prosperous farming industry.
    As you come into Bowen you come across The Big Mango - costing $90,000 to create, it was erected in 2002 as a tourist attraction at the Bowen Tourist Information Centre. In February 2014, the 10-metre high, seven-tonne fibreglass structure was stolen in an overnight operation. The mango was found the next day and it was later revealed that the theft had been a publicity stunt. There is now a second smaller Mango on the wharf by the outdoor stage that was given to Bowen by the publicity company after it's use for an advert in Sydney.
    During World War 2 Bowen hosted an air force base, flying PBY Catalina flying boats to search for enemy ships and submarines. The concrete aprons and ramp are still present, and silhouettes of two aircraft have been painted in.
    Bowen is on a peninsula, with ocean on three sides. This gives eight beaches surrounding the town, namely Kings Beach, Queens Beach, Horseshoe Bay, Murrays Bay, Greys Bay, Rose Bay, and the Front Beach. Kings Beach offers views of nearby Gloucester Island.
    We drove round the bays and stopped at Horseshoe bay, a beautifully secluded bay with amenities and a cafe. We needed the space to stretch our legs and have a coffee.
    In December 2006, it was announced that Bowen was chosen as a filming location for a third of the production of Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, portraying the look of Darwin. The production moved to Bowen on 14 May 2007.
    When it was announced that Australia was to be filmed in Bowen, locals painted a large "Bowenwood" sign on an old water tank on top of a hill, in a parody of the world-famous Hollywood sign, which is still there.
    The Pub / hotel used for the film is still there though has had a major makeover. The campsite and lagoon where she cycled to work were also seen and it was a 3 pelican day!
    On the wharf we stood on the stage where the production took place, read the information on the filming of Australia and talked to the local tradies! The Pie shop that Lizi frequented that did the best pies was our lunchtime stop - Bowen specials with peas, Steak and Kidney with peas and a Jackman hunky beef pie for Sarah - this Lizi raved about.
    After lunch it was on to Airlie beach, again a favourite of Lizi's. Barbara decided to go past and head to Shute Harbour first, so we went through Airlie and out the other side. Shute Harbour is a port facility for the transfer of visitors to the Whitsunday Islands and resort destinations. Unfortunately now that Airlie Port and the marina has taken a lot of its traffic it is looking a little dejected! It commands outstanding views from most locations. A selection of holiday homes, some quite posh and one small hotel situated right on the crest of a hill take in some of the best. These also took the brunt of the cyclone that visited the area - the hotel is now derelict and many of the beautiful houses are either damaged, derelict or being sold! There are though new houses also being built. The port is used to ship goods to the islands including building materials and machinery. The port was one of the busiest small vessel facilities in Australia, A public boat ramp is available, with limited trailer parking, for launching of small private vessels. The public fishing jetty is an excellent spot to dangle a line and try your luck at catching some of the famed tropical Whitsunday fish and squid species.
    To get to Shute Harbour, we drove east for ten pleasantly winding kilometres through Conway National Park from Airlie Beach. after having a drive round this headland we headed back to spend time in Airlie. Airlie Beach is a tourist destination, popular with backpackers. Its beach is small and the sea is inhabited by marine stingers, the box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) from November to May. In order to provide somewhere for the visitors tourists to swim, the local council, has built a medium-sized swimming lagoon on the foreshore.
    The Great Barrier Reef is somewhat accessible from Airlie Beach, with an array of different types of tours available. Majority of these tours depart from Abell Point Marina but a few depart from the recently completed Port of Airlie.
    After having a wander around the shops and a cold drink, Trev and I walked around the headland to Abell point Marina via the Bicentennial Walkway to have a look at the yachts and boats moored there. On the way back a call from Barbara and Sarah alerted us to the fact that if we were ready to go earlier they were sitting in the cool by the lagoon. So on our return they suggested we might drive round to the marina before heading to Proserpine! Imagine their surprise when we said we had walked there. Anyway, Chris fancied seeing the boats so a quick drive and gaze at those in the marina was needed and then on to Proserpine for tea and a biscuit. Proserpine was named by the explorer George Dalrymple, after Persephone the Greek goddess of fertility, recognising the fertile qualities in the region. The town's Main Street is a reminder of how life used to be – particularly the 'art deco' period evident in the shop architecture which has been well preserved. Old-fashioned courtesies still survive in Proserpine, particularly at many of the charming retail outlets and country-style hotels, but NOT after 4.pm - it seems the main town closes at this point! We did notice a road sign to 'Colour me Crazy', which Barbara said she had been trying to get to for a while so we had a wander round this Alladin's cave of a store - large, colourful, packed with beads, clothes, unicorns, gems, dream-catchers and anything in between!
    So, onto Proserpine airport and Barbara's navigation which Chris did not necessarily have faith in! We got there after waiting for a long train to cross our path and the distraction of a race track along the road to the airport. Chris was really pleased though because as we entered the airport grounds there were wallabies / kangaroos hopping around! Also Bunnies on their way home.
    Thanks guys for a great holiday and tour of Mackay and its surrounding areas!    Meer informatie

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  • Sue WhartonAustraliaReiziger

    Last day today!

    10 november 2017, Australië ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    So, the bags are packed except flight bag, with warm jumpers in to put on when we get back to Heathrow; a croissant and pastry breakfast that just happened to jump into Clare's bag when she went on an emergency trip to buy coffee and now for a walk along the foreshore with Clare, Hana, Sarah and Trev.
    I think during the holiday we have covered the foreshore walk from Shorncliff Pier to Woody point in various stages apart from the bridge! This time we drove to Decker Park so we could take Yoshi and walked along the sand or foreshore, under the bridge and into Brighton Park and then enjoyed the company, conversation and scenery at one of the picnic tables before Trev and Yoshi setting the pace to get us back to the car.
    A phone call to Clare pointed out that the replacement ring I chose yesterday was ready so Clare stopped to let us out at the jewellers, dropped Yoshi back to the house and we all met up for coffee at the new coffee shop, Capulet in Sandgate.
    Final packing, fish & chips with mushy peas for dinner, then hugs or cuddles from family members and strokes for Yoshi and we're off to the Brisbane airport - Christmas has arrived here with a vengeance! Decorated Xmas trees; sparkly Emus, Koalas and kangaroos, plus the obligatory Xmas music selection - Oh Joy or bah humbug!!    Meer informatie

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    Het einde van de reis
    10 november 2017
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