Christ Church, New Zealand

Thursday, March 15th, 2007

A picture postcard town today at 64 degrees.


We took the Wildlife Boat Cruise for the esteemed Hector's Dolphins. Took most our our time in Christ Church which was a shame since we didn't get to see anything else here. As for the dolphins, they aren't on a timed schedule and we only quickly viewed about 3 times. Too quick for cameras. Some facts about them and a picture from the web:

1) only found off the coast of New Zealand, which means it is endemic to New Zealand
2) is the rarest dolphin in the world
3) has a small, rounded dorsal fin – all other species of dolphin found in New Zealand waters have crescent shaped fins that are more pointed



See all the many different overlapping layers? This is typical New Zealand terrain.



Had to buy some postcards for the rest. Run a search on Christ Church, it is beautiful and just sorry we missed it.

Dunedin, New Zealand

Friday March 16, 2007

Dunedin is the largest city in New Zealand and has a Scottish flair. Took the train ride over the gorge and thru the mountains. The train is very rustic with a table between our seats, the countryside beautiful. Lunch of small sub with a vegetable based salad in a tasty vinaigrette liquid. One each of strawberry, plum and yogurt based strawberry mouse. Also cheese and crackers and tea and wine. Also packed w/in our lunch was a silk yellow daffodil pin. Very enjoyable altho bumpy ride. I bought some post cards to get a better view of the train ride. The gorge was nothing to us compared to sights seen elsewhere but still an awesome trip.




Later we went to Larnach Castle, complete with all the trimmings. Below is an aerial picture of the area. The gardens here are breathtaking. One picture below is part of the gardens with another of the view from the end of the garden. And the bagpiper in full regatta. Enjoy!






We finished the day with a ride of the city and interests with a view of the steepest hill in a residental city as recorded in Book of Guinness Records.

Fiordland, New Zealand

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Saturday March 17, 2007

At the very southern tip of New Zealand is Fiordland National Park. This part of the country has rain 300 days a yr so odds are against us for a sunny day; it's overcast, cloudy but not rainy. Sitting on balcony and overhearing commentary from the cabin TV we learn many facts. Listed are some in no particular order.

1) Dusty Sound is the largest of over 40 miles
2) Capt Cook first mapped this area and they are still the best maps around.
3) Area gets 27 feet of rain each year
4) Highest waterfall over 500 ft
5) Jade in this area
6) Mitre Peak is the tallest peak at 9,042 feet high, it's in Milford Sound and is my last picture, altho you can't view the top of it for the clouds.

Only by comparing how tiny the tour boat is (and imagining the people on it!) can you get an inkling of the magnitude of these mountains.





Most everything looks the same so it's not a picture day, but an awesome experience of majesty for the entire day!

Australia Tid Bits

Every country has them ~ some tid bits we heard or learned along the way.

Good Morning is 'G'day' (now say it with the accent, Mate!)
Goodbye is 'hoe-roo'

Whenever it's said "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" it's answered "Oye, Oye, Oye!"

Australia is as strict as New Zealand debarking with foods of any kind. Sealed bottled water only. No liter seen anywhere - both countries are proud of their Eco heritage and fiercely protect it.

We American's have 'take out' food, the Aussies have 'take away' food

We say trash, they say rubbish

Hobart, Australia

Tuesday March 20, 2007

We arrived in Hobart today, 900 miles across the Tasman Sea from New Zealand. We are greeted by a small childrens choir. Hobart is the small island south of Australia and has the deepest harbor in the world. Another tidbit for you trivia lovers out there.

Bonorong Wildlife Park! THE place to go if you are in Hobart! Here we got to hand feed the Kangaroos and Wallaby's with something like rabbit food set out for the taking. I filled my pockets and had the best time of my life! Had to be careful where you stepped as they were everywhere including the pathway.

They are very soft, much like a rabbit and love to be scratched and eat right from your hand. Different sizes including an albino one.





Know the difference between a wally and a roo? A a wally's tail is flat whereas a roo's tail is L-shaped on the ground. See the above pics. I fed this big one too and tried to get him to stand up, he was as tall as me!


Fed the mother but dared not touch the joey. This was the only one we saw.

Other animals at this park like Emu's and various birds, other critters and Koalas. Koalas eat Eucalyptus leaves and are only awake about 4 hours a day. The leaves are a drug that put them to sleep so you have to be careful they don't fall out of the trees on you, but this one is wide awake and I got to pet him too. Koala's tend to nip with their hard bird like beaks so it's best to just pat their behinds. And with those long hard nails they aren't the cute cuddly bears as they are portrayed.




Ever see a Tasmanian Devil? Yes, they do exist and have VERY sharp teeth. They are about the size of a small dog. This one was thrown a piece of rabbit; bones, fur, meat intact and within a matter of seconds completely devoured. No, I had no desire to pet this one :)



After Bonorong Park we went to Mt Field National Park and saw Russell Falls. Or what was left of the falls. Australia has been in a drought for 9 yrs and is evident by these pictures.




We had a marvelous lunch of roasted lamb and veggies and homemade deserts at a genuine 'hole in the wall', it was a family run business and it rated unaccountable stars with us. The lamb was fork tender and scrumptious!

We depart with a bagpipe concert, a core group of 10 with drums and brass. Others waving as ship sounds 3 horns to our hosts. A lovely town of very warm people and a place we would love to visit again, one day.

Melbourne, Australia

Wednesday March 22, 2007

Melbourne is a bustling metropolitan city, the first we've seen since leaving the States.

We rode the Puffing Billy Steam Train with open air cars. The custom on this train is to sit between the rails with your feet dangling outside the car. Some younger ones did but not us :)



We toured by motor coach all thru out the Yarra Valley and Dandenog Mountains and had lunch at a vineyard. Great food but the white wine was much too dry for our taste.

Our temperature for this March 22, 2007 day was a balmy 33C. Do you know how to figure C to F? Just double and add 30 to find our rather hot 96 degree day. "Down under" is opposite weather wise from the States, just imagine Christmas in Summer. Hard to, isn't it?

More kilometers down the road brought us to Healesville Sanctuary, a zoo full of roos and wallies all napping off in the far distant shade of a tree behind the fence. I was thankful for the day before when I could feed, pet and walk among them. We saw the rare platypus in a dark building, very small from original thoughts. No pictures allowed. Other types of animals but much too hot of a day for any of us.

Later we found ourselves at a sheep farm and that was very interesting. Watched the dogs mustering (herding) the sheep from the pastures and then inside for a sheep shearing demonstration ~ all in one piece! Did you know petroleum jelly is made from wool? We felt a piece and it's full of lanolin. All the little things you learn from traveling the countryside.





Lamb is not only in the hills and the pastures but also on the table and yummy it is! My first time tasting and now it's become a fav ~

Sydney, Australia

Friday March 23, 2007

Sydney is well-known for it's harbor but pictures can not give true justice to the beauty compared thru our own eyes ~ it's more than breathtakingly gorgeous!

We ended our cruise here and just wished we had more than one day to spend. There is so much to see and do. Cosmopolitan Sydney has so much to offer and fantastic shopping is certainly one of the highlights. One could literally shop everyday all day for 3 months and not make a dent.

We were especially looking for an official canvas Bush hat and while not finding many hatteries, I ask a gentleman where to go. He locked his arm in mine and said in that awesome accent "Come on Mate, I'll show you right where it is!" And off we went at a brisk pace. I'm looking over my shoulder to make sure B is behind me as this fine Aussie is on a mission. And sure enough, right to the hat shop we went! "G'day" we heard amongst our thanks and he was gone in a flash.

We took the Harbor "3 Hour" Tour (sing with me from Gilligan's Island) ~ Beautiful Saturday with sailboats! But don't capsize cuz there are sharks a plenty here ~ in fact, all the beaches are netted. Sugarloaf Bay is the most shark infested ~ not sure I'd be brave enough for a dip.





We didn't have time to walk the famous Harbor Bridge or even by taxi nor visit the Opera House. But snapped pictures as we passed by on the Harbor Tour. See how close we docked to the bridge?







Our hotel is odd, we have to insert our key card for any power to work! All the potties on this entire trip including ship are shut lid and push button on top. No handles, just buttons.

We ran out in the pouring rain to the nearby Porterhouse Pub for dinner. The Pubs here are not like a 'nightclub' in the States. Very quaint, rustic with brick arches and Irish. As the evening wears on a little rowdier with more people, more beer and more laughter. But no one is drunk nor trying to pick a fight. Forgot the camera with the rain but here are some pics from the net. Great food and atmosphere, stop by if you are in the area.