Napier & Wellington Adventures

We've had a busy last two days!  In Napier we took a tour that visited the family owned property of Maoris who planned a show of their dances, artifacts and weapons for us.  After traveling for about an hour on the tour bus we left the paved road to wind up the hill to the ancestral grounds where there was a carved arch and roofed performance space.  Unfortunately the driver made too short a turn and managed to get the bus stuck in the mud and very off kilter..if course it was raining again.  The whole family turned out to take us by small cars back down the hill to a different  hall, with 48 passengers it took quite a while to do this.  They eventually did most of the show without all the costumes and props but were endearing and instructional and very gracious to us.  They are trying to preserve their Maori heritage and our being there is a great financial help to them.  It ended up a good day but had it's hairy moments for sure!

 

Magician was good show and dinner delicious as always.

 

Today we docked in Wellington and spent the morning walking the town up and down.  Did the tour backwards and walked UP the hill to botanical gardens and took cable car down.  Nice city.  Dale looked for a replacement rain jacket but we found the high style, expensive clothing her a little too much.  Very stylish city clothes.  After a quick lunch we went out again on a tour of the coast by 4 wheel drive cars.  Yikes!!  up the mountain and round the steep roads.  Down the mountain and around the coast over rocks, sand and streams.  There was a beautiful area with picturesque rocks, rolling sea and seals lolling around.  We were glad that we jumped into the off road jeep with good seats for the bumpy ride.  One vehicle got stuck but luckily they were prepared and pulled it out easily.  I think we are jinxed!!

 

Good dinner tonight but little going on so we are doing laundry chores.  More off road adventures planned for the next two days then a couple of sea days for R & R.  Haven't  touched the pool or casino yet...too chilly and too expensive!!

 

Love to all.....

 

		Wellington farmers ostritch VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL This album has 9 photos and will be available on SkyDrive until 6/29/2012.

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New Zealand...Rotorua

We've met the Cruise Critic Blog group and are planning to attend the cabin crawl and wine tasting on the first..interesting group and very well traveled.  Fun to swap experiences and find out where to go next.  Formal night and show..ate too much but all very good..too good to pass up.  We like this smaller ship for the intimate feeling it has.  Holland always gracious and it is.  Veranda is lovely with sun in the afternoon facing the Coral sea.  It is getting cooler each day but sunny still.

 

Yesterday we visited the Hell's Gate area of thermal pools and steam.  Lots of good mud we wish we could bring home for skin care.  Maori hangi lunch good but like a boiled dinner.  Lamb & chicken w veggies.  sheep demo with dogs interesting.  Wool from merino and opossum woven in is very soft and very expensive despite the opossum being a pest. 

 

Silver fern reverse side used for directional arrow by Maori..now team logo of "All Blacks"

 

Back on board we had a quick dinner and played first game of Hand and foot.  Girls won!!  Today is Napier and visit to Maori Arch of Ancestors and hopefully see a bit of the city and the Deco buildings.

 

Miss you all but having a great time.  No painting..lots of thought and ideas though.

 

		White Island NZ VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL This album has 6 photos and will be available on SkyDrive until 6/28/2012.

rotorua & hells gate

We’ve met the Cruise Critic Blog group and are planning to attend the cabin crawl and wine tasting on the first..interesting group and very well traveled. Fun to swap experiences and find out where to go next. Formal night and show..ate too much but all very good..too good to pass up. We like this smaller ship for the intimate feeling it has. Holland always gracious and it is. Veranda is lovely with sun in the afternoon facing the Coral sea. It is getting cooler each day but sunny still.

Yesterday we visited the Hell’s Gate area of thermal pools and steam. Lots of good mud we wish we could bring home for skin care. Maori hangi lunch good but like a boiled dinner. Lamb & chicken w veggies. sheep demo with dogs interesting. Wool from merino and opossum woven in is very soft and very expensive despite the opossum being a pest.

Silver fern reverse side used for directional arrow by Maori..now team logo of “All Blacks”

Back on board we had a quick dinner and played first game of Hand and foot. Girls won!! Today is Napier and visit to Maori Arch of Ancestors and hopefully see a bit of the city and the Deco buildings.

Miss you all but having a great time. No painting..lots of thought and ideas though.

		VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL This album has 6 photos and will be available on SkyDrive until 6/28/2012.

Aboard Ship!

We boarded the ship about 8:00 last evening after spending the night in Cairns.  Bus made the trip ok but it took 3 hrs instead of the previous 1 by coast road.  Over the mountains through Kuranda again then down to Cairns.  Nice to have a chance to see the town and have dinner along the esplanade.  We did see rock slides and high water along the road but were able to pass.

 

Ship nice and room great!  We bought three bottles of wine in the airport and  brought them aboard and then received one from agent.  That should hold us for a few cocktails on the veranda.  Lovely!  Blankets here for use on veranda as it is getting cooler and cooler as we travel south.  Pool not looking inviting to me at all although there is a cover if necessary.  Sun is out today...a nice change from the rain of two days.  Tomorrow we see Rotoura and Hells Gate area.  Several tour days in a row now.

 

Dale and Dennis up early to exercise but lazy Buelows slept in today!!

 

		Hole in the wall & Mercury Island VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL This album has 2 photos and will be available on SkyDrive until 6/26/2012.

Off to Kuranda!

5:30 rise and shine for trip on old railway to mountain village of Kuranda.  Visiting a rainforest station, kuranda trails over gorges and forest.  Sky tram back down the mountail...'''

It's fun to read comments from Joanne!  We read emails so ok to write. More later today...much later!!

Port Douglas

Arrived in Port Douglas yesterday on  a beautiful day.  Lucky for us as there had been storms, tornados and rock slides the week before.  Our hotel is great..Shantara, with mini kitchen for  quick meals as we like.  Walked up town for a meal as we missed lunch and were forced to have drinks and tappas while we waited for restaurants to open again.  Don't we look sad!!    Today we set off on a huge catamaran of stainless steel looking like a space ship and off to the reef.  Beautiful day and water was warm as we slipped into the sea with flippers and masks to view the coral and fish.  Lycra suits prevented jellyfish stings and we were glad of that...underwater camera recorded the sights.  Finished the day with cocktails and bites on the beach side...wonderful end to a wonderful day.  Hard to imagine we are half way around the world from you all!

 

		Port Douglas tappas time! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL This album has 6 photos and will be available on SkyDrive until 6/22/2012.

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Today we had another early start to take a road trip.  Up to Bell's Beach, surfer paradise, Apollo Bay, and rock formations along the way.  Beautiful scenery of Aussie countryside.  Many sheep and cattle and two koala in the eucalyptus trees..spotted a kangaroo hopping along too!!  Tomorrow we fly to Cairns and then to Port Douglas for four days.  There it is hot and muggy.  Sat is Barrier Reef.  We are looking forward to a little poolside time and time to organize a bit.  All of us are enjoying everything and are doing great now that we have had some sleep!!  Feet hurt though.  Love to all...

 

		Great ocean road, "twelve apostles" plus one! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL This album has 4 photos and will be available on SkyDrive until 6/20/2012.

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Melbourne!!

 

 

 

We arrived yesterday and spent the day walking around the city until we could walk no more.  Queen Victoria Market, Eureka Tower, Federation Square and the city...all beautiful.  Everyone is young, thin, and dressed in black, suits on men look great.  All rush around with places to be and things to do.  What do they do with the seniors???  Rain today in the morning but we walked the city again and then to St. Kilda beach town.  Cake shop was fantastic.  Tram home to Ibis to get ready for great ocean road tour tomorrow then fly to Cairins & Port Douglas.  Hoping for sun but rain predicted.  Internet is unpredictable but will try to get photos up next time.

Dont forget to feed the dogs.

Dogs will eat a lot while we are gone so be sure to feed them their usual.  Big dogs need a lot of excercise as well.

Melbourne here we come!!

 

Fly day is finally here....next stop Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday morning.  Bags are at capacity of either weight or their space..note to self..bigger garment bag!!!

 

We will think of you all....