October - November 2018 Brisbane - Sydney - New Zealand

Deciding we would like to have a brief holiday before end of year, I started hunting for ideas.
Nothing too far away. Nothing too strenuous. Where?
Cam had previously traveled to New Zealand, but I had not, so having enjoyed our previous cruise, we decided to try another one and go have a look at both Islands..
We also decided to leave from Sydney so that we could have a look-see prior to boarding the ship.
We booked the QT Hotel on Market st, within easy walking distance of Hyde Park, in close proximity to everything. Very nice accommodation.



We arrived, unpacked and were off for a browse through the Art Gallery of NSW. The Masters of Modern Art from The Hermitage is well worth a visit to view all the works by the Impressionists and Fauvists, especially Matisse.. but for me it was the works by Kandinsky which blew my mind.
Then a Cruise on the harbor to the Zoo,

followed by a long walk to Little Burke street to find a venue for a meal...













Many restaurants to choose from ..
A most enjoyable start to our holiday.

                                                                                                                                           

Australian - Asian fusion?
By any name . . .  delicious!



Joining the walking tour leaving from Hyde park, which  lasts for almost three hours, taking in all the main city sights and ending at The Rocks.                       

There is so much to see and quite a lot of interesting history.

Next day into National Museum. Then a lovely relaxing time on the hop-on-hop-off  bus ending at the  beach where we had lunch.

Lunch on the beach. (Waited for this small cafe to open. Wait was worth it. . . Yes! Sushi meets hamburger!?)

Spent another day on Hop-on Hop-off bus . . . getting on and off. Ended the day with a cruise on the harbor.

Have decided . . Sydney is a very nice place to visit, though it often reminds me of China... an eclectic mix of: destitute - derelict  vs  immaculate - modern.

Another gorgeous day. Bit of shopping. Another stroll through the park. A wander to look at the night lights. A yummy meal and another day is over.

Spent today traveling on the ferry. Started at Circular quay, to hop off at Watson Bay. What a visual delight. Garden point, double bay and Rose bay (think i have missed a couple of bays...?)  We popped into the Watson bay Hotel to have a drink in the beer garden.

Lunch on the beach . .  (good thing we booked)
Great sea-food.

                                                                             
Today we took the ferry to Paramatta. We stopped at Cockatoo island, then after a look around, re-boarded a ferry to travel past Kissing Point and into Parra.
Plenty of shops, food venues and art galleries . . . so interesting.



Then back to CBD.

Throughout our travels we kept seeing individuals in traditional German costumes and people dressed as Zombies . . . The police who had cordoned off the main streets near Hyde Park said there were over 5,000 dead and thousands of Germans. Very amusing.

Tomorrow we board our ship for the cruise around New Zealand . . . . 
Each day we visit a place where we have booked tours which will allow us to see the best of each area. Then we cruise during the night to arrive somewhere new the following day.
We spend an entire day cruising around the Fiordland National Park before arriving at Dunedin the following day. Then Akaroa, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland and then the Bay of Islands before returning to Sydney . . . bring it on!!!!!

Two days of relaxing and reading, eating . . eating, reading... after the second night we wake very early to this . . . . .Fiordland National Park.

                                                     
Freezing, but Absolutely incredible!
The morning was misty but as the sun came up the scenery became even more breathtaking.

Yep! BREATHTAKING.

Ahoy there!

Landlubbers at Sea 

25 April -  7 May 2016

A quick morning flight from Brisbane to Sydney, and we are now here on board the Pacific Jewel ready to partake of the 'Afternoon delight' cocktail hour . . . . . and it is only 1.30pm.
The Ship should be leaving the port of Sydney at 4pm.
Getting through the pre-boarding was fine. There was a wheel chair for me to sit in, and to take me aboard, and after being shown to our room, we were ready to have a drink, followed by lunch, and then time to explore.

 

 

Our room looks spacious and definitely user friendly . . . here it is looking all pristine before we make a mess of it. (Will take another pic at the end, and I am sure it won't look like this . . .though, it will be cleaned twice every day . . so may remain habitable. ) We are fortunate to have a quiet cabin which is not underneath anything (which has the potential to be noisy - like pool, disco, dining room)


Will certainly appreciate having our own balcony and the view to the ocean.
Lets hope we have fair weather throughout. . .


We have bought along plenty of magazines, and books, and there is a great little mobile library which roams the corridors.
I am reading All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr, The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann, Martel,  and if I have time, A Year of Marvellous Ways by Sarah Winman. . .

 

                                                                                                              I think we will be able to find somewhere to sit, and something to eat, whenever we feel we need a wee nibble - all with gorgeous views to the ocean.  Cameron and I do agree we miss the sea.    

 

'The Pantry' is a new concept for the ship. It has numerous outlets with food prepared as requested, which I think is far better than the previous all you can eat buffet. There are a variety of culturally diverse cuisines. They even have a place totally dedicated to deserts .  .which I must try . . .    I must!!!!

Oh! And another to salads. Which I will try, if I must!

Cameron has eyed off the hamburgers, and Pizza, and given them both, the meat to surface ratio test, and fully approves.

4pm - Sailing out through Sydney harbor was spectacular. We were going to view it from our own verandah to avoid the crowds on deck, but stayed and we did enjoy the party atmosphere. The Harbor is beautiful and it was dark before we were free of land.

Evening meal tonight in the waterfront restaurant, which as the name suggests is at the front of the vessel and has views to the ocean.



We have our own table near window, as requested. May socialize later, but for now Cameron and I are happy to have time to ourselves.  Will vary our meal time, and the venue, but tonight it was good to get in early before the room filled up.
May try The Pantry tomorrow night, and then have booked the SALT restaurant by LUKE Magnan.

Can it get much better than this? ( Ok, maybe it does not compare with 3 months travelling through France, Spain and an Italian cruise from Barcelona to Venice - but, here and now, there are No dishes to wash, no cleaning, and there is fresh sea air, entertainment and we have the Pacific Islands to explore . . .)

View of the land out the window.  . .which slowly disappeared as it got darker, to be replaced by a worthy sunset.

Not a bad start . . . . now to decide if we want to go see the evening entertainment which is The Blues Brothers . . .mmm? Or stay here on our own balcony enjoying the breeze and the briny smell of the sea.

Decided to go have a look . . . .

On the Friday before we boarded the ship, I went in for further testing regarding allergic reaction. After 28 injections into my forearms, of different medications, diluted to various strengths, it was discovered that I am highly reactive to antibiotics.
So one real positive, is that I am now back on my anti-inflammatory drugs,(Yah!!!!) Cortisone (not so happy!) and painkillers . . .Wooohooo!!! (Bring them on!) And as a result I am almost pain-free . .

Early days, but so far, there is nothing much to complain about . . .