We finally got on board the ship to start our first cruise experience. Check-in was amazingly quick and we were soon sitting in the Terrace Cafe drinking a glass of wine.
The ship decor gives you the impression of a fine old hotel.
Late that afternoon we started to head out Sydney Harbour.
The next morning we arrived in Eden, Australia. Eden is a small town mid-way between Sydney and Melbourne. Below is a picture of the harbour and a few shots taken along a boardwalk that goes all along one of the beaches.
The following afternoon we arrived in Melbourne. Our friend Les’s old chum Barry met us at the end of the pier and took us into the Central Business District (CBD). Barry showed us around the CBD and left us to wander around. We took one of the free trolley’s and did a tour, then walked along the Yara river before meeting Barry again for dinner at a nice Italian restaurant.
The next morning Barry picked us up and drove us out into the Yara Valley. We stopped at the Healesville Animal Sanctuary to visit with some of the animals such as the Platypus, Tasmanian Devil and so on. We then had lunch at a brew pub before heading home.
The next day the ship arrived in Burnie Tasmania. We had arranged our own tour with Robyn McCarthy who met us at the Information Centre. We started out at a park that has Wallabies and Platypuses. The Platypuses were elusive but we came across a half a dozen Wallabies.
Robyn then took us out to an Wattle Hill Olives to taste their oils and sauces. The owners are a very pleasant couple who insist on giving everyone a hug before they leave.
From there we stopped at a winery for some wine tasting before heading back to the ship. Robyn was a lot of fun and made the whole day entertaining.
Now we are crossing the Tasman Sea (a 2 day cruise), heading for Milford Sound in the fjords of southern New Zealand.
WR Foster 