GOLDEN PRINCESS - DECEMBER, 2018
18 DAYS NEW ZEALAND / TASMANIA
Here we go again, cruising with Princess Cruises out of Melbourne on the beautiful Golden Princess. There's no faulting the standard of service with Princess as we always have a wonderful time and feel so well taken care of with delicious food, entertainment and generally living a life I'd like to at home having no housework or cooking to do. (If only).
We treated ourselves this time around with a hired car service to Station Pier in Port Melbourne so our holiday started the second we locked the front door. The car was immaculate and being able to sit back and relax was a great start to our holiday.
Arriving at the pier, our luggage was soon on board and so were we, ready to enjoy whatever was to come our way.
Cruising in Fiordland on the South Island of New Zealand is always amazing and this time was no different. Calm seas and beautiful scenery with snow on the mountains was "icing on the cake".
We sailed into Akaroa harbour where we were taken ashore on tenders.
We had booked the bus into Christchurch which is a 1.1/2 hour trip but well worth the effort. Christchurch is a beautiful city and still recovering from the earthquake they had some years ago. Shops that weren't there on our last visit were now rebuilt so it looked a bit different.
We boarded one of the trams for a circle of the city and at one stage we had two entertainers on the tram. John also met a new friend.
Christchurch Cathedral, which was once a centrepiece of the city, is still in disrepair and I think it'll stay like that for some time yet.
In Tauranga, we boarded a bus to visit Rotorua where there are Geysers and hot mud pools. We went to the Te Puia Geothermal Valley which was wonderful. It's amazing to see huge geysers of hot steam being forced high into the air. Normally the smell of sulphur can be quite bad but on our visit, we didn't notice it at all.
We also visited the Okere Falls - another "wow" moment as the water forced it's way through rocks and waterfalls.
In Auckland we took the ferry across to Devonport, about a 12 minute ride. Devonport is a lovely village with views across to Auckland. We enjoyed a couple of hours there and a lovely lunch at the Stone Oven Bakery. They have the best pies.
After our New Zealand cruise and arriving back in Melbourne, we then sailed on to Tasmania to visit Wineglass Bay (scenic cruising), Hobart and Port Arthur.
In Hobart, we took a tour bus up to Mt Wellington, 1720 metres, (4000 ft) above sea level. It sure was much cooler up there compared to Hobart but the views were magnificent and the weather was clear so we could see everything.
Hobart has a lot of original buildings and many are now coffee shops, restaurants and bars. Lots of visitors at Salamanca.
At Port Arthur, the ship anchored and we were all taken ashore on tenders. I walked all over the site, up and down hills.
As a parting shot, this is us sailing from Tasmania back to Melbourne. The sun is shining and the weather is beautiful. In fact, the whole 18 days we were sailing, we didn't have any rough weather at all.
One evening when we were walking on the deck, the seas were so calm I just had to take this shot.
18 DAYS NEW ZEALAND / TASMANIA
Here we go again, cruising with Princess Cruises out of Melbourne on the beautiful Golden Princess. There's no faulting the standard of service with Princess as we always have a wonderful time and feel so well taken care of with delicious food, entertainment and generally living a life I'd like to at home having no housework or cooking to do. (If only).
We treated ourselves this time around with a hired car service to Station Pier in Port Melbourne so our holiday started the second we locked the front door. The car was immaculate and being able to sit back and relax was a great start to our holiday.
 |
| GENESIS |
Arriving at the pier, our luggage was soon on board and so were we, ready to enjoy whatever was to come our way.
Cruising in Fiordland on the South Island of New Zealand is always amazing and this time was no different. Calm seas and beautiful scenery with snow on the mountains was "icing on the cake".
We sailed into Akaroa harbour where we were taken ashore on tenders.
We had booked the bus into Christchurch which is a 1.1/2 hour trip but well worth the effort. Christchurch is a beautiful city and still recovering from the earthquake they had some years ago. Shops that weren't there on our last visit were now rebuilt so it looked a bit different.
We boarded one of the trams for a circle of the city and at one stage we had two entertainers on the tram. John also met a new friend.
 |
| THIS STREET ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF NEW ORLEANS |
Christchurch Cathedral, which was once a centrepiece of the city, is still in disrepair and I think it'll stay like that for some time yet.
In Tauranga, we boarded a bus to visit Rotorua where there are Geysers and hot mud pools. We went to the Te Puia Geothermal Valley which was wonderful. It's amazing to see huge geysers of hot steam being forced high into the air. Normally the smell of sulphur can be quite bad but on our visit, we didn't notice it at all.
There was a wonderful cultural performance as part of our visit. We went inside to be entertained with various songs and dances including the Haka of course. A great experience.
We also visited the Okere Falls - another "wow" moment as the water forced it's way through rocks and waterfalls.
In Auckland we took the ferry across to Devonport, about a 12 minute ride. Devonport is a lovely village with views across to Auckland. We enjoyed a couple of hours there and a lovely lunch at the Stone Oven Bakery. They have the best pies.
After our New Zealand cruise and arriving back in Melbourne, we then sailed on to Tasmania to visit Wineglass Bay (scenic cruising), Hobart and Port Arthur.
 |
| WINEGLASS BAY |
In Hobart, we took a tour bus up to Mt Wellington, 1720 metres, (4000 ft) above sea level. It sure was much cooler up there compared to Hobart but the views were magnificent and the weather was clear so we could see everything.
Hobart has a lot of original buildings and many are now coffee shops, restaurants and bars. Lots of visitors at Salamanca.
At Port Arthur, the ship anchored and we were all taken ashore on tenders. I walked all over the site, up and down hills.
As a parting shot, this is us sailing from Tasmania back to Melbourne. The sun is shining and the weather is beautiful. In fact, the whole 18 days we were sailing, we didn't have any rough weather at all.
One evening when we were walking on the deck, the seas were so calm I just had to take this shot.
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