Wild Kiwi & Down Under--& Tasmania, too! - Part 3 of 3

Sailing into Dusky Sound at sunrise.

Cruising Fiordland National Park

Hello Gentle Readers as we continue our fabulous exploration of New Zealand and Australia via the good ship ms Noordam, one of the stalwart vessels of Holland America.

We begin Part 3 with waking up just as the ship approached the first of three sounds at day's first light.  

Those on the starboard side were treated with views of seals, but those of us on port side were delighted with a pod of dolphins!  

A map in the Crow's Nest showed the route.

As the morning progressed, the weather became the perfect backdrop for these remarkable jagged granite peaks covered in lush dark green.  The clouds darkened and lowered, rain pelted those standing outside and gusts of wind, sometimes up to 67 knots from the NNE finally drove most people back into the safety of the ship.

This was exactly the kind of day I love when experiencing a mysterious and breathtaking sound, full of vertical waterfalls that reached from the very tops of the craggy cliffs to crash into the water below.

We rushed through lunch to be on our deck as we entered Doubtful Sound.  As I stood braced against my deck railing, I was so glad I was wearing my new wool and silk scarf (from the art market in Dunedin), down vest and rain gear.

Rain, wind, and low mist create a wonderfully mysterious ambiance.

As the ship quietly passed through Milford Sound before heading out into the Tasmin Sea toward Tasmania, we savored the most wondrous views from our dining table.

After dinner we bounced from one side of the hallway to the other as the ship rocked and we tried to walk with our delightful new friends, "Lady Kate" and "Sir Rodney" to the theatre where we very much enjoyed the evening's entertainer from West Australia, Patrick McMahon, who knew all the Neil Diamond songs and we knew all the words!

Crossing the Tasmin Sea

High winds and rocking waves kept passengers
inside during the crossing of the Tasmin Sea.

Because of rough seas and weather, the captain decided to alter our course a bit by taking a more northerly direction up the coast of New Zealand before heading toward Tasmania.  Even so, high waves and wind closed the outside decks. 

Fortunately, Ken, Kate, Rod and I are sturdy sailors and found the rocking of the ship an amusing challenge rather than inducing sea sickness.  

It was also conducive to afternoon naps and a feeling of being rocked to sleep at night.  

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Approaching Tasmania just as sunlight turns the mountain top orange.

 Dressed in layers for our day in Hobart, which was good as the day warmed and we were glad to explore in sunshine.

As we disembarked and were welcomed into the country, we began by walking down Hunter's Street and passing the Tasmanian School of Art, where we HAD to buy a souvenir baseball cap and t-shirt to wear when we got back to Colorado!

Posing under one of the many sculptures at the Tasmanian School of Art.

Hobart is Australia's 2nd oldest city and boasts of having about 200,000 in population.  

Once home to whalers, the 19th century sandstone warehouses now serve as dockside cafes, artist's studios and restaurants.  

We loved walking along Franklin Wharf and up the bustling and vibrant Elizabeth Street.

As usual whenever we docked, one of our first tasks is to find free wi-fi, which we did in the comfortable lingerie department of Target, complete with comfy bench!  

Stepping outside of Target, we stumbled upon a festival honoring Harmony Week, complete with song, dance and food!

   During our cruise we learned that Rod had grown up in Hobart and so for him this was a homecoming.  

Ken and Kate wait patiently at Murphy's Irish Pub.

   
We decided to celebrate this fact with a glass of "real" beer--keeping in mind that Ken doesn't care for alcohol at all and I'm a big red wine fan.  

Still, to honor Rod's Hobart roots, we agreed to a sip.

(One sip was enough!)

A toast and a sip of "real" beer in Hobart with Rod.

Melbourne, Australia

Hot air balloons drift over Melbourne, Australia, as we sail into Port Phillip Bay at dawn.

Welcome to Melbourne, a city of over four million people!  Founded on the banks of the Yarra River in 1835, this city rests upon the ancestral lands of the Kulin Nation of the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung people and is said to be "home since the beginning of time."

An early morning quiet street in Melbourne as we change trams.

We decided that it would be a terrible shame if we managed to return home without seeing at least one koala bear and a kangaroo, so off we went on Tram 109 into the city, where we transferred (with kind help from other passengers) to Tram 55 to reach the remarkable Melbourne Zoo, located less than 10 minutes from the city centre!

A kangaroo at last!

Actually, it's almost difficult to get lost in this metropolis because of the number of helpful people and the zillions of City Ambassadors, easy to spot in their bright red uniforms.

The Melbourne Zoo is a walking zoo and to our surprise, the day was on the warm humid side.  

We enjoyed walking from one section of the zoo to another and appreciated the efforts to create the best habitats possible.

And, a koala bear!

When we approached the koala bears, the mothers pushing strollers were all enthusiastically pointing to the koala bear climbing down one eucalyptus tree and heading toward another.  

"I've been coming here twice a week forever and this is the FIRST time I've ever seen them MOVE," said one mother in total awe.

I'm sure all of this was just for my photo op!

A great look at the Eureka Skydeck 88 that offers the highest views
in the Southern Hemisphere.

We returned to the bustle of Collins Street in the city centre with a few hours to explore before taking Tram 109 back to the ship.

We snagged a few souvenirs at the Block Arcade, modelled in the style of the Galleria Vittoria in Milan, built in 1892 and refurbished in 1988.  

Natural light pours through the ceiling of the Block Arcade
on Collins Street and Elizabeth Street.

Sydney, Australia

This was a mixed day for emotions.  

Good travelling companion are a treasure!

Not only was it the disembarkation port ending our beautiful cruise, it was also time to say goodbye to our dear friends, Kate and Rod, (although we are planning more mischief in the near future!)

We extended our trip to allow us one afternoon to explore Sydney from the downtown location of the Amora Hotel Jamison--and, we made every minute of the opportunity!

Setting off to explore the Circular Quay and The Rocks!

Also a city of four million people, Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and surrounds the world's largest natural harbour.  "Sydneysiders," as the residents of the city are known, inhabit an area first enjoyed by indigenous Australians since the Upper Paleolithic period!

With all the international visitors and energy, it really reminded me of being in New York!  

A table at a sidewalk cafe enables us to watch visitors
from around the world!

Of course, our first stop, after lunch, was to see the the Sydney Opera House, begun in 1959 and completed in 1973.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the multi-venue performing arts center is identified as one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings.

As we walked along the Circular Quay toward it, it was dramatic to actually see it in person!  

Although we thought there were hoards of visitors, we learned that
this was a "light" day to visit because of the Easter holiday.

View of The Rocks from the high steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Dressed in period costume, a man gazes toward the
iconic Harbour Bridge.

Of course, one of the things that is welcome and comfortable for those of us who come from the Western part of the United States, is that the "recent" history of Sydney is about what one would find in parts closer to home.

The first British settlers arrived in 1788 to found Sydney as a penal colony, the first European settlement in Australia.

Since convicts stopped arriving in the mid-19th century, Sydney has now transformed into a major global cultural and economic center.  There are more than 250 different languages spoken in Sydney!  Just walking we heard so many!

In "The Rocks," a historic alley is an educational opportunity
with shadow outlines and snippets of information.

Who would guess this tourist precinct and historic area of Sydney's
city centre would have such an unsavory past!

And so,it is time to say farewell...

A fine message on the gift shop window of the Museum of
Contemporary Art.

With only a few hours in Sydney, we walked until it began to get dark and then headed back up George Street to return to the hotel, weary and well-aware that we had so little time and still so much left to see.

Early the next morning, we began our long flight home, grateful for the opportunity to see and explore a most wondrous and beautiful part of the world!

And, despite a 14-hour flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, we can't wait to do it again!