Hello again
Here we are embarking on another trip which we were much looking forward to. It is a cruise to the Sub Antarctic Islands South of New Zealand on a Ponant ship Le Soleal.
The map can be found
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1VIR2cKtR3hkOpy9Xmgen1sg636vQ7zY&usp=sharing
This blog is getting to from the cruise which started and finished in Dunedin.
The actual cruise is described in the next blog
Here we are embarking on another trip which we were much looking forward to. It is a cruise to the Sub Antarctic Islands South of New Zealand on a Ponant ship Le Soleal.
The map can be found
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1VIR2cKtR3hkOpy9Xmgen1sg636vQ7zY&usp=sharing
This blog is getting to from the cruise which started and finished in Dunedin.
The actual cruise is described in the next blog
As usual we had a relatively early flight to Auckland, from where we are to catch a domestic flight to Dunedin, so as usual we stayed the night at the Rydges International hotel.
This time however the restaurant was closed for the Boxing Day holiday. We were a little upset since we'd had such a bad experience with the bar food the first night.
However this time we had reasonable turkey and chicken dishes.
This time however the restaurant was closed for the Boxing Day holiday. We were a little upset since we'd had such a bad experience with the bar food the first night.
However this time we had reasonable turkey and chicken dishes.
Next morning just walked across to the terminal and caught the Qantas flight to Auckland, about a three hour flight.
Unusually (we were however with Qantas) we initially were not sitting together - normally we have the two centre seats. After a bit of last minute shuffling at the gate we were seated across the aisle and I had the window seat. This meant I had the view coming into Auckland, which I enjoyed.
Unusually (we were however with Qantas) we initially were not sitting together - normally we have the two centre seats. After a bit of last minute shuffling at the gate we were seated across the aisle and I had the window seat. This meant I had the view coming into Auckland, which I enjoyed.
As far as films go, I had the choice of ‘Shakespeare in Love’ or ‘In Bruges’ Ah decisions at 10:00 in the morning. I chose the former, nice and frothy, while having lunch.
On arrival we had to transfer to the domestic airport for the economy only flight to Dunedin. We only just made it basically because we weren't used the domestic checkin procedure and we were delayed getting through the International section. Once on the plane I was very impressed with the Air New Zealand safety video, during the flight they also had a series of Q& A displayed on the drop-down screen - interspersed with ads- which helped pass the time.
On arrival at Dunedin, Owen met us at the airport with a bus with the news that he was missing six people. One couple were delayed two hours due to a boarding finger malfunction so missing their connection to Dunedin and having to come on tomorrow's flight.
We are staying at the Fable hotel which is close to the centre of town, we had pre-ordered dinner since the the hotel restaurant is so popular it gets booked out days in advance,
There are 21 of us on the trip, eight of whom we had travelled with before.
We are staying at the Fable hotel which is close to the centre of town, we had pre-ordered dinner since the the hotel restaurant is so popular it gets booked out days in advance,
There are 21 of us on the trip, eight of whom we had travelled with before.
The next day we packed up and stored our luggage for a 3pm departure to board the ship.
It was a lovely sunny day albeit about 15C so we walked down the street to the Octogon which was about 3 blocks away. It was so sunny that we had to buy me a hat! We found some others having lunch so joined them before returning back to the hotel.
It was a lovely sunny day albeit about 15C so we walked down the street to the Octogon which was about 3 blocks away. It was so sunny that we had to buy me a hat! We found some others having lunch so joined them before returning back to the hotel.
The ship Le Soleal was a sister ship to the one we travelled from Darwin to Broome some years ago, so we were familiar with where everything was.
More of the cruise in the next blog.
After 14 night cruising, we returned to Dunedin mid morning for a two night stay at the same hotel.
To fill in that day, Owen had arranged for a bus to take us for a short drive around Dunedin looking at, for instance, the Steepest street in New Zealand plus the University district.
We then found our way to Larnach Castle a mock castle built by a wealthy business man on a hillside outside Dunedin. It was finished in the early 1870's. No expense was spared. Nowadays, it is open to the public, one can stay at adjoining lodges, and have a meal in the very fine dining room of the main house.
In the afternoon we were taken to the Royal Albatross Centre where we had a 60 minute guided tour. One walks up to an observatory high up beside a cliff face where the birds nest, you can see a live videocam here.
They really are magnificent as they fly past. It was quite windy and they were enjoying themselves as they caught the wind gusts. We also saw the red billed gulls who a are much smaller, sometimes they were blown backwards because of the wind.
To fill in that day, Owen had arranged for a bus to take us for a short drive around Dunedin looking at, for instance, the Steepest street in New Zealand plus the University district.
We then found our way to Larnach Castle a mock castle built by a wealthy business man on a hillside outside Dunedin. It was finished in the early 1870's. No expense was spared. Nowadays, it is open to the public, one can stay at adjoining lodges, and have a meal in the very fine dining room of the main house.
In the afternoon we were taken to the Royal Albatross Centre where we had a 60 minute guided tour. One walks up to an observatory high up beside a cliff face where the birds nest, you can see a live videocam here.
They really are magnificent as they fly past. It was quite windy and they were enjoying themselves as they caught the wind gusts. We also saw the red billed gulls who a are much smaller, sometimes they were blown backwards because of the wind.
Next day was a drive up the coast via Port Chalmers which is where the cruise boats berth some 13kms from Dunedin. and then up via the scenic road through Mt Cargill joining the main road to Christchurch at Waitati.
We proceeded up to the Moeraki Boulders which are a number nearly spherical boulders on the Koekohe beach, now a bit of a tourist attraction and so has a nice restaurant and loos.
The next stop was at Oamaru the largest town of North Otago. We stopped here for several hours for two reasons, one a ride on the Oamaru Steam Railway which these days travels for about 20 mins from the Harborside Railway Station to the Harbour. This is maintained by group of volunteers who are busy restoring a couple of steam engines as well as carriages, and two we had about an hour to admire some of the many Victorian buildings in the town. The town now has 70 buildings registered as Category 1 or 2 Historic Places on the Heritage New Zealand register.
A fast two hour drive back to Dunedin where Leith & I managed to book a table for dinner in the hotel restaurant. This turned out to have an excellent chef, which was why we needed to book well in advance.
We proceeded up to the Moeraki Boulders which are a number nearly spherical boulders on the Koekohe beach, now a bit of a tourist attraction and so has a nice restaurant and loos.
The next stop was at Oamaru the largest town of North Otago. We stopped here for several hours for two reasons, one a ride on the Oamaru Steam Railway which these days travels for about 20 mins from the Harborside Railway Station to the Harbour. This is maintained by group of volunteers who are busy restoring a couple of steam engines as well as carriages, and two we had about an hour to admire some of the many Victorian buildings in the town. The town now has 70 buildings registered as Category 1 or 2 Historic Places on the Heritage New Zealand register.
A fast two hour drive back to Dunedin where Leith & I managed to book a table for dinner in the hotel restaurant. This turned out to have an excellent chef, which was why we needed to book well in advance.
Next day we left Dunedin for the four and half hour trip up to Christchurch, a couple of loo stops and a stop for lunch on the way. Lunch was taken around a children's wading pool which had a nearby loo. This was in typical SJR fashion comprising of fresh rolls bought that morning with a choice of a couple of fillings and a bottle of water.
Arrived Christchurch mid afternoon.
Arrived Christchurch mid afternoon.
Owen had booked us on the Christchurch Tram Restaurant which was a highlight. The restaurant car Tram 411 was built in Melbourne, Australia in 1927 and ran until 1982. The tram was then refurbished and shipped to Christchurch in 1999 and began operating as the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant in 2000. We had a four course meal while it trundled around the circuit a number of times. A great finish to a lovely day
Next day was early start so that we get across to the railway station to catch the 8:30am TranzAlpine train to Greymouth.
The trip is a great tourist attraction and I am sure we were not the only tourists. There appeared to a number of people getting off at the intermediate stations.
Unfortunately the railway station was demolished after the 2012 earthquake so has been rebuilt a good 20 min drive out of Christchurch. We had some nice views of the industrial area getting there. Our carriage was nearly full, modern carriage with big windows, four of us were sat across a table two facing direction of travel and two not.
We swapped over on the return journey
The first part of the journey was through Canterbury plains, basically flat sheep country. Then we slowly came into the hills leading to Arthur's pass which apparently has some expensive chalets.. Through a tunnel to the other side of the range where we followed a long valley to Greymouth. After about an hour at this seaside town we then caught the same train for the return trip. Each seat had an earphone socket and earphones and we had a good explanation of what we were seeing, either in English or 'Chinese' the sequence of the dialogue changed slightly depending whether one was coming or going (to Greymouth) .
The trip is a great tourist attraction and I am sure we were not the only tourists. There appeared to a number of people getting off at the intermediate stations.
Unfortunately the railway station was demolished after the 2012 earthquake so has been rebuilt a good 20 min drive out of Christchurch. We had some nice views of the industrial area getting there. Our carriage was nearly full, modern carriage with big windows, four of us were sat across a table two facing direction of travel and two not.
We swapped over on the return journey
The first part of the journey was through Canterbury plains, basically flat sheep country. Then we slowly came into the hills leading to Arthur's pass which apparently has some expensive chalets.. Through a tunnel to the other side of the range where we followed a long valley to Greymouth. After about an hour at this seaside town we then caught the same train for the return trip. Each seat had an earphone socket and earphones and we had a good explanation of what we were seeing, either in English or 'Chinese' the sequence of the dialogue changed slightly depending whether one was coming or going (to Greymouth) .
Next day we left the group to catch a domestic flight to Auckland and then back to Australia. Originally we were booked with Qantas direct to Sydney but for the third time in 12 months they had cancelled the flight albeit with some months notice so we managed to get a seat on the domestic and international flights..
Plenty of time in Auckland and a reasonable meal getting back just before 6;00pm Sydney time (8:00pm NZ time so we did need the me
Another great trip Thank you Owen and Taikako
Plenty of time in Auckland and a reasonable meal getting back just before 6;00pm Sydney time (8:00pm NZ time so we did need the me
Another great trip Thank you Owen and Taikako
Stephanie Lee
2023-02-14
What a wonderful trip David. Excellent photos!
kevin
2023-02-17
Wonder if any of those river beds were impacted by cyclone gabrielle