Things to do in Australia/New Zealand

Mates, hope that’s ok to use, I assume we are yanks lol. Just wanted to thank you for chiming in on just what to do and thought I’d give an update. Currently I am finally with good cell signal can do so, sitting in the Qantas lounge waiting to board for Sydney.

About Ponant: Nice boat with low passenger numbers, I think around 150 total and adequate size cabin. The food was good, with a couple of great meals, but never bad. Service was good, with an occasional understanding issue, but there was typically someone to help with that. The French butler was helpful and available when needed. The excursions we ok, a couple great, but the one complaint I would have is a couple of the stops where half days so we did not really get to even walk about the towns due to the excursion ending when it was time to board. I did note that many people did not do the excursions but chose to do their own exploring. We had a number of Australian passengers who also provided us with ideas on things to do during our visits. For instance one couple said to take the slow ferry to Manly Beach, you will see the city etc form the harbor, dine at dine at Catalina, maybe take a sea plane tour from over there etc. We do have some Kensington tours set up, I think one is a personal tour of the zoo, behind the scenes, and some type of rainforest/jungle tour etc. Found it, it’s called Taronga Zoo Behind the Scenes and Beachfront, and Blue Mountains Family Tour & Featherdale Wildllife Park. Also, we are staying at Fraser Suites Sydney so I hope that will be ok, we do like high end properties. Our last decent hotel was the Ritz in Toronto for instance. Anyway, it’s about time to board, I’ll post some photos and comments on some of the tours of New Zealand as they occurred. Loved the country, just beautiful, sailed Dusky, Doubtful, and Milford Sound, where we accorded overnight. Once regrets already is we did not spend anytime really in Auckland. I would love to have stayed here a few days at a minimum. Onward we go….time to board.

 

Just proofed what I hurriedly typed, sorry for a few instances of gibberish, auto correct and spell check will not always save you.

We did meet a rising star headed your way.

Noah Kahan.




Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Kensington must have asked you for advice because what you recommend we are doing!

 

I must say at first blush I love Sydney. This is one of those great cities that if you had come here when you were 18 you may have stated.

Thanks for your recommendation to walk down to Darling Habour, something we did last evening once we arrived and discovered one of the dozens of resturants. I noted the Maratine Museum and plan to visit that as I like all things Nautical. Just this past year, a Fchat member had a 70 foot Hatteras for sale that was a committee boat for the Americas Cup in Newport that we looked at in Stuart Florida. It was such a cool piece of history, as that was the boat they watched history being made from as the Aussies defeated the Americans for the fist time in 1983. If you have not seen it, google and watch the documentary about Ben Lexcen who designed the boat. From what I recall, seems he was a self taught naval architect who was simply brilliant, perhaps a genius. Very interesting history.

Anyway, for those interested, Fraser Suites appears to be a well run condo hotel that has large rooms with kitchens and stunning views on the higher floors. Not bad at all.

 

Oh wow! That is too cool!! BTW if you watch the documentary you can briefly see that classic Hatteras in the harbor from the race footage. Wouldn’t it have been fascinating to be a fly on the wall when they lost.

 

A few pictures from the hotel and harbor.


Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login View attachment 3630867

 

I'm a bit of coffee hound, and I think I've discovered the absolute best coffee in Sydney. If you are in the area give it a go. Called 6AM, they open at 5AM. Just outside the hotel door, perfect. I love these little local hole in the wall places.




Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks for your recommendations for resturants, I tend to like were the locals go, as they of course know good food. Someone recommended Thai Spice. I'd like to try real Thai.

 

Just did the opra house, just stunning.


Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login