MMDown Under

Shame none from Brisbane!

Many people do. I can spend hours watching the narrowboats go through locks, tying the boat up in a new location for the night etc.

What are the itineraries? Somebody has done their research about our love for “Christmas in July”. Ships do decorations well! I hope ship doesn’t leave before the Penguin parade!!

Narrowboating would be a wonderful way to see England, but it would be a working holiday. One March, we walked alongside two guys in a narrowboat (yes it is that slow). Their wives stayed home because they thought it would be too wet. It was so warm and sunny, both guys were sunburnt as you can spend a lot of time outside with a small narrowboat.

My friends didn't think the Ghan was worth the money. They are well travelled and have done the Perth to Brisbane cruise. When they built that railway, builders told me the priority was for freight! I loved the Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney. Apart from the unique scenery, it carries a mixture of interesting international passengers. Never bored for a moment.

I like that Rydges Hotel. They gave me a key to use their toilets even though I wasn't a guest. That is class! I remember thinking I would stay at that hotel, but I already have a favourite inexpensive hotel in Sydney at Potts Point.

all the things which make you want to go to the toilet with everyone else!

How late is the penguin parade?

I stayed near where the ferry penguins were on KI but didn’t want to disturb them in a populated area. Do they know why the numbers are decreasing? Population/dogs ? We have same problem with koalas and dogs. A Qld Premier lost an election re road proposal through koala population between Brisbane and GC. The biggest threat is habitat loss.

On my Carnival cruise last year you could only bring back on board 10 small cans of soft drinks (not too heavy).

Why would passengers be making bookings on Quantum for 2025 when bookings are slow for 2023 ?

Obviously the coldest of the water didn’t bother you. I’m

That is sad. They were a big attraction.

My earliest memory of swimming in big tires at Newry Islanf is two years old! But Queenslanders love and live in the water!

Was it the same for you when you were a child? I love NZ Bachs. We stayed in one right on the beach in the North, with a solitary palm tree. I could live there,

Secret is lots of warm layers plus scarves and beanies and gloves, if you are a Queenslander, otherwise I can’t last the distance in the cold no matter how good it is. I’d love to visit. Are they fairy penguins like at Victor Harbour, SA?

Thanks for the mental picture and chuckle.

At one of the Falkland Islands, when I sat down to have a rest, a Penguin came out of a hole between my legs. I had no idea I was sitting in their home. On another Falkland Island, there was a colony of penguins which shared their home with albatross. They ignored the passengers and felt like helicopters when they landed. I agree penguins are what people come to see.

Excellent explanation but I had to chuckle. Reminds me of replies I used to have to write!

What dates did Kiwis swim? Queenslanders dont swim in the colder months. We all got sunburnt on Hot Water Beach end of Nov.

My cruise on Luminosa is the first time I’ve picked my actual cabin and it was a balcony Portside. However when I used to book via US TA I used to ask for what I wanted without an actual cabin number.

At least you could say this ship is a liner, which used to be QM2, with some pride. Better being used than turned into a hotel!

Bigger ships currently go to Moreton Island from Sydney for passengers to swim around the wrecks. Trouble is sharks love the wrecks also. I’ve seen five sharks there from the air.

When I was young everyone walked on the reef, straight from a boat. But we were taught not to damage the reef. I’m glad I had that magical experience. Now at LEI you walk out to the rope on sand then glide along the rope face down to see parts of reef and fish. My daughter swims out to the edge of the reef proper. On my cruise swimmers jumped off the small tenders and swam/snorkelled on top of the reef. Staff checked that no one damaged the reef nor went too far.

Sounds like it would be popular locally. Main Beach GC is a little NZ so much so locals are bi lingual.