Aus Traveller

How is your throat? Do you feel more tired than you should?

You might be OK. You were in the fresh air and presumably with a breeze blowing. I hope you are OK.

I mentioned this to my husband who remembers the June 1967 heavy rainfall. He then pulled up a BOM site. I jotted down other episodes of heavy winter rain (not as much as June 1967). They were June 2016, May 2009, June 1007, Apr 1998, May 1996, Apr 1989, April 1988, April 184, May 1983, May 1980, July 1973, May 1969, then the June 1967 event, July 1965, July 1962. I stopped at that point. Yes - we get more rain in summer because we have a sub-tropical climate, but heavy rain in winter does occur.

Winter rain isn't new. I can recall some very wet weather in the winter of 1967. There was 11.1" (282mm) rain in one day on 12th June. I had a look at a Bureau of Meteorology site that goes back to 1900. There have been many many years where there has been a wet winter in Brisbane.

That is the one we went to about five years ago. The colours of the water were great but as you say, a lot of walking. We might have to do Te Puia despite the cost. It has a geyser, bubbling mud as well as the cultural component.

I am planning shore excursions for a family cruise to NZ next January. When we are in Tauranga I planned to go to Rotorua and probably go to Te Puia. I have been there a few times over the years, but not since COVID. I was surprised at the entry price for Te Puia - adults NZ$90, or with the Maori show it is NZ$120. Of course, the cost of getting to Rotorua has to be added to that. We might hire a vehicle. Another alternative is a private tour but that is more expensive. On one trip to NZ, we went to another thermal park in Rotorua. It was to the south of the town. I didn't feel it had as much as Te Puia, but I have in mind that there will probably be a folkloric show on the ship that night and the children in my group will see Kiwis (birds) at the Aquarium in Napier. Therefore it doesn't matter if we 'miss' those in Rotorua. We would also go to the Redwood forest. I am thinking about going to the blue and green lakes although they are not far off the main road. I would appreciate any comments on other thermal areas around Rotorua. I know there are a couple of small bit of thermal activity that can be seen around town. Don't suggest the luge - the children are too young (10, 9 and 4) and they are girls. Boys would be more interested in the dare-devil type of activity.

Was it $15 one way or $15 return? The Christchurch Transport site has the cost of an all-day bus pass as NZ$10 per adult.

The Australian Government has accepted the latest advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) on the use of new COVID-19 XBB 1.5 vaccine as part of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program. All available COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide strong protection against serious disease. The new XBB 1.5 vaccines have been found to provide modest improved protection against the COVID-19 strains circulating in the community. The XBB 1.5 vaccines will be available along with the existing bivalent vaccines. Providers can order this new vaccine, with doses being delivered ready to administer from 11 December 2023. Sites that receive their orders earlier than this date can commence administration as soon as they receive them.

We had a great steward when we had an interior cabin next to the aft suites. The steward was so kind she used to give me extra of my favourite dark chocolates.

Guessed that. 🙂

I noticed on one cruise that the steward who looked after the aft cabins had some cabins in each side of the ship. (Maybe I am being kind here) but maybe he was working on the other side of the ship when you didn't see his trolley in the passageway. But of course, that couldn't be all the time ......

I don't know if you have plans for your day in Wellington. We have been there many times so I would like to make a couple of suggestions. The obvious first one is Te Papa - superb. The other suggestion is less obvious - Parliament House. They have free tours that run multiple times a day when there is a cruise ship in port. On one visit we went there thinking it would be a but 'Ho hum' but what else was there to do. We loved it! Particularly the part when they show visitors how they earth-quake proof existing buildings.

We were in NZ in February and that is where one stop was. I am pretty confident with that one, even though it isn't anywhere near the Parliament buildings. The other one is a puzzle.

On the internet it says the stops are at the Cnr of Lambton Quay & Brandon St (they mention near David Jones) with the other one at 111 Wakefield Street (at Cuba St) near the i Site (tourist info office). One internet site mentions that one of the two stops is near the Parliament Buildings. Presumably they mean the Brandon Street stop but it isn't really anywhere near Parliament. When we were there in February there was one stop in the middle of the main shopping area (it could've been Brandon Street) and the other one was out past Te Papa. The bus went along Courtnay Place and turned left into probably Blair Street. There was a stop there beside a tiny park with lovely flowers. I got off there and walked to Te Papa. The bus then did a loop back along Wakefield. Maybe this second stop has now been changed to Cuba Street (several blocks closer to the ship). I might have to wait until after your 7th December cruise to find out if you will be kind enough to post the info. My son-in-law is meeting is 'favourite' aunt and I want to tell them where he and his family will be getting off the shuttle bus.

I am organising shore excursions for an extended family cruise to NZ in January. I am trying to check where the shuttle bus stops are in Wellington. The two sites shown on the internet aren't where the shuttle buses stopped in February this year when we were there last. Can anyone confirm where the shuttle buses stop?

Les, if you make the most of every day, you ARE winning. 🙂

I have found the answer to my question regarding the cost of a shuttle bus from Lyttleton to C'church. It is NZ$10 adult, NZ$5 child for unlimited travel in the day. (Under 5 y.o. have free travel.). The transport website also says that the only way to visit Lyttleton town is to go on the shuttle to Christchurch then return on a local bus to Lyttleton and do the reverse at the end of the day.

I have read through this thread and also the announcement from the Christchurch Council regarding shuttle buses, but nowhere does it say the cost of the shuttle from Lyttleton Port into Christchurch. The Council simply says is it comparable with local transport, but don't put a dollar value on it. Does anyone know? I am planning for a group so it would be helpful to know.

I will. So far I have just received the auto-acknowledgement.

I don't want to apply for the OBC via an app. Today I emailed as usual.

A fair bit of the time phone service will only be available via the ship's (very expensive) satellite service. Check on your mobile to make sure you are connected to a land-based service before you make a call.

We have done many more than 15 cruises on P&O and had a blue card on our cruise a couple of weeks ago. I have never heard of the grey card. I am not saying it doesn't exist, but I don't know what it signifies.

The POSH acronym applied for people sailing from Britain to British possessions in the Far East - India or Hong Hong. This was in the days before air conditioning in ships.

I am so sorry to hear you both have COVID. I hope you get well soon. 🙂

Lucky Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We met a tour operator there who said some of his customers stand there with tears in their eyes looking at the beauty of the place.