Solstice Live: Australia/NZ/Hawaii, Many Pix’s, Jan. 20-Feb. 3

[TLCOhio]

Did a quick Google search and it appears to be some kind of Oystercatcher.

 

Appreciate the great research and follow-up from our friend/helper in Sydney. Excellent work and sharing!! From this website:

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/wading-birds/page-2

they have more info on this bird and its pictures in New Zealand. I remember hearing the name Oystercatcher being mentioned while there. Now, I've got a better connection. This source notes: "Oystercatchers are stocky birds with bright eye-rings and long colourful bills. Their diet is much more varied than their name implies. There are three species in New Zealand."

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now over 134,037 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[TLCOhio]

On the CC Board for Celebrity there has been some questions on towel "art". We had some of the cute towel animals. See more below that I posted on that thread. Not going there on the "debate" some have started about bath mold, priorities, use of time by the staff, etc. Just celebrating the fun, interesting aspects of this "gift" while sailing on a nice, classy ship.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Wonderful Kotor and nearby Montenegro? Check these postings. Have had over 17,027 views on this posting and appreciate those who have tuned-in and commented.:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193

 

 

Here are two of the towel "art" items left in our room during our just-completed Solstice cruise between Australia and New Zealand. Fun! Interesting!!:

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

Kiwi are the famous flightless birds closely linked to New Zealand. They are closely linked to New Zealand and are around the size of a domestic chicken. They lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world. They are very vulnerable, with one of the five species rated as highly endangered. The Kiwi have been affected negatively by deforestation and predators. They are the national symbol of New Zealand. The term Kiwi is used as the colloquial term for New Zealanders. Kiwi are considered shy and nocturnal. At the Maori Te Puia site in Rotorua, we were in a darkened building where there were supposedly two Kiwi there. Some "saw" them, but my eyes had a hard time accomplishing that task. Karen in our group really wanted to see these birds, but several of our experienced guides said they had never seen this bird that is so famous in NZ and around the world.

 

Another reason to go back to this great country?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Where are my pictures of Kiwi birds from New Zealand? Here are five of my "best of the best" examples/samples. Like? Proof positive, right? Yes, these are not honestly “real”, but they are fun, interesting representations for this famous bird that virtually nobody ever gets to see.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

Auckland was a bit of a surprise for us in how we liked and enjoyed it so much. Known as the City of Sails, Auckland has seen its waterfront precinct grow nicely in the heart of the city. Twenty years ago it was a marginal collection of rustic fishing boats and warehouses. But, following NZ's America's Cup yacht race victory in 1995, the precinct has been transformed with more than 30 bars and restaurants. We dined at one of these fun places. The marina is crammed with yachts and launches.

 

Auckland uniquely straddles two coasts, with calm, white-sand beaches on the eastern Pacific Ocean coast and wild, black-sand wilderness on the western Tasman Sea side. Both are nice and interesting, but for something different go west to the black-sand beaches with their pounding waves, dramatic skies, ranging cliffs, high rugged dunes and native bush.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Super loved Dubrovnik!!! See more details and lots of great visual samples/examples at this link. Have had over 19,942 views on this posting and appreciate those who have tuned-in and dropped by.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

 

 

Auckland is a big, urban city with about 1.5 million people. About a third of the whole country’s population is here. It has a very diverse population with many from various areas of the South Pacific, plus settling from many key parts of Asia, including China and India. BUT, we really enjoyed the variety of architecture styles and building, including a nice mix of new and older. Here are a few of my visual samples to prove it. Notice in the first picture a cute reflection off of one of the building glass walls. Also, lots of big, known international corporations have offices here.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, Auckland gets the big shows. Here is its main theatre with the sign proclaiming that Mamma Mia! is coming soon to NZ.:

 

[TLCOhio]

Auckland's Sky Tower is the tallest man-made structure in the country. At 1,076 feet tall, it is a place to take in 360-degree views for one of the world's better harbour cities. Thrill seekers can also leap from the tower's 192-meter SkyJump, the highest tethered jump in the country. Sky Tower has a few restaurants and bars compared to the costly ride up to the top of the observatory tower. Their website: http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz. There is a casino here (where we watched a quarter of the 2014 SuperBore football "game" where the Broncos got destroyed. We stayed at the Sky City Grand hotel and really enjoyed that first-class experience. Great, handy location!! There are two large hotels in the Sky City complex, plus a number nearby.

 

Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. The 2011 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Auckland 3rd best in the world on its list, while The Economist's World's Most Livable Cities index of 2011 ranked Auckland in 9th place. Auckland has a warm-temperate climate, with somewhat humid summers. Auckland has more yachts per capita than any other city in the world, with around 135,000 yachts and launches. Around 60,500 of the country's 149,900 registered yachtsmen come from the Auckland Region. According to web sources, about one in three Auckland households owns a boat. Viaduct Basin hosted two America's Cup challenges (2000 Cup and 2003 Cup).

 

For shopaholics, there are lots of treats in Auckland. To get high fashion, they suggest strolling around O'Connell Street and High Street. That area ishome to designer stores, including that of New Zealand's Karen Walker. Parnell is where you'll find interesting speciality stores. Craft, vintage and market stalls are popping up all over the city.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Here are two of my visuals samples of Sky City and its famous tower. Did not lose any money in the casino since I did not gamble there. I was a winner!!:

 

 

 

 

 

There are number of big, BIG ships in the Auckland harbor. Some even have their own helicopters. Does not your boat come so equipped? If not, why not? On the right is the covered back of one costly new ship owned by a Russian billionaire. The back part of this ship is being repainted. This ship cost $300 million, but the original paint job was poorly done. What do you expect for that kind of money? It was designed by Philippe Starck. The ship's name? Call it the "A". Most either love and loath this unique ship design. The owner? It's Andrey Melnichenko. Size? It's a 394-foot mega-yacht.:

 

[TLCOhio]

On our morning before flying out of Auckland, we had a couple extra hours and visited their Auckland Art Gallery. Or, as known in the native Maori, the Toi o Tamaki. If you want to learn more on the history of Auckland, this is a great place to gain more background and insights. The gallery houses more than 15,000 works in its national and international collections. They show art through the ages since colonial times and give a good sampling for the history of the country. Their website: http://www.aucklandartgallery.com.

 

Best part? The admission is free! Not a large, large location/physical lay-out like the Met in NYC, Louvre in Paris or Hermitage in St. Petersburg. You can see most of the top highlights in 60-90 minutes. Worth a visit if you have the time.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Auckland’s Art Gallery is a mix of the new structure on the left and the older, more traditional building on the right side. The second picture shows how the ceiling of the new area is artfully crafted of wood to blend traditional aspects with more contemporary styles. Its location is handy and adjoins a large, scenic park area.:

 

 

 

 

 

First is one of the most loved paintings in its collection. Second shows the older, two-story gallery that has most of its collection focused on historic NZ, the Maori connections, etc. In my third picture, the guide is pointing out a round picture that is the oldest in their collection for NZ-done art. It dates back to the 1700's. Our guide in the tour noted that most of the paintings involving Maori history were fictional for how the actual events were depicted. Looked good, but not accurate, nor close. This museum had a great collection of portraits of Maori tribe leaders. We were not permitted to take any pictures in that area.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Essexlass2]

As always Terry, super lovely pics. I did see a kiwi bird whilst living in Auckland but must confess that it was in Auckland Zoo!

 

DH and I have now made a decision ........ we want to come with you on your next cruise!!! :eek::)

[Lastdance]

Thank you Terry for reminding me of the Milford Track in South Island, NZ. After the 34 mile trek, we ended up at Milford Sound for a wonderful 3 day stay. The food and the people were all wonderful, and the scenery was to die for...my DH and I plan to do a similar cruise in the next few years. Again, thanks so much for the memories. You would have absolutely loved the penguins and their a-frame bungalows. Enjoyed it all.

Thanks to your wonderful information and photos on the Baltic, that is the plan for June 2014...you are one in a million!!!:)

[jimbri]

I am so enjoying your review. My sons are visiting NZ now (not on a cruise) and I feel like I am there. They were in the North Island and flew to the South today. Thank you for taking me there :).

[TLCOhio]

I am so enjoying your review. My sons are visiting NZ now (not on a cruise) and I feel like I am there. They were in the North Island and flew to the South today. Thank you for taking me there.

 

Lastdance: Thank you Terry for reminding me of the Milford Track in South Island' date=' NZ. After the 34 mile trek, we ended up at Milford Sound for a wonderful 3 day stay. The food and the people were all wonderful, and the scenery was to die for...my DH and I plan to do a similar cruise in the next few years. Again, thanks so much for the memories. You would have absolutely loved the penguins and their a-frame bungalows. Enjoyed it all. Thanks to your wonderful information and photos on the Baltic, that is the plan for June 2014...[b']you are one in a million!!![/b]

 

Essexlass2: As always Terry' date=' super lovely pics. I did see a kiwi bird whilst living in Auckland but must confess that it was in Auckland Zoo! DH and I have now made a decision ........ [b']we want to come with you on your next cruise!!![/b]

 

Appreciate these nice comments and good background. YES, I would love to do a future cruise with our wonderful UK friend. Just let me have your credit card number and we can make ALL of the needed arrangements.

 

For jimbri, your son is lucky to be visiting NZ right now. Wonderful country, great people, so much to see and enjoy. Good luck to Lastdance for your planning on your upcoming down under travels.

 

Continuing my "catch-up" on picture postings, below are some visuals from our brief visit to Napier. Earlier, I had shared many details for what we did and loved at Cape Kidnappers with the gannets, our three-course lunch nearby, etc. This was the first visit of the Solstice to this port. From my research and talking with others who have visited here, the town of Napier is nice. But, I don't know that it would satisfy many's needs for doing a whole day here. It seems that the nearby wineries or Cape Kidnappers would be the top two destinations for this area.

 

Napier is popular with its concentration of 1930's Art Deco architecture. Most was built after so much of the city was destroyed in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 161,734 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Here are some visuals for what we saw in a limited time in Napier. Art Deco is the key phrase/description. The first picture is of the main newspaper building that is considered a "classic" for such design. The second visuals is of the dome tower atop a key downtown building on a pedestrian-only shopping street.:

 

 

 

 

 

This is a local merchant, the pharmacist, in his store. I talked with him, getting first-hand insights on their local economy, agriculture/tourism trends/successes, etc. The second picture is a ceramic logo design that is in the pavement in one of the shopping areas.:

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a couple more pictures reflecting the many buildings with the Art Deco design/style in Napier.:

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

Being home and having faster, free Internet access helps in preparing these follow-up posts. PLUS, being able to have time to examine carefully the many, many pictures from these various port stops allows a better chance to pick the "best of the best", making fine-tuning to improve visual quality, etc.

 

This posting is now over 30,500 views. Appreciate those who have dropped by, tuned in, made comments, asked questions, etc. Keep up the good involvement and interest. Don't be shy with any questions, expressions of interest, etc.

 

Today, it's Wellington!! The NZ national capital. It is the second largest urban area of New Zealand at the SW tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. The urban area has nearly 400,000 residents. The 2012 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Wellington 13th in the world and in 2011, Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011 named Wellington as fourth in its "Top 10 Cities to Visit" in the world. They call New Zealand's capital as the "coolest little capital in the world". Wellington takes its name the first Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), the famed victor of the Battle of Waterloo (1815).

 

European settlement began in 1839. Wellington became the capital city of New Zealand in 1865, replacing Auckland. That shift was driven by concerns that the more populated South Island (where the goldfields were located and creating huge wealth) would choose to form a separate colony in the British Empire. Wellington was picked because of its central location in New Zealand and good harbor. Wellington is the location of the highest court of New Zealand, the Supreme Court, plus the Parliament (with its beehive, round shape), the head offices of all Government Ministries and Departments and most foreign diplomatic missions. It is an important, growing center of New Zealand's film and theater industry, including with the technical operations for Peter Jackson and James Cameron.

 

Wellington displays a wide variety of architectural styles from the past 150 years. This includes 19th-century wooden cottages, Art Deco structures and curving/vibrant post-modern designs in the main business district. Old St Paul's (as shown in upcoming pictures) is an example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture adapted to colonial conditions and wooden materials.

 

Lots of shopping options in Wellington!! One area is focused around Cuba Street. It is named after an early (1840) settler ship to New Zealand. This street was closed to traffic in 1969 and is one of the busiest areas with many buildings of historic significance. This is one of the more "bohemian" areas of Wellington and home to an eclectic collection of cafes, boutique, fashion stores, art galleries and music shops.

 

The Museum of New Zealand or Te Papa is the NZ national museum and art gallery. The main Te Papa building is on the waterfront with six floors of exhibitions, cafés and gift shops. Yes, they have gift shops. So shocking!! The 387,000 square feet building cost NZ$300 million when opened in 1998. There has been controversy for having such a significant collections at the water's edge on reclaimed land next to one of the world's most active earthquake fault lines.

 

Much more to come on Wellington and its sights. But, off to a couple of meetings today. Still working, even on a holiday.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now over 134,037 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

We started out our day in Wellington by hooking up with an excellent cab driver for a mini-tour and introduction to this city. This included first going up to Mount Victoria for a great overview of the city and seeing many sights around town. First is an overview for this city from this great location on a wonderful weather day. Second is a sampling for the residential structures that climb up the hills all around this great, scenic harbor. Third is a view of the Wellington airport where the top movie/computer operations for Peter Jackson and James Cameron are working their magic for future film releases. Wellington is now the center for this type of film production in the world. There is also a closer view of the Te Papa museum shown below from this vantage point.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is our cab driver explaining more details, insights and background to my wife on Wellington, its people, housing areas, culture, etc. He has lived here since 1972 and has family heritage going back to Ireland. Very charming and honest!! Worked well as a "plan". Better than being on a big bus with a guide just playing back a long script of boring facts. Lots of chances to ask questions, learn more. Great way to start sampling this charming city. Second is an example for the many housing styles and character that makes this hilly town so nice and enjoyable.:

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

After seeing so much nature, wildlife and having intense port/bus travel during our three previous days, we wanted a change-of-pace in Wellington, NZ. We got "IT" and enjoyed the experience so much in what is the world's most southern capital city. Check it out. Wellington is the farthest south for any nation's capital in the world!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 161,734 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Cuba Street was an interesting area of Wellington to see and enjoy. It's on the "funky" side, but that made it fun and different. Below is one of the sign to mark this pedestrian-focused shopping area with lots of older, more historic buildings. Second is one of the friendly staff members in a shop there. The third picture shows one of the historic, older building, the trees, etc.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the foodies who like such dining "porn" visual samples, here was my dining delight when we had lunch on Cuba Street at Logan-Brown, 192 Cuba St. This classy place wins top honors and marks from TripAdvisor and in other ratings. We enjoyed lunch in this historic corner bank building with interesting architecture and art. Two of the couples in Central Ohio group were with us for this enjoyable lunch. Their website is: http://www.loganbrown.co.nz. :

 

 

 

Below are a couple of added views from the Wellington downtown reflecting the architecture and art variety, style, interest, beauty, etc. Nice mix and options here for shopping, dining, sampling. Their waterfront is nicely developed with many options there for things to do and see.:

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

As we completed our "tour" with our driver, we got a little sampling at and near their main government center. Below are some of those visuals, plus more!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

If Venice is one of your future desires or past favorites, you might look at this earlier posting that I did on the Italy board that shows many options and visual potentials for this city that is so great for "walking around", personally sampling the great history and architecture. This posting has now had 34,162 views and I appreciate those who have dropped by and tuned in.

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

 

 

This is the main government center for New Zealand, including on the left with its round, Beehive building. The Beehive was built in stages between 1969 and 1979. It is extensively decorated with New Zealand art. The top floor is occupied by the Cabinet room, with the Prime Minister's offices on the ninth floor. The Parliament is located next door in the middle building shown.:

 

 

 

This is Old St. Paul's church in Wellington. See, we did go to church on our trip! It is the former cathedral in the Diocese of Wellington for the Anglican Church. As an example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture, they adapted to colonial conditions and materials. It is at 34 Mulgrave Street, close to the New Zealand Parliament. Its construction was completed in June 1866. In 1964, the Diocese of Wellington moved to the new St Paul's Cathedral nearby. After a significant battle to prevent its demolition, Old St. Paul's was purchased by the New Zealand Government in 1967 and restored. Although not a parish church, it remains consecrated and is a popular for weddings, funerals and other services. It is constructed from native NZ timbers. The interior has been likened to the upturned hull of an Elizabethan galleon. As the second picture shows, it has exposed curving trusses and roof sacking. The flags displayed in the nave include the Royal Navy, NZ Merchant Navy and tUS Marine Corps. Many of our Marines were stationed in Wellington during World War II. My wife is in yellow walking down the center aisle as she absorb the building details. This was a very important and "moving" site to experience. :

 

 

 

 

 

In riding around in their downtown, here is a cute collection of flowers in front of one store in Wellington.:

 

 

 

Logging is BIG as reflected by our visits and dockings in most all of the NZ ports where the Solstice visited. Below are two examples for what we saw in Wellington. Most of these logs are on the way to China to be made into furniture and for other wood products. Extensive forests have been planted in the past one hundred plus years. Most are with the fast-growing Monterey Pine or Pinus radiate. These trees, thanks to the fertile volcanic soil in most NZ areas, grows at about three times the rate as happens in their native California regions. Big agriculture "crop" here! Fun to watch these being loaded. Took some video from our ship balcony to share this action with our 40-month-old grandson (who like such such trucks and loaders).:

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

One of the best options for visiting Wellington is to see the Te Papa National Museum. It has an art gallery, but the big focus is its native-related collection, plus its wonderful and scenic waterfront location.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Starting with its contemporary design, this Te Papa Museum is not a boring and/or average facility. And, the admission is FREE!! Such a deal! Well worth it, too. The second and third pictures below reflect some of its native Maori collection and emphasis.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This visuals shows in the center the large bones from a whale that hangs in this portion of its collection. The next picture is a massive squid that has bee preserved at this museum. The third picture has a more contemporary examples connected with NZ history.:

 

 

 

 

 

[cwtravel]

Terry-

How much was your mini tour in Wellington and did you arrange it at the Pier? Wellington is a port I plan on doing on our own when we visit next month on the Solstice.

 

Thanks,

Chris

[Beanb41]

Terry-

How much was your mini tour in Wellington and did you arrange it at the Pier? Wellington is a port I plan on doing on our own when we visit next month on the Solstice.

 

Thanks,

Chris

 

This link to the Wellington Forum of Trip Advisor may assist you in planning your day in Wellington. We put it together to assist those who wanted a "cheap day out" and still get a feel for the city.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g255115-i911-k4037599-Day_in_Wellington-Wellington_North_Island.html#29495520

 

Regards

[cwtravel]

This link to the Wellington Forum of Trip Advisor may assist you in planning your day in Wellington. We put it together to assist those who wanted a "cheap day out" and still get a feel for the city.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g255115-i911-k4037599-Day_in_Wellington-Wellington_North_Island.html#29495520

 

Regards

 

Great information, Thanks!

[TLCOhio]

Terry-How much was your mini tour in Wellington and did you arrange it at the Pier? Wellington is a port I plan on doing on our own when we visit next month on the Solstice. Thanks, Chris

 

Beanb41: This link to the Wellington Forum of Trip Advisor may assist you in planning your day in Wellington. We put it together to assist those who wanted a "cheap day out" and still get a feel for the city.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic....html#29495520

Regards

 

Appreciate the excellent question from Chris' date=' plus the super, added info provided from Beanb41 in Wellington. Hopefully my items from your hometown are correct and that you can see that we enjoyed our time in your national capital.

 

[b']Such a mini-tour runs about 65 NZD[/b], as I re-call. One of the key points is to talk with the cab driver, IN ADVANCE! Make sure that the driver, in this town or any other city where you would do this, has good skills in English and can carry on a decent conversation. Our driver had both, plus good Irish charm/character to add to the experience. AND, wonderful background and knowledge on NZS and his town.

 

Agree with Beanb41 that TripAdvisor can be a helpful resource in many different ways. Not all posters doing such ratings on this board or others are 100% accurate to match your needs, but, overall, it can provide some valuable insights, tips and ideas. Just use common sense, look at a wider sample than just one or two negative views about a hotel or dining place.

 

Below are just a few more visuals from Wellington to finish up a good sampling for what we saw and enjoy there. Clearly you can do and see much on your own without need of a ship or private tour. Much depends on what you seek, like and need. Its downtown is fairly compact. The rail/Cable Car option up to the Wellington Botanic Garden was very popular that day (with the crush of two big cruise liners in town this day). But, we passed on doing those options as taking too much time to stand in line, etc. Understand the Wellington Botanic Garden is very, very nice.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Super loved Dubrovnik!!! See more details and lots of great visual samples/examples at this link. Have had over 20,557 views on this posting and appreciate those who have tuned-in and dropped by.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

 

 

Here are another two interior views/samples from the Te Papa Museum, including these that feature Maori-related items on display there.:

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of shopping in Wellington. Many of the usual international "names" or suspects are there, as expected. Kirkcaldie & Stains, as shown below, is the prime local department store with its community connections. If you have money to spend and credit card miles to be obtained, this NZ town can accommodate your spending desires.:

 

 

 

Here is another angle on a residential area from this upscale part of Wellington to the east of its main downtown. It is called Oriental Bay. Nice, classy area!! If picking an area to live in Wellington, this would be one of my top choices.:

 

 

 

While in Wellington, we saw this special promo for McDonald's that offers something very different than anything we get to eat here in the U.S. Looks interesting!!??:

 

[Beanb41]

The Kiwi Legend is a "Georgie Pie" which was a very popular fast food about 30 years ago. The Georgie Pie chain was bought out by McDonalds and promptly closed down. Under the terms of the sale agreement the chain could be restarted again if McDonalds didn't bring back the "Georgie Pie" Hence they were forced to do so if somewhat reluctantly. Very expensive companred to other mince and cheese pies and only average in quality.

[TLCOhio]

The Kiwi Legend is a "Georgie Pie" which was a very popular fast food about 30 years ago. The Georgie Pie chain was bought out by McDonalds and promptly closed down. Under the terms of the sale agreement the chain could be restarted again if McDonalds didn't bring back the "Georgie Pie" Hence they were forced to do so if somewhat reluctantly. Very expensive companred to other mince and cheese pies and only average in quality.

 

Appreciate the above information from our friend in Wellington. Good background for why McDonald's was making such an offer while we visited your national capital. Not surprised that something from McDonald's looks better in an ad than its quality and taste in real life.

 

To continue my updates from our New Zealand adventures, here is more on Akaroa, its wonderful/scenic harbor and the history from when the captain of the French whaler first sailed into the area in the 1830's. France was thinking about the possibilities for colonization. The deep water could be a great port. Plus, the timbered hills and climate were attractive. The French were also concerned the British might gain control in these South Island ports to threaten their whaling operations. Whale blubber create oil used to light the streets of Paris and other cities. The North Island was already well populated by the English, requiring action if the South Island was to become a French colony.

 

This French captain felt that Akaroa would make an excellent base and began forming plans to take the South Island for France. He obtained signatures from 12 local Maori leaders and bought most of Banks Peninsula. But, by the time the French captain returned, the Treaty of Waitangi had been signed between the Maori Chieftains and the British at the Bay of Islands. Some French settlement happened, but this area became part of the UK-controlled region.

 

Our Solstice had to tender here and that is part of the "challenge". Getting to Christchurch and its nearby port has been slow and delayed. For 2015, ships will be still be visiting here. As the pictures below show, it is an attractive area. Cute town with nice shops and enjoyable architecture. BUT, it takes time to twist around to get up from this small, cute town to nearby attractions as we did during our port visit. From here, we did the Tranz Alpine rail trip to the Southern Alps and then an exciting JetBoat ride was detailed on post #142 on Jan. 28 on this live/blog. Next, I will share more on this Tranz Alpine trip, what we saw and did, etc. Some in our group did a sheep ranch visit after the Tranz Alpine rail trip.

 

Many in the area had hope Akaroa's use for tendering would be more temporary. Why? It takes so much more time to get from Akaroa to their sites than when ships could dock nearby to Christchurch. We super enjoyed our visit here, but I can understand these "logistical" issues and questions that makes it harder for visitors to do as much here as folks would desire.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now over 134,205 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

These four pictures gives a sampling for Akaroa, its scenic harbor and nearby areas. BUT, it takes time to get out of here, including to navigate the twisting, slow roads. And, getting back, too!! Notice the "truth-in-advertising" sign about the many "S-curves" ahead. The fourth picture was taken as we were sailing out after an enjoyable day in this region. Lots of visual interest and NZ natural charm in this region.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

Here is part one of the visuals from our Tranz Alpine Rail adventure to Southern Alps. This was done through the cruise ship as the logistics do not work for making your own arrangements to go to Christchurch by catching the train there. Was it worth it? Yes!! As you can see, we had a nice day, enjoyed the trip, seeing the sights, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

The train is pulled by a colorful KiwiRail engine as shown below. I made a video at the start of our trip for our grandson who loves anything connected with trains. Second are John and Susan from our Central Ohio group enjoying the inside of the passenger car. Third is the place setting for the tea and food that was served on the train.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are three visual samples for some of what we saw and enjoyed along this route as we moved from the initial, flatter Canterbury Plains in moving towards the dramatic scenes in and around these Southern Alps of NZ's South Island. Notice one of the many tunnels and bridges needed to make this rail route to the western coast work? Not an easy route to engineer, build and maintain.:

 

 

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

Here is the second part of my visuals from riding on the Tranz Alpine rail trip to the NZ Southern Alps.

 

Regarded by train lovers to be one of the world's great rail journeys for its scenery, the total journey could be 139 miles one-way, taking about four and a half hours. There are 19 tunnels and four viaducts, with the Staircase Viaduct being 240 feet high. For us, it was about a two-hour ride from the Rolleston Station, where we boarded, to Arthur's Pass in the middle of the National Park by that name, where we got off. It was at that point that we switched back to our bus and the trip to Springfield for lunch and the JetBoat ride. For the others, they headed towards the Homebush Station historic Victorian farm, built by one of the region’s founding families, with its sheep, dogs for herding, etc.

 

From:

http://www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz/tranzalpine/

you can see a nice video and gain added info on this train, its route, etc.

 

Arthur's Pass National Park was established in 1929, the first national park in the South Island and the third in New Zealand. Arthur's Pass village and its mountain crossing point are at a height of 3,018 feet above sea level. The eastern side we saw is mostly drier and consists of beech forest and wide riverbeds. The western side contains dense rainforest. Much of this geography was formed by ancient glacial action, forming flat bottomed U-shaped valleys. In the middle is a high range, consisting of large snow covered peaks and scree slopes, as per Wikipedia.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

First is one of my visuals that gives a little sampling for the spectacular Waimakariri River gorge. Great "drama" in this aspect of the trip, especially with the blue waters that we would later travel "up-close-and-personal" via a JetBoat trip.:

 

 

 

This second picture gives an idea for the view from the outdoor viewing platform near the front of this train. It had a covered roof but open sides to create an ideal location to take photos from the train. No photo glare from trying to shoot through a window. I spent most the time through the mountains in this location.:

 

 

 

Yes, there was snow on some of the mountain tops in this part of NZ, even during the summer time. The blue water are part of scenic nature for this park and its nearby area. The mix of steep gorges and wide braided rivers straddle the main divide. Below are three more visual samples from here and captured during our late January 2014 trip.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Beanb41]

This trip when the snow is all around is really out of this world from a scenic perspective.

[TLCOhio]

This trip when the snow is all around is really out of this world from a scenic perspective.

 

Appreciate this above excellent insight, tip about the potential beauty to be seen on the Tranz Alpine rail during during the colder, winter period. I have seen some pictures for that time period and it looks great!! Personally, we were happy to be there during the warmer, summer NZ period.

 

This live/blog is now over 32,000 views. Glad so many have shown interest, posted questions and comments, etc. Am posting below the first part for one of the best aspects on this cruise. It was the journey into Milford Sound and the Fjordland National Park. As shown, it was rainy. We found out later, it was in serious questions, coming off of the very rocky Tasman Sea, if the Captain would be able to sail into Milford Sound that morning. We made it and my wife was very happy to get out of those very, very rough seas we had the day and evening prior.

 

Hopefully this upcoming series of visuals proves that we made a very wise decision to do this overnight excursion. We missed seeing some other nice areas (as the weather cleared much after Milford Sound). BUT, this in-depth sample of NZ's South Island proves highly interesting and enjoyable. And our guide for our group, John Wellington, was super. He did a great job over those two full days traveling with him.

 

Below I mention about seeing waterfalls. I made the comment that the number of total waterfalls we saw this day was . . . COUNTLESS!! Yes, very true. Pictures are nice, but seeing sense many wonders of nature in person was so amazing. And, hearing them, too!! Loud and fast!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 162,070 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Going into Milford Sound on the Solstice, first, here is the view from our balcony on the tenth floor. We did not like the overcast skies and rain, but it added to the “drama” with the huge number of waterfalls in this area. In the third picture, my wife is checking out this great sights from our balcony early this morning.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some more examples of the huge waterfall action that day, plus the Solstice sailing away in the fjords after we had departed this ship to head towards Queenstown and more adventure/fun on the NZ South Island.:

 

 

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

About 180-190 of those on the Solstice took this overnight excursion to Queenstown. Four buses of folks. Not a cheap trip or option. But, very well worth it, based on our late Jan. 2014 experiences. Hopefully, these pictures will communicate and reflect that "value" and the benefits to seeing this scenic part of New Zealand. Another option for experiencing Queenstown and the area is to do this region either prior to or after your cruise. Flying down from Auckland is only a little less than a two-hour jet ride.

 

After visiting a rainforest and Mirror Lakes, we had a good lunch at a small town overlooking Lake Te Anau. This lake is in the southwestern corner of NZ's South Island and was originally named Te Ana-au, Maori for 'The cave of swirling water'. The lake covers an area of 133 square miles, making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand (after Lake Taupo) and the largest in the South Island. Lake Te Anau is however the largest lake in Australasia by fresh water volume. The main body of the lake runs north-south and is 40.3 miles in length. Three large fiords form arms to the lake on its western flank. These are the only inland Fiords that New Zealand has. The other 14 fjords are out on the coast. The lake lies at an altitude of 689 feet. Since its maximum depth is 1368', much of its bed lies below sea level. Most of the lake is within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. The area is a mix of rolling hill country and mountainous regions, especially along its western shore.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Our first stop after getting off of the Solstice and boarding our bus was a major rainforest areas in the Fiordlands National Park. Amazing site and stop!! Yes, there was some rain that morning. But, here are some facts to consider. In the Milford Sound area, they get an average of 23 feet (that's right FEET) of rain each year. At times, it might go as high as 46' yearly. That means most ever day gets some rain as the churning Tasman sea air loaded with moisture hits these South Island mountains. By sharp contrast, just 25 miles away (across the mountains), Queenstown averages only 30 inches of rain annually. Big difference!!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more water/forest sights, including lots of ferns, moss, etc., that grow fast here given the massive amount of rain received in this region. Second is this bird that we encountered at a dramatic mountain/waterfall setting on the other side of the key tunnel used to access this remote area. The bird is a Kea or mountain parrot, as I recall. These bird can be playful, intelligent and rather creative/damaging!!: