Radhika and I decided to take a trip “down under” to Oceania, the official name of the sixth continent we’ve visited.
Besides Australia and New Zealand, it’s home to such destinations as Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Fiji, Guam, American Samoa and about 20 other island groups you may or may not be familiar with.
It’s about a fifteen-hour, southwesterly, overnight nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. We highly recommend business class accommodation if you can swing it so you can get a decent night’s sleep, ready to attack this beautiful city upon arrival.
After checking in to the lovely Sydney Intercontinental Hotel, located in the downtown area proximate to the famous Sydney Opera House, local restaurants, and stunning views of Sydney Harbour; we took a leisurely walk through just a portion of the immense yet intimately walking friendly Botanical Gardens. It’s summer there in January, so it’s warm (about 80 degrees) and humid, so an hour felt like two…
At dusk, we went up to the picturesque rooftop bar Aster, for a cocktail (or two) and took in the breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and all that surrounds it.
A short walk to MuMu for dinner, a local Pan Asian hotspot that did not disappoint, with its colorful open floor plan, live DJ, tasty small plates and creative adult beverages, it felt like a really perfect first day.
The following afternoon, we boarded the beautiful Celebrity EDGE cruise ship, our home for the next twelve nights. It takes two sea days to get from Sydney southeast through the Tasman Sea (The Ditch, as locals call it) until we arrived in New Zealand.
Our first port was Milford Sound and for those of us who signed up for this Celebrity excursion, this was our disembarking location for an overnight stay on land.
Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins, and dolphins. Like most of the e world’s great locations, you must see it live to appreciate its unique beauty. Every head turn is a WOW moment which reminded me of how Switzerland impacted me years ago.
We had a delicious lunch at The Ranch before making our way to our overnight destination of Queenstown, a coastal vacation spot that’s dotted with quaint boutiques, pubs, and dining. We boarded a working steam engine riverboat that took us down to the Walter Peak High Country Sheep and Cattle Farm for a good old-fashioned barbecue, followed by a sheep shearing and sheep herding demonstration that was fun and informative.
The following morning, it was off to Gibbston Valley Winery for our first visit to a New Zealand wine producer. In their beautiful wine cave, we enjoyed a sampling that included their Pinot Gris, Rose of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and late harvest Pinot Gris, all delightful.
We then headed over to Kawarau Bridge, the world’s first commercial bungee jumping facility to watch others jump off a perfectly good bridge!
More exquisite scenery led us to The Packing Shed for a memorable garden lunch. From the manicured lawn to the farm-to-table buffet, their friendly staff and the stellar weather made this a meal to remember. Back on our coach to the Pacific Ocean coastal city of Dunedin, an almost exact replica of Edinburgh in Scotland. With its Gothic architecture and old world charm, it warmly finished off an excursion that we’ll not soon forget.
The following morning, our excursion took us to Waiheke Island, a 45-minute ferry boat ride off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand. Waiheke is a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and pristine beaches. It’ll remind you visually of Hawaii, but I’ve never sipped world class wines on Kauai or Maui!
We hired a tour operator through Viator, and were greeted by Grant Kidd, Founder & self-proclaimed “Fun Facilitator” of Waivino Wine Tours. After a brief walk-about in town, we joined up with fellow passengers from Britain, for a lovely drive in the hills of Waiheke, taking in the views, vistas, lushness and serenity of this tropical paradise.
Off to three boutique wineries, all producing fine wines from such grapes as Viognier, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and the most popular local grape, Syrah. We had a fabulous late lunch at the final vineyard, Passage Rock, before ferrying back to Auckland to board our vessel. There is no doubt that Waiheke Island breaks into my Top Ten list of top-visited worldwide destinations.
The next day in paradise as they say…we docked in Tauranga, a harborside city in the Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand’s North Island. Our driver took us through gorgeous countryside and farm country about an hour away to Lake Rotoiti, rich with thermal hot-spring baths on the southern shore which are accessible only by boat.
We were met by Captain Matt, owner of Pure Cruise, who takes small groups out on his unique boat made from a vintage American Airstream travel trailer. Amazing!
We got to wade in natural thermal pools in the lake that bubble up to the surface and provide different temperature experiences from cool to occasionally too hot to handle.
The lake is dotted with beautiful black swans, and a serene, scenic coastline, perfect for water sports in the summer months. An almost magical location. New Zealand just never ceases to amaze and impress!
Our final port was the Bay of Islands, a New Zealand enclave encompassing more than 140 subtropical islands next to the country’s North Island. It’s known for its undeveloped beaches, big-game fishing, and Māori cultural artefacts. It’s also home to the 19th-century whaling port of Russell, whose waterfront is lined with remnants from its days as the country’s first colonial capital. We enjoyed a Sunday morning craft fair, other local shopping followed by treating ourselves to a helicopter ride over many of the islands. So much fun!
After two more days crossing back across “The Ditch”, we returned to Sydney to explore this beautiful city. First some background…
Aboriginal Australians have inhabited the Sydney region for at least 30,000 years, and Aboriginal engravings and cultural sites are common in the Sydney area.
The modern history of the city began with the arrival of a First Fleet of British ships in 1788 and the foundation of a penal colony by Great Britain. In 1901, the Australian colonies federated to become the Commonwealth of Australia, and Sydney became the capital of the state of New South Wales. Sydney today is Australia’s largest city and a major international center of culture and finance. The city has played host to numerous international events, including the 2000 Summer Olympics.
We chose the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour as our way to get an overview of the cityscape, its architecture, its people and the surrounding neighborhoods.
After a brief lunch in Bondi Beach, one of the coolest beach areas anywhere, we headed back downtown for some afternoon shopping at David Jones, a wonderful department store that has incredible inventory and world class customer service.
Dinner was simply exquisite as we took the advice of friends and dined at Cafe Sydney which offers amazing views of Sydney Harbour, a cool vibe and delicious seafood!
Our second full day back in Sydney was about visiting with family and friends.
January 26th is Australia Day, the national holiday of the country, like July 4th in the U.S., celebrating the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1770, led by Lieutenant James Cook who was on a voyage to find new land for the British Crown.
After cleaning up for dinner, we were picked up by local friends for a scenic drive around the most beautiful neighborhoods of Sydney, where homes with breathtaking views can fetch upwards of $30 million dollars.
Our final full day in Sydney was a pleasant, relaxing one exploring more of the sights and sounds of this wonderful city. We headed straight for the weekly Saturday Rocks Market in The Rocks, a neighborhood of historic winding streets in the shadow of Sydney Harbour Bridge. Locals and tourists mingle at the open-air Rocks Markets, purchasing street food, handmade jewelry, and fashions. The area has some of Sydney’s oldest pubs and many of the upscale restaurants have Harbour views. The Museum of Contemporary Art offers local and international exhibits. Buskers or street performers share their talents along the busy harbourfront promenade. We did some damage here as there are so many talented and creative people selling their creative wares.
We had a nice lunch at Fortune of War, Sydney’s oldest pub, established in 1828. Then it was off to Manly Beach via ferry. The world’s first surfing contest was held at Manly in 1964, making it one of Australia’s most famous beaches. After an afternoon rest, we headed to
Mr. Wong, a Chinese restaurant, which has earned Two Hats from the Good Food Guide in 2023, Australia’s equivalent to the Michelin Guide.
Aussies and Kiwis are wonderfully friendly, kind, and hospitable people. The region is spectacularly beautiful, extremely safe, and so affordable for Americans as the exchange rate saves us about a third on every transaction. We hope you get “down under” sometime soon.
