Blogs from Northern Beaches, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, Oceania - page 2

And so to the last day of our short break! With a little bit of time to fill in this morning before our flight back to Melbourne this afternoon, we headed off to the Cairns Zoo. We watched the pelicans being fed before heading to the Free-flight Bird Show. As we waited for the show to start there was a short shower of rain. After five days of glorious weather it looked like taking a bit of a turn for the worse. Fortunately, just before show time, the rain stopped. The show included Australia’s largest raptor, the Wedge-tailed Eagle and the White-bellied Sea Eagle that is common in Northern Australia. We also saw a Barn Owl, some cockatoos and a very clever magpie. With our cameras on motor-drive Bernie even managed to take a reasonable shot ... read more

Friday June 22nd - Fly Cairns to Auckland, arriving in Auckland late afternoon and staying at Auckland Harbour Oaks apartments. Dinner from Sarge's piecart in Britomart: img=https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/403879_302457429804685_100001212921628_893834_2066667579_n.jpg Saturday June 23rd - Breakfast (and foraging for supplies for dinner) at the Farmer's Markets in Britomart. Yum Cha Lunch at Grand Harbour Chinese Restaurant. Sunday June 24th - Cruise to Waiheke Island, picnic lunch of provisions gathered at the markets the previous day. img=http://www.fullers.co.nz/des... read more

We'd arranged the previous night for Chris to pick Tux and I up at 9am to take us to the airport to pick up the hire car. Chris arrived early at about 8.35, which in the end was fortuitous. The booking sheet via Carhire3000 said the car was being hired from National and to pick up from International Airport not domestic. Having gone round the International Airport a number of times and not being able to see any sign of National or anyone to speak to (aparently very few international flights that day) we drove over to the domestic terminal where we bumped into a Eurocars man. He said National brand had died many years ago but was now part of Eurocars. He directed us into the terminal where we finally found someone who knew about ... read more

I got a call from Stephanie and Tux about 7.30 asking me if I wanted to go to Victoria Market. I quickly got dressed and we took a taxi up to Melbourne's largest market. Wonderful selection of fish, meat and veg as well as usual tat items. Couldn't get taxi back so had to walk but just got back in time to have breakfast with others. Then spent the morning all exploring the city before Eryl had her highlight (her description!) of the whole 5 weeks - the tour to the set of Neighbour, with Stephanie, Samantha & Michael. Tux and I took the free tram to explore other parts of the city. Highlight was a tour of the MCG. That evening we met up with OFs at PJ O'Briens. A couple had dropped out at ... read more

Arrived in Melbourne 4 hours late, but car was there to pick us up. Took about 30 minutes to our hotel which was very well located next to tallest building. Travelodge room was a bit of a come down from suite at YMCA in Hong Kong. All had a shower and then I wandered out to explore local parts of Melbourne, while Samantha and Eryl had a sleep. Stephanie and Tux meanwhile met up with Tux's cousin, initially in Melbourne and then they took them out to their house near Geelong. Michael also slept all afternoon. That evening Eryl, Samantha, Michael and I went out to an Italian for a meal and then an early night. Stephanie and Tux got in about 9.30... read more