Our last big huzzah
So I'm finally getting around to posting about our last big vacation before we started trying to have a baby. We went to Australia and New Zealand in September. We had quite the adventure. We didn't plan everything very well, but the best part was unplanned anyway. We started out flying to the West coast and met up with Randy while waiting for our flight out. We flew Air New Zealand to Brisbane. I have to say that was the best, most comfortable flight we've ever flown. I was almost sad it was over. Roomy, comfortable seats, great entertainment, great service, great food and a wide selection of free wine. Just saw a little of Brisbane our first day and headed to an aquarium and the Australia Zoo. The day we landed was fantastic weather, but most of our trip was rainy/overcast and a bit cool. Nothing we could do about that though. The zoo was great and we didn't get to see all of it. We then drove north to what was supposed to be the main point of our Australia trip - a resort stay on an island. We had to take a half hour catamaran ride in the rain and 10-ft seas to get there. I was pretty green by the time we got to shore. The resort was OK, we only spent about an hour on a beach our last day there since it was mostly rainy the whole time. At least we went hiking, saw some cool wildlife, did some archery, ate coconuts, and played with the lorikeets. We had planned to see the Great Barrier Reef while we were on the island, which we saw barely any of because of the weather. On our drive back to Brisbane, we planned to stop somewhere we could take a day trip out to a coral island, but when we got there, we found out they don't do day trips! Someone at the Australia Zoo recommended that we go to the Town of 1770 (where James Cook landed in that year), where we could do a day trip out to a coral island, which is what we ended up doing our last day in Australia. It was fantastic! On the way out, we saw humpback whales. The island was fascinating. I got to hold a sea cucumber. We did some snorkeling, had a buffet lunch they prepared and then went for an introductory scuba dive. This was my second try and this time I wasn't panicking. It was wonderful to see the reef. It's so sad to think its disappearing.
http://picasaweb.google.com/CBackesFence/AustraliaSeptember2007
Next we flew to Wellington, New Zealand where we stayed in a B&B that was designed like a lighthouse! Next was a B&B designed like a castle tower - called The Keep. Both owned and designed by the same guy. They were the best places we've ever stayed. We of course had to do a Lord of the Rings tour while we were there. It was interesting to see what the filming sites look like. Wellington is at the south of the north island. We had intended to take a ferry to the south island, spend a night, and drive around a little. When we found out it would cost about $500 just to take the ferry, we decided to stay another day in Wellington and drive along the coast. We drove as far as we could and saw a fur seal colony and beautiful black sand beaches. If it was clear, we may have been able to see Antarctica... I can't forget to mention all the sheep! There are about 10 sheep to every person in NZ. They're everywhere!!! And they're so cute. Next we took a train from Wellington to Auckland to see more of the landscape. About a couple of hours into the trip they announce that there was a rare de-railing of the south-bound train, so they were bussing them to the halfway mark and we'd get bussed up to Auckland. Oh well. We didn't spend too much time in Auckland, but instead rented a car and drove around the area as much as we could. Again it was raining, but we saw as much as we could. We ended the day on an extinct volcano that was used as a fortress.
http://picasaweb.google.com/CBackesFence/NewZealandSeptember2007
Finally we flew from Auckland back to San Francisco and met up with some friends. It was a great way to end our vacation. Unfortunately the flight back to Philly was the most unpleasant flight I've ever had - overnight flight with a little yipping dog that wouldn't shut-up, plus some rather unpleasant turbulence... Ah, but we'll never forget it. :)
http://picasaweb.google.com/CBackesFence/SFBayAreaVisitSeptember2007
http://picasaweb.google.com/CBackesFence/AustraliaSeptember2007
Next we flew to Wellington, New Zealand where we stayed in a B&B that was designed like a lighthouse! Next was a B&B designed like a castle tower - called The Keep. Both owned and designed by the same guy. They were the best places we've ever stayed. We of course had to do a Lord of the Rings tour while we were there. It was interesting to see what the filming sites look like. Wellington is at the south of the north island. We had intended to take a ferry to the south island, spend a night, and drive around a little. When we found out it would cost about $500 just to take the ferry, we decided to stay another day in Wellington and drive along the coast. We drove as far as we could and saw a fur seal colony and beautiful black sand beaches. If it was clear, we may have been able to see Antarctica... I can't forget to mention all the sheep! There are about 10 sheep to every person in NZ. They're everywhere!!! And they're so cute. Next we took a train from Wellington to Auckland to see more of the landscape. About a couple of hours into the trip they announce that there was a rare de-railing of the south-bound train, so they were bussing them to the halfway mark and we'd get bussed up to Auckland. Oh well. We didn't spend too much time in Auckland, but instead rented a car and drove around the area as much as we could. Again it was raining, but we saw as much as we could. We ended the day on an extinct volcano that was used as a fortress.
http://picasaweb.google.com/CBackesFence/NewZealandSeptember2007
Finally we flew from Auckland back to San Francisco and met up with some friends. It was a great way to end our vacation. Unfortunately the flight back to Philly was the most unpleasant flight I've ever had - overnight flight with a little yipping dog that wouldn't shut-up, plus some rather unpleasant turbulence... Ah, but we'll never forget it. :)
http://picasaweb.google.com/CBackesFence/SFBayAreaVisitSeptember2007