Milford Sound, New Zealand

After a day at sea we are approaching Milford sound at 7 a.m. in the morning it is raining first impression is that Rihanna back and has appears of Norway with rapidly rising huge mountains and narrow waterways which would mean the same characteristic as the Fjords in Norway with very deep channels for the shipdto go up. We were also told last night that be yours in South America as you go towards and article are also very majestic like pigs the difference at this point with these years in Milford sound and Norway is no snow on the top of these at least that I can see now

 

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

We had a very interesting day in Hobart awaking in Port to see thousands of logs timber that are waiting to be unloaded onto shift bound for China Japan. We left the ship about 11 to go to the adjoining information building which was servicing both hardship and celebrity solstice that arrived earlier in the morning. From there we walked to the Information Center to get tickets for the hop on hop off bus which we didn’t road for about 2 hours as it was slow stop a lot and very hot up top. We went through the commercial area and along the marina and Bay and Harbor which is the second largest Harbor Bay in the southern hemisphere Rio de Janeiro being larger we saw the small businesses in the commercial areas of Hobart and it is a very beautiful quaint both old and new town with the foothills and mountains coming right down to the waters edge in locations mini very expensive homes both older and new on the hillside overlooking the bay and the Tasman see. We came back through the CBD known as the central business district and then got off and walked back to the ship for a late lunch. Then later in the afternoon all day and I walked to the Salamanca Salamanca which is a street full of restaurants and bars very very pretty very European looking and right past the park called Parliament Park very beautiful.  Hobart is a city of 200000 and very interesting and that for many years has used the lumber industry as their basic source of economy it has since run to include a university and a large medical facility and serves as the capital city or the state have passed mania.   I suggest and that visitors to a heart first go to the Information Center and look at the vendors and displays then take the 20 minute walk along the bay and along the marina to the Information Center and then if interested in more than just the immediate downtown area take the hop on hop off bus which is a reasonable fair of about $30 a day

 

 

Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

Port Arthur is a most historical town just to the north of Hobart, the

capital of Tasmania. As we approached the bay of Port Arthur it became very

obvious that this area was incredibly heavy wooded….which started to

verify that 90% of Tasmania is wooded…..

  1. The Bay is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and was

discovered in the early 1800’s for its timber…and in 1930 became a timber

outpost for Australia , 2. Needing workers, the Australian government in

cooperation with the local business people in the lumber business, decided

to bring convicts to the area as laborers…and in 1833 created a

Penitentiary for convicts that then became the labor force. It grew from

there for the next 40 years….thus the current ruins and remains of the

original town as well as the small current town, Carnarveron,Tasmania, Australia.

  1. The Ship docked in the bay and we got on the Ship Tenders to go ashore…and

this entire procedure was orderly and well done…with about a 12-15 minute

ride in to the dock. From the dock it is easy to go to the Visitors Center

and from there take a leisurely 2 or 3 hour walk around all of the buildings

which have been renovated and modernized as much as possible, still making

it a kind of museum…

  1. The detailed history of Port Arthur is well documented, and info on the

prison, the prisoners, and their work and activity is well presented. Very

well done.

  1. Included in the Ship package was the 25 minute boat tours around the

Bay…where you can see where the Boys prison was, as well as the Island of

the Dead, which was their cemetery.

  1. This is a great one day stop…..just enough time to see this beautiful

area.

  1. In summary, so far Tasmania has been a must see spot if you enjoy natural

beauty  with mountains, beaches, wooded areas, and little towns right down

to the waters edge….one of those best kept secrets.

  1. Another factor about Tasmania is that it is one of the southern most

points before you get to Antarctica. I am told the part of Antarctica that is

easiest to reach is from South America….but if you look at the world map

you can see that Tasmania is almost as far south. One of the slogans in

Burney was “welcome to the edge of the World”…..and seems to be true. But,

also one of the most beautiful that we have seen in that you have the

feeling of the tropical areas along with the mountains and the trees…

We are in Hobart now….which is about a 2 hour ship journey south from Port

Arthur. Gorgeous wooded mountains coming right down to the city of Hobart,

which has 200,000 people….and as I write I am looking out on acres of

labeled logs ready to go on ships for export. Probably 500 containers here

either filled or empty but extremely well organized and all seem to be in

order. We will spend 2 days here…should be interesting.

All for now,

Burnie, Tasmania, Australia

Burnie was our first stop in Tasmania..and as we approached the island in the early morning we saw a very beautiful green colored area…and as we approached the port…we saw the evidence of a huge timber-lumber industry…..as we docked we were next to a huge wood chip pile….with huge conveyor belts and loading cranes….and even though it was a Sunday….obvious that this is a big port for lumber. We were told we could take a shuttle from the ship to the three stops downtown….and we got on one to the downtown area. Very beautiful small town of 20,000….that has some very impressive exports, such as opium for the medical industry. (Morphine)….largest poppy growing area in the Southern Hemisphere, etc….

the first stop was the Makers market, which, in essence, means an indoor museum where there is some artisans, etc…and a large visitors center….very impressive. From there to stop #2 is a 5 minute bus ride, or you can walk the boardwalk….about a 15 minute walk to stop #3 areas, which is in the downtown. Even on Sunday, some very nice small shops in the old town area…..very attractive area.

Stop #2 has a very fine museum, and we were fortunate to see the National Geographic photo display which the city of Burnie now owns. We had an hour there…very impressive.

So, in summary…

  1. A small town with some great leadership that has compensated for the loss of 3 main industries….by taking advantage of tourism.
  2. Great weather with a low temperatures of 40 degrees….lots of tropical growth….beautiful beach area.
  3. A good example of a small town that is very pleased to be part of the tourism industry…with about 35 cruise ships coming in during the year.
  4. Population has remained constant….replacing the 3 larger industries with small businesses.
  5. The three industries that left…Caterpillar to Indonesia; Chemical company that polluted the ocean beaches to a red color…..closed…. And the lumber mill, which is now a wood chip operation, in that 80% of the island is wooded.
  6. Shuttle bus service is excellent….very friendly and helpful and many around the port and the city to help with answers and tourist tips. The Makers Market info booth is outstanding, with some very nice displays.
  7. Tasmania is a very unique area that has survived as a thriving smaller city in a world wide industry…

 

 

 

Cairns…day #2

The 2nd full day was remarkable, and a day to remember. After last night and the heavy rains and our finding a place to eat when we found that the Casino Restaurant was closed due to a power outage….that went back on an hour later…and we finally enjoyed our great sandwich. We got back to the hotel and early to bed in view of the early pick up for our Saturday day.

Saturday started off with a pickup at 7:20 AM…for the bus ride to the train station to take the Kuranda Classic Train up the mountain to the Rain Forest. To describe the details of the day…are just too many….and will summarize, but the essence is……”if you ever come to Australia and have the chance to go to Cairns……then today is a MUST.” What a day!

1. The train is an old vintage train completely updated….and is made up of about 10 cars. The trip up the mountain is on a one way rail….and within a few minutes the train starts through the tunnels and over the bridges as we climb into the Rain Forest. 2. The trip is filled with unbelievable photo shots, as this is land that is only accessible by the train. A lot of history in how they built the railroad…..years of amazing work and engineering. 3. The ride is about 2 hours with one photo stop over the river and falls….the views are unbelievable ….clearly a once in a lifetime experience

 

2. When you arrive in Kuranda Village…this is an original “hippie” kind of art town….but over the last few years has become a tourist center. It is a small village, with mainly tourist shops, etc….very fun to walk around and see the shops, especially the little “hippie” looking shops…very cute and unusual,…and the newer shops and the Kuranda Market is very nice….and quite “touristy”…….but well worth the time. A very attractive “village” in this gorgeous tropical setting.

3. We then boarded a bus and drove a few miles to the RainForest Nature Park for a delicious BBQ lunch. Very well done….a private facility that is extremely interesting and really designed to give visitors a good understanding of the Rain Forest…..and it is a real one…one of the largest in the World…and a first for us. After lunch, which was a full dinner, we went to the Army Duck area…and these are WW II Army ducks used by the Army in the war. We were able to get a seat up front…and for an hour, we drove through the Rain Forst…on land and into the water. Just a wonderful time with an outstanding driver and speaker and tour leader,,….originally from Canada with an art degree who had taught school before moving here. She was great….very knowledgeable and really able to drive the Duck…..kind of amazing. The Rain Forest  has to be seen to really be appreciated….certainly nothing like we had ever seen.

4. The next part of the afternoon was a very amazing dance show…..and then a very well done Dreamtime walk….with exhibits, etc…..all done by the dancers. Really fun….and enjoyed by all. We then had a guided tour of their “zoo”…..first had look and touch area for kangaroos…and then real close up of Koala, a dingo, and a wambot. Very well done…fun, and most interesting. Very obvious that their employees really enjoy their jobs….extremely well informed and very communicative…..just a real enjoyment.

5. We then boarded the bus and headed to the Kuranda Skyrail. This is a huge lift that stretches up and down the mountain for about 10 miles….and takes you from the top of the mountain down to the bottom….very exciting as we rode in 6 seat enclosed cabins…and Audy got a bit nervous when the cable cars stopped for a few minutes, as we are literally hundreds of feet about the Rain Forest below….nothing like it and another first for us. The Cable Car has two stops where you can get off and see some exhibits….just a great and exciting ride down the mountain …a bit exciting but safe…going over the forest and rivers below that you can only see from the lift.

Back to the hotel by 6….an incredible day….enjoyed by all and a MUST for anyone traveling in or near Cairns. Too tired for dinner…but worth it all. Just a GREAT DAY.

Off to the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow…..what a place.