Day 56 - Brisbane, Australia

Saturday 3rd March 2018

Brisbane, the third largest Australian City, has a fascinating mix of parks, monuments and treasured 19th century buildings. The Brisbane River runs right through the heart of the city and offers a tranquil way to view the sights.  The city enjoys a sub-tropical climate is a major shopping centre and is close to some of Australias best beaches and  Moreton Bay, home of a wealth of marine wildlife.

Docked today in another commercial port, this time a 45 minute drive from the city.  So once again waited for the rush to clear and then caught the shuttle bus to the drop off at Anzac Square.  

An easy stroll down through the city, stopping for a coffee along the way, funny how someone always puts a coffee shop just where you need one to set you up for a day’s sightseeing.

Moving on down to the Brisbane River waited for the City Hopper Ferry. 

Generously the City of Brisbane provide this free hop on hop off service up and down the river.  The river and it’s frontage is the most popular and best feature of the city.

Many very large and luxurious homes, blocks of smart apartments and marinas on the riverside. 

So got ourselves an upper deck seat to enjoy the ride.  A popular busy service with tourists and locals so a real mix of passengers like us who just stayed onboard for the full run down and back up the river and others who only stayed on for one or two stops using the ferry just to get to local services.

After the ferry trip walked back up through the city to catch the shuttle.

Shuttle bus took us back to the ship and on the way we passed the Gabba, the Brisbane cricket ground, the stand oversailing the road, the city charging the stadium for the privilege.

The Gabba

Quite a late sailaway today, about 10pm.  Another 450 changes in the passengers today, some of whom only hopped on for the trip up from Sydney, seems very odd to see so many changes whilst some faces now very familiar are unchanging.

Day 55 - at Sea

Friday 2nd March 2018

A nice restful day at sea with just enough entertainment to keep us quiet, feels like it’s time for a day off from our busy schedule.

Tonight’s entertainment “Tenori” gave a performance of  music from opera, stage shows and popular music. Three Aussies with good voices and lots of chat interspersing the music, very popular.

Day 54 - Newcastle, Australia

Thursday 1st March 2018

Australia’s second oldest city, Newcastle is named after the coal port.  Once a penal settlement, subsequently coal mining and farming became more important and more recently wine and tourism predominate.

St David’s Day

Berthed today in a commercial port area across from Newcastle, and yes it’s main export is coal.

After allowing all the excursion buses to get away took ourselves ashore to catch the shuttle bus into town.  Not much obvious to look at in town, couldn’t see much past the roadworks!

A quick look at the shops was not much more productive so decided that the best use of our time was a visit to the hairdressers, prices noticeably less than the ship’s charges.

Meanwhile took myself off along the foreshore watching the exotic parakeets, dozens of them in the trees and on the ground.

At the end of the foreshore strolled on another perfect Australian Beach, Nobby’s beach, and had a paddle in more crystal clear sea water.  This yet another beach with only a few people taking advantage.  Didn’t go in too far, heeded the warnings of sharks and poisonous jellyfish, perhaps it’s not quite so perfect here.

Back to the hairdressers and then we walked up through the town and back along the foreshore, then a quick climb up the town’s viewing tower for some photos, the tower is soon to be demolished as the local residents are somewhat embarrassed by its symbolism.

 Then back on the shuttle for return to the ship.  

After sailaway just a few dolphins near the ship, not good views but we must take what is given, so few sightings so far this whole voyage, most disappointing. 

Day 53 - Sydney, Australia

Wednesday 28th February 2018

And so the start of another busy day in port.

First I took a walk up to the Bridge to get up to the Pylon Lookout.  Despite the warning of the 200 steps up the pylon it seemed there were more steps up to the foot of the pylon through the town than actually in the pylon.  Well worth the effort though, great views across the Bridge, over the harbour and of the Opera House with the Queen Elizabeth a major feature of the view.  

Back to the ship for morning coffee before venturing out to catch the  bus to Bondi Beach.  Just a 40 minute ride through the busy traffic to another picture perfect beach.  Must be such a hard life for Sydney’s residents having to put up with these weather conditions and the beaches and the sea, NOT.

Back to the city for a walk round by the Opera House to enjoy the weather, the ferries whizzing in and out of the quay and to just sit and absorb the whole scene.

Back to the Queen Elizabeth for the evening.  1100 new passengers boarded today, so lots of new faces and much disruption as they found their way around the ship.   A late sailaway this evening, not till about 10pm, great views of the lights of the city receding as we set of back into the pacific for our short rip to Newcastle.

Day 52 - Sydney, Australia

Tuesday 27th February 2018

Sydney Harbour, arguably the world’s loveliest harbour, with a pleasant year round climate and an enviable outdoor lifestyle.  Surrounded by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the world-famous Opera House and the constant bustle of the harbour itself, makes Sydney one of the most popular tourist destinations.

Discovered by Captain Cook in 1770 and then 18 years later populated by the convicts of the First Fleet.  Population has since grown to a multi-ethnic 4.3 million.

Pre-dawn, got to be done to see the iconic approach to our berth, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House particular highlights.  Lots of passengers around enjoying the views despite the hour.  It’s just one of those places you have to see to be believed.

Luckily time to recover from the early start before joining the merry throng waiting for our call to immigration, actually not too bad a process, passed though quite quickly.

And so off to visit Sydney.  Just a short walk to pretty much everything, ship having berthed in Sydney Cove, just by the famous Rocks area, a stones throw from Sydney harbour Bridge one way and the Opera House the other.

Our first visit was to the Hyde Park Barracks Museum.  This being a short walk up the city via the Sydney Botanic Gardens, a nice green oasis in the city with comfy benches and free Wi-Fi.

Started at the Museum with a coffee, very welcome.

And so into the Museum, exhibits concentrating on it’s use as accommodation for Convicts transported to the colonies in the early 1800’s.  

First job to check their database for references to my 3x Great Grandfather James Bladen.  Surprised to find him there, didn’t think he coincided with the dates of use of the barracks, a bonus to our visit to have such a close connection with the buildings.

An excellent (not biased at all) museum full of exhibits, artefacts,  information boards, etc. about the convicts and their lives, plus maps and panoramas of Sydney in the 1820’s.

Obviously took quite a while to get round so had some lunch at the Museum before moving on.  Managed to get across the road as far as St. James Church, also from the convict period.

Setting off back down the city next stop at the State Library to check out the Family History section for additional references.  Sadly despite the very helpful assistance of a couple of their staff the only novel reference was the one found in the Museum, a newspaper notice of James absconding from the barracks, still, got a print out anyway.

Back at Circular Quay bought a couple of Opal Cards, prepaid cards for use on buses and ferries.

Hopped onto the Manly Ferry for a very nice little boat ride across Jackson Harbour to Manly.  Time for a delicious Gelato before walking through town to the Beach.  Wow!  Picture perfect beach,  what with the sand, sea, breakers, surfers, backpackers, etc. it’s just as you would expect an Australian beach to be.  

Could almost see the cast of Baywatch performing.

Plenty of time for a nice paddle and to sit and people watch before the return journey to Sydney and back to the ship for sustenance and some sleep.

Ship staying overnight in Sydney.

Days 50 and 51 at Sea - en route Sydney, Australia

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2018

Saturday

Crossing the Tasman Sea, by report a notoriously rough piece of water, but today calm as a millpond!  The sun out and just a gentle breeze, so it’s time to enjoy time out on the deck.

Apart from popping in for the occasional quiz, drink or a snack  that’s about it for today. 

The evening spent dressed up for formal dinner and just time for wipeout trivia in the pub!

Sunday

Spoke too soon.  Weather gone right off today, overcast, showers with strong winds and rough seas, ship moving about a bit, seems  to worry some folk  So time to catch up on all the things which have been waiting for our attention.

Outside decks closed most of the day, winds getting up to nearly 60 knots and seas up to about 6 meters.  Improving as the afternoon wore on and even some brightness.

Big changes coming, into Sydney tomorrow, so major exodus of passengers, a very popular stop, lots ending cruises here to fly home or to await the arrival of QM2 for their return home.  All the goodbyes getting started.

Usual day’s activities, indoor only today!

Evening presentation by “The Barricade Boys”, four male singers, all having taken part in productions of Les Miserables before getting together.  Excellent selection of songs from Les Miserables and Jersey Boys plus Bohemian Rhapsody and some others.  Certainly one of the better foursomes.

Early to retire tonight, early start tomorrow for sail-in.

Day 49 - Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Friday 24th February 2018

The Bay of Islands is the finest Maritime Park in New Zealand with 144 islands, secluded bays and superb marine life. From here, you can cruise to Cape Brett to see the famous ‘hole in the rock’, visit the historic Treaty House, discover the beautiful countryside on a rural drive or experience the fascinating Maori culture from a traditional Maori War Canoe.

Anchored today in the Bay of Islands.  Looking like a really nice day.

My day started early as usual problem with excursion meeting times far too early.  So quick trip to buffet for breakfast before joining the waiting groups in the theatre.

Quite long tender ride to the pier and then joined the tour group on a little flat bottomed boat for the trip up the river, very shallow, hence the boat.  Then a transfer to our paddleboards for the rest of the run up the river.  A new experience to try paddleboarding.  A mixed group on the trip so all sorts of success and failure in trying to master the skills.  A couple of the Cunard Dancers on the trip certainly had a good deal more success than most, oh to be young and fit.  Personally soon got the hang of how to get to standing on the board but as to making much forward progress before a dunking   not so much success.  So a fair portion of the run up to the Haruru Waterfall I made kneeling up on the board with total confidence.    I can say that I won’t be taking up paddleboarding as a new sport, be glad to get back in a canoe, much more comfortable and easier by far.  Spectacular waterfalls!

Return down river to rejoin the boat for a quick sandwich and drink before returning to the tender port.  Followed by a short walk around before the tender ride back to the ship.  

Waitangi treaty grounds

Yvonne had spent an enjoyable morning on board Queen Elizabeth getting the laundry done, she certainly knows how to enjoy herself.

Relaxed out in the sun for the rest of the day, lovely weather again.

Sailaway as usual clashed with dinner so late dinner in the buffet.