New Zealand

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Shannon and Erik headed to New Zealand on their Honeymoon on November 23, 2004 to December 11, 2004
See below for details...

We hope you enjoy the photo journal of our trip. You can click on the date on the calendar to jump to a particular day.
-Erik and Shannon

November
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
21	22	23 LAX	24 flying across INTL dateline	25 Aukland	26 Coromandel	27 Rotorua
28 Rotorua	29 Rotorua Christchurch	30 Arthur's Pass Greymouth Westport
December
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			1 Westport Punakaiki Truman Track Hokitika	2 Hokitika	3 Hokitika Franz Josef Glacier	4 Franz Josef Wanaka
5 Wanaka Queenstown	6 Queenstown Hill Milford Sound	7 Queenstown Skippers Canyon	8 Queenstown	9 Queenstown Sydney	10 Sydney Blue Mountains Featherly animal park Scenic World	11 Sydney to LAX

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Los Angeles, CA, USA

• November 23
  LAX
  
  Air New Zealand flight # NZ5
  Non-stop: LAX to AUK - (first class)
  
  

  At the airport we ran into Colin Hay from the 80's Australian pop-rock band "Men at Work". Shannon struck up a conversation with him because she thought it was funny that his guitar case was labelled "FRAGILE", but all you could read was "AGILE" because the rest of the sticker was worn off from the baggage handlers obviously ignoring the sticker.
  

  

  We met up with a gentleman from Aukland in the First Class lounge. We were asking for recommendations of what to see in the city. He recommended that we check out the "Weekender" section and handed me the New Zealand Herald newspaper. While flipping through the pages I commented that the Finn brothers were at it again. Shannon said "Who are the Finn brothers?" I told her that they were "Crowded House" and "Squeeze", and the distinguished Kiwi gentleman added "...and Split Enz". I knew he was the guy to talk to about nightlife when he came up with "Split Enz" out of the blue. Wow, we haven't even left LAX and we have two 80's band references.
  

  

  We were just finishing up our Steinlagers when Mike from WestPort asked us how long we were going to be in New Zealand. Mike was very personable. He was just returning from a three month world tour. He works as a mountain guide for the New Zealand government. He trains the guides who lead the tourist groups. Mike shared photos of his adventures through Nepal as well as photos from the south island near his home. We chatted for about an hour and he eventually convinced us that we need to spend more time in the south and less time up north. So when we get to Aukland we are going to see how flexible our reservations are. (fingers crossed)
  

North Island, NZ

• November 25
  Aukland, NZ
  

  We landed in Aukland after a great flight. It was nice to be able to lay down, we both slept well. The food was great. We had a four course meal for dinner right after take off, then we had three courses for breakfast just before landing. Shannon got hassled at the customs counter, (see photo below), but we didn't have any other problems. We got our luggage and hopped on a Super Shuttle.

  
  

  We took the shuttle to the Stamford Plaza in the Viaduct area of Aukland. On the ride we met up with a couple of gals from New Zealand, Jules and Carla. We got to talking on the ride and planned to meet up at a pub called the Loaded Hog at 8:30pm. When Shannon and I were getting off the shuttle at our hotel we noticed that the gals left a cell phone behind. We thought about giving it to the bus driver, but since we were meeting up with them later, we took it along.

  

  
  

  We checked into the hotel and met with the concierge, Bambi. With a name like Bambi you wouldn't expect a huge linebacker looking fella, but that was our Bambi. He was very helpful in rearranging our travel plans for us. Our room wasn't ready yet, so he suggested that we spend the morning in Devonsport. We walked around the city and made our way to the ferry terminal.

  

  

  

  After returning from our trip across the bay we hopped a city bus to Ponsonby. It's a cute little town with shops and restaurants lining the main street. We were looking for a spot for lunch and found a great little place called SPQR. It definitely felt like we were on vacation. We relaxed for a while and then walked around looking at all the shops. There was so much that we wanted to buy, but it was our first day and we didn't want to load up too soon. So we walked for a couple hours just window shopping. Then made our way back to the hotel so we could freshen up before meeting Jules and Carla for dinner.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  NZ Weather

• November 26
  Coromandel
  

  Pickup rental car from Avis Rentals drive to Coromandel.
  
  
  Check into Ferry Landing Lodge
  
  
  Lunch in Whitianga - across the bay from Ferry Landing
  
  
  

  Day trip out to Hot Water Beach, where the thermal waters brew just below the sand. Two hours either side of low tide, you can dig a hole in the sand and sit in your own little natural spa pool. The weather was a little chilly so we opted to just dig our toes into the sand and feel the heat. It was so hot that even standing in knee high water our toes were almost scorched.
  
  
  
  
  Hike to Cathedral Cove
  
  
  
  
  
  Dinner at Fireplace in Whitianga
  
  
  

• November 27
  Rotorua
  

  Drive to Rotorua
  
  
  Stop in Waihi Beach for lunch
  
  
  

  Check into the Heritage Motor Inn, call Planet Bike to confirm mountain bike reservations. We called Avis to see how long we had until the renal car was due, they said that we could return it to the airport at any time. So we drove into town for dinner. We found a great little bistro and had another excellent meal. The food in New Zealand has been fantastic so far. After dinner we stopped into an irish pub for a Newcastle and some traditional irish music.
  
  

  At about 9:00pm we went to return the rental car, but the airport was closed. We kept driving past the airport until we found a pay phone. We called Avis again and the office was closed. Back to the motor lodge get some sleep before the action packed next day.
  

• November 28
  Rotorua
  

  We woke up early and returned the car at the airport. Took a super shuttle back to the motor lodge just in time to get picked up for our mountain biking adventure. When we checked out the Mountain Biking guided tours from Planet Bike, Shannon had planned on a two hour biking trip, along the forest floor, with "no hills guaranteed", and I had signed up for the four hour "forest and singletrack". When we got to the Whakawerawera trailhead and picked up our bikes the guide explained that we were going to ride the forest together for two hours, then we would drop Shannon off and head up for the single track fun. Little did we know that Shannon would be getting more than she had planned. After a twenty minute warmup on fire roads, we stopped for a brief training exercise. Our guide, Tim, explained how the shifters worked and how to shift your weight when going up and down hills. Shannon's face dropped. The words "no hills guaranteed" were a lie. She was a good sport about it though, and Tim was a great instructor. Our first trail, "Diamondback".
  
  
  
  
  Lunch at Fat Dog Cafe
  
  
  Back to the hotel for a long laundry afternoon.
  
  

  Maori Hangi at "Mitai".
  A Maori Hangi is similar to a Hawaiian Luau. The "hangi" is a meal cooked in an earth oven. The event was setup to that the tourists were a visiting tribe and the Maori greeted us the way they would traditionally greet at a tribal gathering. So before the festivities began they asked for a volunteer to be our chief. I raised my hand and became instant royalty.
  "Kai Ora Chief Erik!"
  As Chief it was my duty to meet the Maori Chief and accept his peace offering. Then I gave a speech to the chief thanking him for welcoming me and my tribe into his village. After which we exchanged a hongi, a handshake and touching of the noses.
  
  
  
  
  

  After the festivities we went into the dining hall and had a feast. The "hangi" had a very smoky taste and was a bit dry. But smothered in brown gravy it wasn't half bad. After dinner we went on a bush walk and the Maori Chief told us a bit about the plants and their traditional uses. We walked to the Rainbow/Fairy Springs. The spring got it's name because it is surrounded by glow worms, which were thought to be the rainbow colored eyes of the fairy people who inhabited the spring. (glow worms don't photograph well, so there's no pictures of them, sorry.)
  
  

  Spa day at "Hell's Gate" thermal hot springs.
  We got the "Ultimate Spa Package" which included a mud bath, thermal hot springs, a traditional Maori "Wai Ora" massage, and a Manuka herbal tea.
  
  
  

  
  
  

• November 29
  

  Fly from Rotorua to Christchurch
  

South Island

• November 29
  Land in Christchurch Airport
  

  
  

  Picked up the motor home from Maui Rentals. We drove about 5 kilometers to Christchurch Holiday Park and dropped off the campervan. We met a couple of people who were traveling in the same campervan as we were. So we asked them where they were headed. They were just finishing up their tour of the South Island. So we got a few tips from them of what to see and what to skip and then we hopped a city bus into town to check it out. We wandered the city streets for a while and then stopped into a restaurant called the Viaduct. We had a bread plate with hummus and sun-dried tomatoes, green-lipped mussels, and a wood-fired pizza. Topped it all off with a glass of New Zealand wine.
  
  
  
  
  

• November 30
  Drive to Greymouth via Arthur's Pass
  

  In the morning we hit the road early. Arthur's Pass was name after Sir Arthur Dobson. There is a railway called the Alpine Express which takes the same path through the mountains and is said to be one of the most spectactular train rides in the world. Unfortunately our travel plans didn't allow us to take the train, but the drive was beautiful.
  
  

  Along the way we stopped in the town called Arthur's Pass. Our guide book said that most people just drive through the town, but if you stop into the chapel you get a special treat. (See photo below) The waterfall is not viewable from the road, you either have to be inside the chapel or you have to hike up the trail about 15 minutes. It was definitely worth the stop.
  

  
  

  We stopped at a view point further down the road and were greeted by a Kea bird. This large green parrot has red underwings. They are described as amusing, fearless, cheeky and inquisitive. They inhabit the South Island high country mountains. This particular bird saw that we were parked at the view spot and walked the handrail all the way up to the car window. There are warning signs in the parking areas not to feed the Kea. They have been known to supplement their diet of bugs and berries with tasty rubber from around the windshield. They are highly intelligent birds.
  
  

  
  

  Stop at Cape Foulwind
  

  Shannon read about a seal colony that lives at Cape Foulwind, about 12km south of Westport. In late November / early December thay have seal pups. So our timing was perfect. Spring has sprung and the seals were everywhere. Spotting them amongst the rocks was another story. After staring for a while we were able to pick them out. And looking at the photos now, we are able to see even more than when they were right in front of us. It was very overcast, but you can still make out the seals. We met a Weka bird in the parking lot. The Weka is a flightless bird that looks like a brown chicken and runs really fast. This one was under our car when we got out to hike to see the seals.
  
  

  
  
  

  Drive up to Westport
  

  

  Westport wasn't on our agenda originally, but we met Mike from Westport in LAX and after talking with him and seeing photos of his hometown, we decided to stop by. We got into town in the evening after driving most of the day. We stopped at the petrol station to get fuel for the campervan and asked the attendant for advice on where to stay and where to eat. He suggested a free camp site near the water for us to park, and recommended his favorite local bistro for dinner. Wow, the guy in the petrol station was as helpful as any of the booking agents we've talked to. So we fueled up, thanked him for the info and headed over to the bistro. We got a feel for the local flavor when we walked into the bistro and saw a huge Brittish bulldog laying down on the floor in front of the fireplace. The locals were hanging out at the bar drinking beer and there was one person playing slot machines in the game room. The menu was a large chalkboard, and everything looked great. The bartender/waiter/chef greeted us from behind the bar and told us to take our time, place our order, and grab a seat anywhere. So we ordered and picked a spot near the fireplace. While waiting for the food, Shannon got up and walked over to the corkboard labelled Personal Ads.(click the image below to read about IAN!
  

  
  

  The food was great, and after dinner we made our way to the campsite. By the time we made our way to the campground it was dark and rainy.

• December 1
  Westport
  

  We woke up to an amazing ocean view and a sunny morning. We walked from our campsite to the lighthouse at the end of the breakwater and got a photo next to a giant anchor.
  
  
  

  After breakfast in the camper we made our way back into town to stop into Mike's store and say "Hello" again and get his opinion on where to head next. He had been so helpful before we had to give it a shot. We found his store pretty easily. Westport isn't a very big town. Phil Woods is the only Men's Clothing store in town. Mike was in the back room looking at more of his photos from his travels. He was suprised to see us so soon. We gave him the quick recap on our adventure so far and asked him what he suggested for us to do next. He showed us a few photo books of various hikes around the area and let us choose where to go. His photos of the Truman Track were the ones that caught our eye. He gave us a map and told us about a secret spot which led to a Maori Pa site. So we thanked Mike again and headed out of town... but not so fast.
  We got back to the campervan and saw something under the windshield wiper.
  

  
  

  So we went to the police station to pay the ticket and they said that we could'nt pay it there. We had to mail in a cheque to the Aukland office. We explained that we didn't have any checks with us and that we'd like to pay on our credit card. So she said that she'd make a call and find out how to help us out. About 25 minutes later she emerged from the back room and apologized for the delay. It seems that they don't usually write a lot of parking tickets so she got the run around when calling for information. Anyway, we went to the Post and bought a moneyorder and mailed it to the central office.
  A $60 lesson... don't park on yellow lines in New Zealand.
  

  Drive to Punakaiki - Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
  

  The Pancake Rocks got heir name because the limestone has weathered through a process called stylobedding. The layers of rock look like a stack of pancakes. The blowholes only perform at high tide, so we checked the tide charts in Westport to time our trip appropriately. We got there just in time to see it all happen.
  

  
  Putai Blowhole
  
  Chimney Pot Blowhole
  
  

  There was a spot where the rocks looked like tiki's. There were multiple shapes in the rocks and using your imagination you could pick out different animals in the rocks. There was an answer key for those who needed a little help.
  
  
  

  Hike the Truman Track - visit Maori Pa site
  

  After seeing the blowholes do their thing we made our way to the Truman Track for the hike that Mike from Westport told us about. In order to get to the secret spot we had to wait until after high tide. So we had about two hours to kill. We hiked the Truman Track until we got to the beach and waited until the tide gave us a bit of room to move around the cove.
  

  
  
  
  
  

  We waited about two hours after high tide and the waves still hadn't given us much space to work with. But we worked out how long it would take for the last set wave to retreat before the next wave arrived. That gave us enough time to run across the beach, climb up a rock, and make our way to higher ground before the next wave came to shore. We hiked through a cave, a forest path and emerged on a Maori Pa site. Pa sites were Maori forts. A place were the tribe would prepare to defend against an attack. The rugged terrain made it hard to attack and easy to defend.
  

  
  
  

  We got to the Pa site and the views were spectacular. It was so peaceful and we had it all to ourselves. We sat and took in the views for a long while. The green moss was so brilliant that I crouched down near it so Shannon could take a photo. Two seconds after she got the picture I slipped and rode it like a slide all the way into the ocean. I thought I was going to land on my bottom, but luckily there was just enough of a drop that I landed on my feet. It was pretty funny.
  
  

  We hiked back out the forest and into the cave. I went around the mud, Shannon went through it.
  
  

  We made our way back to the car and headed south again.
  
  

  Drive to Hokitika
  

  We got to Hokitika after a long day. So we settled in, ate dinner in our camper, and walked into town for dessert. We saw a few of the city's highlights on our walk.
  

  
  
  

  As you can see it's a small town with a lot of charm.
  

• December 2
  Hokitika shopping, greenstone and jade factory
  

  We were pretty beat and the weather was rainy so we decided to take a Laundry day, and rest day. Hokitika is a sleepy little town with not much to do, so it was perfect. After eating breakfast and doing laundry we walked into town again and went shopping. We found a couple more photo ops as well.
  

  
  
  

• December 3
  Drive from Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier
  

  We checked into the Rainforest Motor Lodge at 1:00pm and booked a 2:30pm half-day glacier hike. We had a quick lunch, put on our layers of clothing and headed to the Franz Josef Glacier Guides office. At the office they supplied us with boots, gloves, Ice Talonz, and a rain jacket. Shannon and I declined the rain jacket because we had waterproof jackets already. It was a 10 minute drive to the parking lot and then an hour walk to the base of the glacier.
  During the walk the guides explained that a glacier is the remaining winter snow that the summer has been unable to melt. Each year another layer is added. Time and the additional weight turns this into ice which makes its way down the valley. The glacier ends at the point where the melt rate equals the ice accumulation rate. The glacier was named in 1865 by an Austrian explorer, Julius Haast. He was working his way up the West coast of New Zealand and had already named a bunch of stuff after himself, Haast river, Haast gorge, Haast pass, etc. When he saw the glacier he didn't know what it was. It reminded him of the long flowing white beard of the Austrain emporer, Franz Josef. Bob's your uncle.
  

  
  

  Once at the glacier we put on Ice Talonz which enabled us to climb the glacier. The guides, Gavin and Mike, had pick axes which they used to help carve out steps in the ice for the steep bits.
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  After the hike we celebrated with a guinness and a view of the Franz Josef Glacier.
  

• December 4
  Drive from Franz Josef Glacier to Wanaka, (pronounced like Chanukkah)
  

  Stopped into a restaurant called the Reef and had another excellent dinner. We tried each of the local brewery beers with our dinner. Wanaka is a sleepy little town so we didn't have any other photo ops, plus it was raining the whole time.
  
  
  It was pouring rain and we heard that you could catch a flight to Milford Sound from Wanaka, so we stopped for the night at the campground. Little did we know that what looked like a sheep shearing shed behind the campsite, was actually a RAVE location. We tried to go to sleep at around 11:00pm and that's when the music started. All we could hear (and feel) was the booming bass, but it was about 140 beats per minute and definitely sounded familiar to me. So Shannon put in her earplugs and went off to sleep while I tried to see if I could make out any of the records. I kept dozing off to sleep, but the bass kept pounding until about 6:00am.
  

• December 5
  Wanaka to Queenstown
  

  Flight from Wanaka to Milford sound was cancelled due to weather. So rather than wait out the weather we decided to head down to Queenstown a bit early. We went into town to ask for a bit of advice. There are two roads from Wanaka to Queenstown, the 6 and the 89. So we asked what's the difference between the two? The answer was that the 89 is a half hour shorter. Sounds like an easy decision... we headed out of town on the 89.
  

  
  

  So far so good, but what the gal in Wanaka failed to tell us is that the 89 was shorter because it goes over the mountains instead of around them. We were surprised to drive in the snow.
  
  
  
  
  

  We got into Queenstown and easily found our way to the Creeksyde holiday park. We booked a site for three nights and walked into town.
  

  
  

  We booked a flight to Milford Sound and a cruise for the next morning and headed out to dinner. We had dinner at the Lone Star, known for it's oversized portions. We split a soup and an entree and we were stuffed afterwards. So we walked through the Queenstown Gardens to work it off. We walked the gardens for about an hour and near the end of the garden loop we stopped at the reflecting pond. We reflected on our trip so far and then made our way back to camp for the night.
  
  

  
  
  
  

• December 6
  Queenstown Hill
  

  We woke up bright and early to head out for a three hour hike before catching our plane to Milford Sound. We stepped out the campervan and we were greeted with clear blue skies for the first time this entire trip. Shannon read about a hiking trail up to the top of Queenstown Hill, 900 meters up to the peak where you're treated to 360 degree views. It was about a 20 minute walk to the trailhead from camp. We had to take advantage of the beautiful weather.
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Milford Sound
  

  After our hike we took a quick shower to freshen up, ate lunch and headed to the airport for our flight to Milford Sound in the Fiordlands of New Zealand. At the airport we met with our pilot, Robert, and our other passenger, Maggie and hopped into our little six seat, (including the pilot), Cesna. We flew over the mountains and Robert narrated the journey pointing out all the different glaciers and mountains we were flying past. It was spectacular.
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  We got off the plane and took a bus to the harbor where we hopped on our ship, the Milford Monarch. Once onboard we made our way to the upper deck so we could take even more photos.
  
  
  

  Shannon noticed a man limping around the deck and asked if he minded if she took a look at his leg. She explained that she was a Physiotherapist and he said sure. Shannon went to work. Bart injured himself while hiking around a waterfall on the Milford Track, a four day hike into Milford Sound. He and his brother Matthew had just completed teh hike that morning and rewarded themselves with a cruise through the fiord. I got to talking with Matthew while Shannon was going through her PT evaluation. Matthew and Bart were meeting with their third brother in a couple days to complete their travels to Christchurch together. It was interesting to hear that the three brothers often vacation together, just the three of them. I'll have to see if my brothers Alan and Wes will join me on my next trip.
  
  

  After the Physical Therapy evaluation Matthew bought a round of Speight's ale to help repay Shannon for helping his brother. Then he took a photo of us with our beers. (see above right)
  The boat cruise through the fiord was about 2 hours, we were surrounded by amazing scenery the whole time. After the cruise we said goodbye to Shannon's patient and his brother and made our way back to the airport for our flight back to Queenstown. Robert was waiting there for us in an even smaller plane. This one was only four seats, but we were under the wings so we got even better views.
  
  
  
  

  
  

  After the flight, Shannon resigned herself that she could end the trip right now and be happy. It was the most beautiful weather we've had all trip. There was no wind, the skies were clear and the flight was smooth. We met some great people and had a wonderful day. This one day was worth the whole trip.
  

• December 7
  Queenstown - Skippers Canyon
  

  I booked a mountain biking trip with Gravity Action. Shannon had her fill of mountain biking in Rotorua, so she opted to pass on this adventure. The trip was a three and a half hour downhill excursion. The bikes were full downhill rigs. Heavy as lead, 5 inches of suspension up front and about 7 in the rear. Very cushy rides, but I wouldn't want to pedal one uphill. No worries, this is all downhill through Skippers Canyon. Bus ride to the top, ride to the bottom, bus ride to the next peak, ride to the bottom again. Rinse and repeat as necessary.
  

  [DISCLAIMER: To my mountain biking friends and family, I know this is cheating and it felt like cheating when I was in the bus going uphill. But I forgot all about that as I was speeding down the trails and splashing through the water crossings and the mud. I got airborne a few times and didn't even think about the fact that I didn't have to earn my downhill. I know I'll pay for it on the trails back home.]

  Skippers Canyon was a gold mining area and the trail we were riding, "The Pack Track", was the only way in or out of the canyon. So we got a bit of gold mining history along the ride from our guide, Dizzy Dave. We went past the remnants of a couple old pubs where the gold miners would stop on their way out of the canyon and have their last hurrah. Outside one of the pubs was a creek called "Dirty Four Creek", named after the four bandits who would wait for drunk miners to stumble out of the pub. They would bash them on the head and steal their gold. Much easier than spending days and weeks panning in the river.
  
  
  
  

• December 8
  Queenstown
  

  Our last full day in Queenstown, so we turned in our motor home at the airport and hiked back into town and got a hotel for the night. We were smart enough to stop off at the hotel to drop off our luggage before we went to the airport. Dropping off the motor home was a snap. We asked the gal at the counter what the best walking path back to town was, she looked at our map and showed us how to get to the Frankton Walk, a hiking trail that follows the lake shoreline back to town. We thanked her and made our way out of the airport and down towards the lake. The hike back would take about an hour and a half so we decided to get a snack before starting our trek. We split a chicken chopped salad at the local deli and hit the trail. The hike back was beautiful.
  
  
  

  We got back into town just in time for check-in, so we freshened up relaxed for a bit. It was wonderful to have a real room without having to squeeze around each other anytime we got up. The motor home was nice, but we really appreciated having some space again. We decided to live it up on our last night in New Zealand and booked a reservation at the Boardwalk seafood restaurant. It got great reviews in the Hotel magazine and was right on the waterfront.
  

  
  
  

• December 9
  Queenstown
  

  In the morning we woke up early and headed to Joe's Garage for breakfast. It's an old auto shop that was remodeled and turned into a coffee shop. We had walked past it time and time again, but always in the afternoon when it was closed. We asked some of the locals about it and it got glowing reviews from everyone we talked to. Not suprising, every place we've eaten has been wonderful. So we were not surprised to have a delicious breakfast at Joe's Garage. The coffee was smooth and rich, and the breakfast sandwich was everything I had hoped for. Shannon got the fresh fruit salad, yoghurt, and granola. All excellent as well.
  So after breakfast we made our way back to the hotel and took a cab to the airport. It was a travel day so we flew from Queenstown to Aukland and then flew from Aukland to Sydney, Australia.

  Sydney
  

  Shannon got hassled yet again at the customs desk. The security was pretty tight and there were signs posted that no cameras were allowed in this area. So this shot was taken very quickly from hip level.
  

  
  

  We stayed at the Holiday Inn, Darling Harbour
  
  

  We walked around town, the weather was 26 C and overcast. Hot and humid. We made our way through Tumbalong Park to Darling Harbour. The restaurants were alive with people everywhere. It was the place to be on a Thursday night. We weren't hungry for dinner yet so we kept walking. We walked along the waterfront through Cockle Bay. More restaurants and bars lined the way. We walked past the Sydney Aquarium and found ourselves in the King Street Wharf. We got out our city map and checked to see how far to The Rocks area. Looks like just a few more city blocks, so we kept going. After six or seven blocks we got out the map again to find out where we were. One more block and just over the hill is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Dinner time. We crested the hill and a great view of the underside of the bridge. Made our way to the other side and were treated to a spectacular view of the Sydney Opera House.
  
  
  

  We found a great little Italian restaurant in The Rocks and stopped for dinner. After all that walking we were famished. I ordered a seafood combo plate that was big enough to feed a family of four. Shannon ordered a seafood pasta dish that was equally huge. We split a carafe of the house special Sangria and enjoyed our meal. It felt like we were in Europe, because people at the surrounding tables were speaking in all different languages. The seating was outdoors and there were strolling musicians playing at the tableside.
  

  
  

  After our dinner we walked at a leisurely pace back to Darling Harbour. The boardwalk was still packed with people and it looked like they were set to party well into the night. But we were stuffed full of food and ready to get some shuteye. Tomorrow would be a big day out to the Blue Mountains, gotta get some sleep.

• December 10
  Sydney
  

  Day trip to the Blue Mountains, hazy and gray skies. We boarded a tour bus at the hotel which took us to the Circular Quay, where the main ferry terminal in Sydney is located. We boarded a ferry and took it up river for about a half hour and the got off the ferry and back onto the tour bus.
  
  

  
  
  

  Once on the tour bus we started our 90 minute journey up into the mountains. We learned a bit of history along the way. Peter, our tour bus driver, had a microphone headset and reminded me a bit of Cliff Clavin. The Blue Mountains got their name because of the blue tinted haze which hovers over the mountain top. The blue color is caused by light refracting off the oils in the air from the blue gum trees. The haze in most regions is light refracting off water or dust in the air, but because of the oils in the air from the unique trees, the light has a blue tint. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any blue because there was so much water in the air, all we saw was gray. We stopped at the Three Sisters lookout point and tried to see the three sisters, a rock formation. No luck, the fog was so thick we could barely see past the guard rail. So back into the bus to a place called Featherdale Animal Park.
  
  

  
  
  

  Featherdale Animal Park is like a zoo, except it only contains animals local to Australia. So we saw all the typical Aussie animals up close and personal: Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koalas, Wombats, a Tasmanian Devil, penguins, dingos, and yes, even a fifteen foot crocodile. There were also tons of tropical birds and plants which I forget the names. It was a really cool experience. After about an hour we were back on the bus onto the next stop... Scenic World.
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Scenic World is a tourist attraction geared around amazing views of the Blue Mountains and it's panoramic views of the surrounding area. This was not the day for amazing views. It was raining non-stop by the time we arrived. We rode the worlds steepest railroad down into the valley, hiked a forest trail, and took a skyway car back up to the top. Scenic World used to be a coal mining facility, but as time passed the coal miners would run into hikers in the valley who wanted to pay them for a lift out of the valley in their coal train. Finding it more profitable to provide train rides than mining coal, they switched their business model and have been a tourist attraction ever since.
  
  
  
  

  
  

  When we got back it was too overcast to do the bridge walk. So we walked around a brief bit in the pouring rain and ended up eating dinner at the restaurant in our hotel.
  

• December 11
  Sydney
  

  Our last day in Australia and wouldn't you know it, the sun finally came out. So we walked down George Street to get some breakfast and stopped at a horrible place in the Queen Victoria Building. The service was abyssmal and the food was flavorless and dry. If you ever get a chance to skip the cafe at the entrance to the QVB, please do. After the worst meal of our entire vacation, we continued down George Street to the Rocks and went to the street fair. It was like a farmers market and swap meet, with local artists and vendors displaying their wares.
  
  
  

  
  

  We did a bit of shopping, got a great gift for the house, and made our way back to the hotel by way of the Circle Quay, where all the ferries depart. It reminded me of Pier 39 in San Francisco. We saw street performers, jugglers, statue makers, digereedoo players, etc. Afterwards we walked through the Royal Botanic Gardens. The entrance reminded Shannon of Central Park in New York City. The gardens stretched for several city blocks into downtown where we walked a few more blocks until we reached Hyde Park. At the end of Hyde Park we made our way through Chinatown back to our hotel, just in time to collect our bags from the bell desk and catch our airport shuttle. It was perfect timing.
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Sydney to LAX
  

  Fly home. United Airlines flight # UA-840 - Business Class
  

  The flight home was pretty uneventful. We slept a lot. Business class wasn't much different from First class. The seats were just as large and reclined just as far. The staff wasn't as friendly, but that could have been a difference in United Airlines versus Air New Zealand.

We hope you enjoyed following along with our photo journal of the trip. We had an amazing time and can't wait to share our next adventure with you. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read this.
-Erik and Shannon

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