Day 7 on Feature Down Under: Cruises - New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands

Today, 7 October we celebrate the launch of the 2014-15 cruise season in New Zealand. Australia and the Pacific enjoy a milder climate and so cruises are available all year. The Radiance of the Seas sailed majestically  through Wellington heads and berthed at the overseas terminal, so I went outside and took a photo:



















We put on a stunning spring day for the passengers. You can book New Zealand cruises to travel right around the country, or do short stops. The Interislander and Bluebridge ferries ply people vehicles and goods across Cook Strait several times daily and at night too.  Or you can take a trip in the deep south. Lake Wakatipu aboard the iconic steamship the TSS Earnslaw is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience Queenstown’s famed scenic beauty.

The leisurely 90 minute cruise across the lake showcases some of Queenstown’s spectacular alpine scenery while offering you plenty of time to explore a piece of Queenstown’s living history – the 100 year old TSS Earnslaw.

Visit the engine room and see its giant steam engines at work, and view the collection of historical photos in the mini-museum. Or just kick back and enjoy a wine or beer or some café-style food at the on-board Promenade Café and Bar.

Cruises depart regularly throughout the day. You can choose to do a cruise, or a cruise, combined with a visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a guided farm tour, horse trek, barbecue lunch or evening dining.

Maybe you like tall ships?
The R Tucker Thompson, moored in the Bay of Islands, is operated by a not-for-profit trust which is a registered charity and has provided wonderful memories for thousands of visitors.




In Australia, cruise lines travel between most ports and you are sure to find a cruise that meets your requirements.  Silversea luxury cruises are just one of the many lines available.

Or maybe a tall ship experience in Tahiti? Windsea cruises offer a fly/sail  out of this world cruise around Tahiti on the Wind Spirit, a graceful sailing yacht. It’s the perfect way to experience the true wonder of Tahiti. The trade winds fills the sails as you visit Moorea, Tahaa, Raiatea, Bora Bora,  and Huahine. There’s time for swimming and snorkelling in crystal-clear lagoons, meandering through lush rainforests, and experiencing Polynesian culture.



 Book your magic experience at Wind Star cruises.

There is so much more to check out, so visit our site: http://www.experientialtraveller.com for all the offers.

Day 6 Cycling

Day six already! Today is Cycling in New Zealand. There are many different sites for the many different kinds of cyclists.
Road eventers take a look at :100% NZ Pure Over the spring and summer there are a number of big events - we have detailed three on our website. One is the Lake Taupo Challenge in November.





Leisure cyclists are also well catered for. The Five Day Otago Rail Trail named after the original railway line, built between 1891 and 1907 is New Zealand’s original ‘Great Ride’.

Day 5 Already! WALKS in NZ and Australia

Today's topic is one close to my heart as an avid walker. I've highlighted a few walks here; go to our webiste http://www.experientialtraveller.com for all the info and links.

New Zealand
Over the last several years the walking group I'm part of has hiked many of the privately run walks offered by kiwis. Bream Head Coastal Walk has a purpose-built lodge, gourmet food delivered daily and a wide range of interesting  hikes.

The lodge is very comfortable and our hosts, the farmers who own it, were informative and helpful. Bream head is a lovely spot out of Whangarei in the far north of New Zealand.

Another recent hike was the Eastern Walkway at Lake Okataina, near Rotorua in the central North Island. One feature is the old pa site food storage caves, dug out by Maori a few hundred years ago.

The lake is very restful, the 22km Eastern Walkway very beautiful. That is,other than the wasps that wanted our lunches and wouldn't take no for an answer. The Wilderness Lodge at the lake was most hospitable. We were the only guests (10 of us walkers), as they primarily cater for functions, weddings, etc and we did our own cooking. But on our last night we were served a superb meal - we still talk about it. By the way, if you like fishing, the Lodge caters for fisherpeople excellently.









Australia

New South Wale's iconic Six foot Track was marked out in 1884 as a six-foot-wide (1.83 meters) track to allow loaded horses to pass each other while traveling from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains.

Taking three days and two nights, the 44-kilometer track starts at the Explorers’ Tree, drops into Megalong Valley and crosses Coxs River by the Bowtells Swing Suspension Bridge.

Challenging climbs take walkers to the Black Range ridge before heading for the caves. The top photo is the Jenolan Caves, the second - the track itself meandering along and the bottom image is the Three Sisters. The Blue Mountains are a great place to visit. 

Day four of Feature Down Under is Fishing

Fishing in New Zealand is a favourite hobby and sport, as well as a major industry. Whether you choose deep sea angling,  flyfishing or merely dangling a piece of string with a worm on it off the jetty, it is such great pleasure for many. Today we feature three great websites.

NZFishing.com  has been around for eight or nine years. It was voted 2nd best fishing website in 2013, and justly earned. You can find pretty much anything you could ever want - from accommodation, through charters, tours, guides and their 2015 Flyfishing calendar is beautiful. It would make an excellent gift, or keep it for yourself.


Two lodges featured on NZFishing are the River Birches Lodge in Turangi and the Lake Rotorua Lodge in the Nelson Lakes National Park.





A third lodge for those of you who are seeking more budget accommodation, the  Old Nurses home, situated in the historic town of Reefton, offers great value as a quality guest house to use a a base to explore some of the country's best brown trout fishing. A large number of rivers are located on your doorstep or just a short drive away

 If you are a keen angler, New Zealand Fishing Charters might be the place to head. Bay of Islands trip could bag you a kingfish like this one!


 If luxury is your preference, you can't go past Luxury Lodges of New Zealand. Their offerings are exceptional. The southern lakes caught my eye. Winter or summer, they are beautiful.

Day 3 of October's Feature Down Under

Today we're featuring Food and Cooking, with a little extra zing. Zest Food Tours looks like fun. Combine walking AND food! Right up my alley. You can experience gourmet walking tours in Wellington and Auckland sightseeing with great food. The local Zest Guide shares insights into the food, culture and sights of each region. Let them take you to taste the best food and meet the passionate producers behind them, at local favourites, in small exclusive groups.

 The Curious Kiwi offers a comprehensive list of cooking schools, food and wine/beer festivals and tours. 6th December is the Christchurch wine Festival which looks fun.

 

Or maybe you'd like to try some Australian luxury?

Pretty Beach House, on the Bouddi Penninsula in NSW will be reopening in January 2015 after a fire.  This lodge really appeals! It's just one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia and looks amazing. The Lodge offers one of Stefano Manfredi’s expert chefs always on hand so that guests can learn the secrets of the Manfredi kitchen using locally harvested seasonal produce. Hands-on private cooking classes can be arranged with appropriate notice at an additional cost.

October 3 - the third day of Feature Down Under.

Today we're featuring Food and Cooking, with a little extra zing. Zest Food Tours looks like fun. Combine walking AND food! Right up my alley.  You can experience gourmet walking tours in Wellington and Auckland sightseeing with great food.  The local Zest Guide shares insights into the food, culture and sights of each region. Let them take you to taste the best food and meet the passionate producers behind them, at local favourites, in small exclusive groups.

The Curious Kiwi offers a comprehensive list of cooking schools, food and wine/beer festivals and tours. 6th December is the  Christchurch wine Festival which looks fun.

Or maybe you'd like to try some Australian luxury?   

Pretty Beach House on the Bouddi Penninsula in NSW really appeals! It's just one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia

and looks amazing. Pretty Beach House reopens January 2015 after a fire. The Lodge offers one of Stefano Manfredi’s expert chefs always on hand  so that guests can learn the secrets of the Manfredi kitchen using locally harvested seasonal produce. Hands-on private cooking classes can be arranged with appropriate notice at an additional cost. 

Day Two of Feature Down Under

Today we are featuring Train Journeys in New Zealand. Mainline Steam have a wonderful winter fairyland trip through the mountains from Christchurch to the West Coast, staying overnight in Greymouth.  Or choose the Coastal Pacific. Experiential Traveller has several tour groups for you to peruse. Try an armchair journey or book the real thing!