Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand 2019 - November 27th Header

Gene & Lee's Tour and Cruise

November 27th to December 24th, 2019

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Nov 27   Los Angeles to Sydney

Nov 28   Sydney

Nov 29   Sydney

Nov 30   Sydney

Dec 1   Sydney to Brisbane

Dec 2   Brisbane

Dec 3   Brisbane to Cairns

Dec 4   Cairns

Dec 5   Cairns

Dec 6   Cains to Sydney

Dec 7   Sydney Embark

Dec 8   At Sea

Dec 9   Melbourne

Dec 10   At Sea

Dec 11   Hobart

Dec 12   At Sea

Dec 13   At Sea

Dec 14   Milford Sound

Dec 15   Dunedin

Dec 16   Christchurch

Dec 17   Picton

Dec 18   Wellington

Dec 19   Napier

Dec 20   Tauranga / Rotorua

Dec 21   Auckland Disembark

Dec 22   Auckland

Dec 23   Auckland

Dec 24   Auckland to Los Angeles

Arrived in Hobart at 8:00 am.

    
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Down to the pier at 10:00 am we boarded our bus and began our tour day by driving up to Mt Wellington. Mount Wellington is the summit of the Wellington Range and is within Wellington Park reserve. Hobart is located at the foot of the mountain. The mountain rises 1,271 meters (4,170 ft) above sea level and is frequently covered by snow. There is also a narrow road to the summit, about 22 kilometers (14 mi) from Hobart. An enclosed lookout near the summit has views of the city below and to the east, the Derwent estuary, and also glimpses of the World Heritage Area nearly 100 kilometers (62 mi) west. From Hobart, the most distinctive feature of Mount Wellington is the cliff of dolerite columns known as the Organ Pipes.

      
      
  
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Back down through Hobart to cross the Tasman Bridge which spans the Derwent River. The Tasman Bridge gained national attention following the Tasman Bridge disaster. On 5 January 1975, the bridge was struck by the bulk ore carrier SS Lake Illawarra. It caused two piers and three sections of concrete decking totaling 127 meters (417 ft), to collapse and sink the vessel, resulting in the loss of twelve lives. The disaster split the city in half, forcing commuters living on the eastern shore to make a 50-kilometre (31 mi) round trip to the central business district via the next bridge to the north. After two-and-a-half years, the Tasman Bridge reopened on 8 October 1977. The Bowen Bridge was subsequently constructed to mitigate any future failure of the Tasman Bridge.

    
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Our destination was the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary but along the way we made a stop at the town of Richmond about 25 km north-east of Hobart.

Richmond's most famous landmark is the Richmond Bridge, built in 1823 to 1825, around the time of the town's first settlement. It is Australia's oldest existing stone arch bridge still in use. It was built by convict labor (prisoners from the nearby Richmond Gaol). The total length measured 41 meters (135 feet), with a width of 7.5 meters (25 feet). At the time it had the longest span of any bridge in Australia, and held this title until 1836.

The Richmond Gaol is a convict era building and is the oldest intact gaol in Australia. Building of the gaol commenced in 1825, and predates the establishment of the penal colony at Port Arthur in 1833. Most of the gaol buildings have not been changed since convict times and include chain gang sleeping rooms, a flogging yard, a cookhouse and holding rooms. The buildings also feature historical relics and documents.

Richmond Bakery is known for their famous curried Scallop Pies with fresh pieces of locally-sourced scallops in a creamy curry sauce. These have a cult status in Tasmania, and it was lunch time so I had to try one. Worth the trip to Richmond for.

      
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The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a 24-acre wildlife sanctuary located in Brighton, Tasmania. Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and preservation of native Australian animals, Bonorong actively participates in various conservation projects, contributes to breeding programs, research initiatives, and advocacy for the protection of Tasmania's wildlife. Lots of Tasmanian Devils and we got in-your-face facetime with the wallabies and kangaroos.

      
      
      
      
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After an hour at the park, we drove back down to Hobart and reboarded the ship at 4:00.

      
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Our ship departed Hobart for New Zealand at 11:00 pm.

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