[DaleG]

Australia / New Zealand trip

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Just got back from 40 days in Australia and New Zealand. A 35 day cruise is too long; having said that there were folks doing this cruise that had just finished a 90 day 'round the world cruise (just stayed on the ship...I can't even imagine). Went river-rafting, snorkeling on the Great Barrier reef (and a helicopter ride over a small part of it). Saw "salties", wife Deb held a koala (they are very heavy), and saw lots of great stuff. New Zealand is just beautiful - no other word for it.

At the tail-end of our trip, spent 3 days in Sydney, where we were met by an Australian Cobra Club member, "Baz" (Barry Hayston). I've never met Barry before, just posted on the other forum that I was coming and would like to sit in a right hand drive cobra. Barry responded and I gave him our hotel name and dates we would be in Sydney. I figured he would drive his replica, take me for a ride, we'd have a beer and chat a while, what else? Boy was I wrong! Had a message waiting for us at the hotel saying he would pick us up at 1PM the day of our arrival. Barry, his wife Martha and daughter Louise picked us up that Friday afternoon, we went to their house in Engedine for lunch; had a long ride in Barry's Replica Motor Cars roadster, including a stop at his friend's (Nick Street) house to see his cobra. Then it was a tour around greater Sydney; the day ended with wonderful seafood dinner at a Marina they belong to, returned us to the hotel at 9:30PM. They picked us up at 9:30AM on Saturday for a Sydney beach tour; hit all the famous beaches, took several ferries getting to all sides of Sydney Harbor, and more. Ended the day at a real good German restaurant, after which we were dropped at the hotel at 9:30PM. We were picked up at 10:30 AM Sunday and went to the Blue Mountains, Katoomba, and other places way out there; saw lots of Kangaroos in the wild. Ended the day at a great Chinese restaurant, and back at the hotel at 9:30PM. Sure saw a lot more than the normal tourist: It was WAY over the top! THANKS, BARRY!!!! I love Aussies; very friendly; most on our cruise, including our six dinner mates were from Oz. Our countries have so much in common, except your dollar goes a lot farther here than ours does there. Oiy! I'll be back.

Flew back home Monday and got here before we left there, same day (international dateline, ugh). Just about recovered.

Cheers, Dale