15 Feb 2010 -- Cairns, Australia

This was a full day. Caught the shuttle bus at the hotel which took us to the train station for a scenic ride up the mountain to Kuranda Village. Along the way we saw several great waterfalls, high bridge overpasses and expansive views. At Kuranda Village we walked the streets looking at all the shops, had lunch at a great German restaurant, visited the bird exhibit and much more. When we had had enough of the village we caught the Skyrail for a four mile gondola trip down the mountain to the Aborigine Cultural Center for an afternoon of getting to know a little about the olden days of Australia.





Waiting for the train to go up the mountain.





The train stopped along the way for a falls photo opp.







These bird photos were taken inside a large inclosure where the birds could have free flight. Most are native to Australia. These two had great fun chewing up my hat and camera strap.










This is a Cassowary. The Skyrail operator told us we had just missed one walking about out in the wilds of the forest.










Riding high above the forest for four miles.




At one of the Skyrail stops the operator called us over and said "look up". Above us was this giant spider that seemed to be as large as five inches.




The Aborigine Cultural Center. The Aborigines were coming on to the stage for their big show.























He's telling a story about an Ostrich hunt and his hand represents it's beak.

Making fire by twirling a stick.



Where there's smoke -




There's fire




The hunt.




Each one of us was given the opportunity to throw a boomerang. They do return, that's why the netting.



He's giving lessons in spear chucking. The short length is the sling that's being attached to the spear and gives the spear much more force. We were able to try this also.

14 Feb 2010 -- Cairns, Australia

After three weeks in New Zealand we flew to Australia. Our first stop was Cairns, pronounced "Cans". Janet had a timeshare here so we picked up a rental car at the airport and we were on our way. By this time we were getting used to driving on the left except for the windshield wiper thing.



This is the swimming pool right on the beach. Why a pool on the beach - you can't go near the water, more on that later. Downtown Cairns near the beach is fun. Lots of sidewalk cafes and drinking establishments, food from every country and we sampled them all.



The days in Cairns were filled with tours and the first day after we arrived was a snorkeling trip to the "Great Barrier Reef". Our boat out to the reef was fast but it still took about two hours to reach our dive spot. Here's Janet before getting suited up for snorkeling.




We're ready!! Those suits are full coverage to keep the stingers from getting us. Stingers are the jelly fish in these waters and can really do damage, very dangerous. We don't have the hoods on yet but in the next picture, hood are up and even our fingers are covered by the suit.



"Our mandatory tourist photo." Janet is on the right and if it hadn't been for her lighter colored suit I would have had trouble finding her in the water. Everyone else had suits like mine.

The snorkeling on the "Reef" was fantastic. We'd snorkeled in Fiji and New Zealand and thought it was great, this beats them all. Millions of tropical fish everywhere, not one shark.

12 Feb 10 -- NZ, Road Signs

Driving on the left was a challenge for the first day or two. First thing that comes to mind - cars have the accelerator and brake peddle in the accustom place on the right side of the car but the turn signal and windshield wiper controls are on the other side of the steering column, did that make any sense! When you see the windshield wipers come on when the driver is making a turn, they're from the U.S.

I found the road signs that are different from ours in the U.S. to be interesting so started to snap pictures.





Lots of one-way bridges in NZ. The large white arrow meant we had the right-of-way.







Have yet to figure out why the roundabout sign doesn't go all the way around. It's not a dead end.






Saw as many as three concealed driveway indicators on one sign.



Our sign says SLOW and their's says GO. They take it litererlly and go into their many twisty turns at a very fast clip.




Pullouts are called bays.




Cleaning up after the sheep. :-)



Don't think I've ever seen this in the U.S.




Same as a Black Hole!!




Now that's a skid.
















Motorcyclists would love this in the U.S. however, this is in kilometers.






Just thought these two were interesting. We seldom see Queue or Goods.

8 Feb, 2010 -- NZ, Land's End & Dunedin

While staying in Wanaka we took an overnight road trip to the southern most tip of the south island and then north along the eastern shore to Dunedin to see penguins and the Royal Albatross.





On the way south we had to stop and take pictures of this - The strangest sight !!.




Spoonbills





Stopped in the small town of Bluff at the southern tip. Notice the sign; we were closer to the South Pole than to the Equator.



How many of us sailors can relate to this!! Wish it hadn't been too early in the day for a beer. This is in Bluff overlooking the signpost. Doubt our U.S. city counsels would approve of this.




Next stop - Antarctica






Think we have wind in the U.S.





Along the east coast we stopped to walk the sands to The Boulders



We crashed into each other, the rocks split and Janet's rolled into the ocean and look what happened next. Believe it or not.



Janet climbed inside to celebrate the day.




Dunedin, NZ, not far from the Royal Albrotross nesting sight and beaches were the Little Blue Penguins come ashore.

















The very fancy Dunedin Church




















The very fancy Dunedin Train Station.



The only mainland New Zealand Royal Albatross nesting sight. There were only three on the nest this day and we had to take a tour to be able to get this close. Taken with the long lens. The staff displayed a picture of Prince Charles within arm length of the birds. Perhaps he's special.



The winds have to be high before this bird will fly and Doug took this with the long lens late in the afternoon. The Albatross has a wing span of 10 feet.