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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> New Zealand & Australia Cruise - Tauranga/Rotorua Jan. 19, 2020 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

New Zealand & Australia Cruise - Tauranga/Rotorua Jan. 19, 2020

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Sigh! Time to leave the beautiful and comfortable Regatta. But first we had to get luggage upstairs (Rosario helped us), clear immigration on the ship because we were departing early, and wait for the all clear before we could leave. We then took our luggage and met CJay Tours (Clem) outside the port. We visited some places south of Tauranga & then CJays took us to Auckland, where we spent the night before boarding our first flight (to Hong Kong) early in the morning. The flights home were arduous (26 hours flying, plus connection time) but we eventually made it back home. We were happy - no stomach problems in Bali, no bush fires really close to us in Australia (just smoke & itinerary changes), no coronavirus picked up in Hong Kong airport or banned from ship due to transiting there, no re-eruption of the volcano near Tauranga, and no accidents or major sicknesses. The ship was wonderful, almost all ports were too. While we missed more than a few ports due to bush fires & weather, it was still a fabulous 2 cruises. Bali was exceptional and Australia & New Zealand pretty awesome too. There were also quite a few fabulous people who made our travels memorable, and we (especially Howard) made a lot of new friends.
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Rosario's final creation the evening before we left.  He also left nice O luggage tags & a note saying I will miss you.
Rosario's final creation the evening before we left. He also left nice "O" luggage tags & a note saying "I will miss you."
Ship went right by big beautiful Mt Maunganui & into port in Tauranga, NZ
Ship went right by big beautiful Mt Maunganui & into port in Tauranga, NZ
Since we have no windows, I sometimes check on what's outside the easy way - ship bow cam on TV!  We have company!!
Since we have no windows, I sometimes check on what's outside the easy way - ship bow cam on TV! We have company!!
Arriving Tauranga, we rushed to get up, eat breakfast, appear with luggage for face to face 8:45 meeting with NZ immigration.
Arriving Tauranga, we rushed to get up, eat breakfast, appear with luggage for face to face 8:45 meeting with NZ immigration.
Face to face was required since we were leaving ship a day early.  Clem drove us past beautiful landscape on way to thermal area
Face to face was required since we were leaving ship a day early. Clem drove us past beautiful landscape on way to thermal area
Made quick stop at Kiwi Country Long Ridge Orchard.
Made quick stop at Kiwi Country Long Ridge Orchard.
They'll take you for a tour in  their kiwi train!
They'll take you for a tour in their kiwi train!
Tasted golden kiwi for first time - no furry skin.
Tasted golden kiwi for first time - no furry skin.
Goldens were tented so fruit falls down - easier to pick.
Goldens were tented so fruit falls down - easier to pick.
Drove to Wai-o-tapu thermal area past Rotorua.  Whole area around there is thermal.
Drove to Wai-o-tapu thermal area past Rotorua. Whole area around there is thermal.
Glad restroom had a shirted figure, as I don't understand Maori!
Glad restroom had a shirted figure, as I don't understand Maori!
One of collapsed craters caused by acidic steam.
One of collapsed craters caused by acidic steam.
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