March 30, 2018 Start of our Great Barrier Reef cruise on Celebrity Solstice

March 30, 2018

Today we start our 12 Great Barrier Cruise. We arranged our whole Australian and New Zealand trip around this cruise. One of our must see trips was to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the other was to see the Penguin Parade on Phillips Island.

We checked out of the Sydney Radisson and had met our driver who was to take us and our luggage to the ship. Although we were close to the pier it was not possible to take all our luggage with us if we wanted to walk down to the ship.

The pier was busy with all the departing and arriving passengers. Check in was quite organized and was quick.
One strange thing was that I had to surrender my power strip at the boarding podium - Australian regulations prohibit them on the ship- considering I have taken it to New Zealand and on many other cruises.
(I did get it back when I left the ship on arrival back in Australia 12 days later).

After boarding we headed to the Main Dining Room for lunch (concierge passengers only) where we sat with another couple and enjoyed a delicious lunch.
When lunch was finished, the announcement was made that we could go to our cabins.

We started unpacking some of our things when the luggage was delivered and then we started unpacking those things too.

Around 3pm we attended the mandatory life boat drill.

At 4 pm we went to the top deck to see the sailaway and took photos.

At 6pm we went to the dining room for our first dinner on board. We were assigned to a table of 10 but only four couples were assigned to it and only 6 of us were there.
We had a great waiter and assistant and wine steward. Different than the Princess ship which did not have a wine steward.

Dinner was so much better than the Princess. Food on the Princess was not as tasty and portions very small. Celebrity Menu was more extensive.

I went to the evening show which was good.

March 29, 2018 flying from Melbourne back to Sydney

March 29, 2018

This morning we had the breakfast buffet at the Hotel Radisson and then collected our luggage to check out and get ready to go to the airport.

The Melbourne airport was busy with holiday travellers but we still were able to check in and check the bags in a reasonable time.
Our flight was on Virgin Australia and it was fine- seats comfortable and smooth flight.

We met our driver who took us back to the Radisson.
We checked in and our room was ready early.

Dinner tonight was at Fratelli's in the Westfield Mall. The mall is in  a pedestrian only zone and an easy 10 min. walk from our hotel.

Tomorrow we check out and go on our Great Barrier Cruise on the beautiful Celebrity Solstice.

March 28, 2018 Great expectations for today's tour - highlight march of the fairy penguins

March 28, 2018

Today we have an early start for a full day of touring concluding with a visit to Phillip Island to view the emergence of the fairy penguins from sea and their march to their burrows.

As we did yesterday we boarded a coach after breakfast and it made a few stops to gather passengers and then took us to the central terminal. Here we transferred to a coach that would take us on our tour.
Our driver informed us that our first stop would be at the Moonlit Sanctuary where we can buy tickets to have a photo holding a koala. We will also see koalas up close and other native Australian animals and birds and take a walking tour of the grounds.
http://www.moonlitsanctuary.com.au/

We arrived about 90 mins later and got off the bus and into the cafe/welcome center and proceeded to follow the trails to see the koalas. After we viewed the koalas and took photos of them we started walking down to the area where the Wallabies and kangaroos were.
They were  in an area with just a rope to keep them off the trail and were waiting by the rope to be fed. Wallaby food was sold at the visitor center. The kangaroos were more shy and stayed back away from the rope.
Once we saw them and took photos of them we went along the trail to walk back to the visitor center.
There we had time to have a refreshment before it was time to get on the bus and head to Churchill Island Farm.
https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/Phillip-Island/Things-to-do/History-and-heritage/Churchill-Island-Heritage-Farm.aspx

 There is  a sheep under all that wool

Here we had our lunch and then walked around the farm and then to the barn to see a sheep shearing demonstration and watch a farm hand demonstrate on how to use a whip and then guests were invited to try to use the whip.
We did not have enough time to watch the sheepdog demonstration.

Back on the bus and going to the Nobbies Center Antarctic Center.

This was a very interesting place. It is like taking  a tour of the Antarctic. There is a room that is as cold as the Antarctic so one can experience the extreme cold of the Antarctic. There is a stage/area where one can stand and pretend to feed the seals and pet an orca. My photos did not come out very clear but you can get the idea.

There are many screens showing films of the Antarctic and the wildlife. It was a very good experience.
Outside there are viewing platforms to see the surrounding area and some penguin houses.

It is about 4:00 and we are now going to Cowes, a small resort town on the island for our dinner break. The main street has small shops and a variety of restaurants. Our tour guide has allowed us 90 mins., to have dinner and get back on the bus.

We ate a seafood pizza restaurant which was ok and then headed to the bus.

We arrived at the visitor center at Summerland Beach to get ready to view the penguins.

Here is a view of the premium viewing platform


Our tour provided premium viewing so we headed down to the viewing platform around 7:30 to get a place to view the arrival of the penguins.
Around 8:05 the first penguins emerged from the sea. They would stand around on the shore like they needed to rest before heading up to their burrows/house.


No photography of any type was permitted of the penguins. 
Every few minutes a new wave of penguins would land and repeat the process. I asked a center guide how long it  takes for all of them to return and was told it could be many hours.
Below is a link to see some videos of penguins.

https://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/activities/


Walking up on the boardwalk to the visitor center I could see the penguins waddling up next to me heading to their burrows.

 Photo of a pair of penguins by the visitor center

Burrow


We boarded the bus at 9:30 pm for the 90 min. trip to Melbourne. We were the last to be dropped off at the hotel- 11:45 pm.

This was a wonderful experience and one of the highlights of my visit to Australia.

Tomorrow we check out and fly back to Sydney.

March 27, 2018 our first day in Melbourne

March 27, 2018

Today we had to be up by 7 to get ready to get on the tour bus at 8am.
We went to the Radisson for the breakfast buffet since the Jazz Hotel restaurant did not open until later in the morning.

Our breakfast was great. Just as good as the buffet we had at the Sydney Radisson except this dining room has views of the city.

At 8am we boarded the bus which picked up some other passengers and then drove to the central tour bus terminal where we transferred to another bus that would take us on the 1/2 day city tour.

https://www.grayline.com.au/australia-sightseeing/melbourne-day-tours/melbourne-city-day-tours/melbourne-city-tour

The bus took us around the downtown city center where we saw the Princess Theater, Parliament House, Little Italy, Melbourne University and other landmarks. 

The bus stopped downtown where guides met us to take us on a downtown walking tour to see the local laneways and arcades. We stopped for 15 mins so we could take a break, get coffee or tea or use the restroom.

 MOSAICS ON ARCADE FLOOR

We then proceeded for a tour of another arcade before we met the tour bus, got on and went to the Fitzroy Gardens for a 30 break to walk the gardens and go into the conservatory.

Back on the bus and then we went to the Queen Victoria Market. We had the option to get off and go back to our hotel on our own or stay on the bus which would drop us off at the hotel.

We opted to get off and we went into the market which consisted of individual stalls that sold clothes, souvenirs and food.
This was the best place so far for souvenir  shopping during our vacation so far. We were able to buy gifts for our family and ourselves.

We then walked the 15 mins it took to reach our hotel and had lunch there.

(We moved from the Jazz Hotel to the Radisson before lunch). I had called our tour co. rep and asked if we could move and she said yes, we would pay the bill and the tour co. would issue us a refund when we got home.

After lunch we unpacked, rested and then decided to walk to the Greek District to go to the Greek Gift store. 

The owners (forgot their names unfortunately) were very friendly and we had a nice visit talking about their life in Australia and our life in US. At the end I asked if they could recommend a Greek restaurant and they said to go to Jimmys Taverna, a 10 min uber ride from their store.
We summoned an Uber and the driver took us through different parts of Melbourne to the restaurant.

When we went it it was like being in a taverna in Athens. Tables filled with families with children and the sounds of the waiters calling out the orders to the cooks.

The food, meats and fish displayed in cases just like in Greece.
When we asked for a menu the waiter said just order what you want and we will serve it to you, no menu needed.
Do not remember what we ordered but it probably was an appetizer, Greek salad and grilled meat, ie souvlaki or lamb chops. Food was delicious and when we got the bill it was reasonable.
Best restaurant so far on this trip.....


Took the Uber back to the Radisson and got our things together for tomorrow's full day tour.