PHOTOGRAPHS BAY OF ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND

Entrance To Bay Of Islands

Beachfront Village Of Paihia

Ship Anchored Off Bay Of Islands

BAY OF ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND

SUNDAY 26^th AUGUST 2012.

Overnight to our last port of call The Bay of Islands. Another beautiful sunny but cool day of 16 degrees.

The Bay Of Islands is a beautiful scenic part of New Zealand’s North Island and we could not have wished for a better day to visit the area.

This was a tender port and we spent most of the day relaxing and wandering around the small bayside tourist village of Paihia,which included lunch and coffee at a little waterfront cafe, before returning to the ship for an early afternoon sailaway

A bit sad, but this turned out to be the ideal day to finish the cruise itinerary.

We have another two days of sailing across the Tasman before reaching Sydney. After our marathon journey, we are a little tired, and looking forward to coming home.

PHOTOGRAPHS AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND

City of Auckland Early Morning From Ship

City of Auckland

View From Waiheke Island Looking Back to the City Of Auckland

Coastline Of Waiheke Island

Morning Tea at Beach Cafe at Waiheke Island

Marilyn at Winery

Another My Car Ferrari

AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND

SATURDAY 25^th AUGUST 2012.

Following three days sailing in the south west direction across the Pacific in calm seas we reached Auckland on the North Island of New Zealand. During this time we crossed the International Date Line and suddenly lost a full day. It was a beautiful sunny but cool day and about 15 degrees.

The city of Auckland was extremely busy and in party mode in anticipation of the All Blacks playing the Wallabies late that afternoon. Black and white faces everywhere.

We spent the morning visiting the Island of Waiheke which was about a 40 minute ferry ride from the city of Auckland. It is a beautiful scenic island of about 8,000 people and we toured around the island including a stop at Onetangi Bay for morning tea on the beach front then a visit to Goldie and Cable Bay Vineyards sampling some good New Zealand wines.

On our return to Auckland we had a late and long lunch at the Waterfall Cafe ,on the Auckland waterfront and the home of the America‘s Cup Yachts. A nice afternoon all round before returning to the ship for sailaway.

Tomorrow is our last port of call for the cruise at the Bay of Islands.

PHOTOGRAPHS PAGO PAGO AND AMERICAN SAMOA

American Samoa And Pago Pago From Sea

Harbour Entrance From Sea

Harbour Entrance From Land

Pago Pago Township

Pago Pago's Rugged Interior

Pago Pago's Mountainous Landscape

Ship Berthed At Pago Pago

Maca's On The Foreshore

Island's Bus Transport

Another Photo of Island's Bus Transport

PAGO PAGO AMERICAN SAMOA

MONDAY 20^th AUGUST 2012.

Following two days of calm sailing across the  South Pacific we reached  American Samoa and it’s capital of Pago Pago. It was a partly cloudy and sunny day of about 30 degrees.

American Samoa is a beautiful tropical jungle clad mountainous island and we berthed at its main port of Pago Pago and downtown Fagotogo which is situated in a fiord like bay and harbour.

Pago Pago, which is pronounced Pango Pango is pretty lay back and easy to get around and we spent the morning wandering around the town and the waterfront areas. The town and surrounding areas are pretty run down with the newest building in town being Maca’s. However it was an enjoyable day, but a place I wouldn’t return for an individual holiday.

Again we had a beautiful sunset sailaway on our way to our next port of call Auckland in three days time.

PHOTOGRAPHS PAPEETE TAHITI

Island of Moorea From Ship Early Morning From Afar

Island of Moorea from Ship

Island of Tahiti From Ship Early Morning

Papeete and Marina

Another View of Papeete

Foreshores of Papeete

Warwick Overlooking Papeete From Ship

PAPEETE TAHITI

FRIDAY 17^th AUGUST 2012.

After five calm sea days from Hawaii through the Pacific Ocean we reached the island of Tahiti and Papeete the capital of French Polynesia. It was a clear sunny day of about 27 degrees. On the way into Papeete we passed the Island of Moorea which was a spectactular sight in the early morning sun.

Tahiti is a lush mountainous island with beautiful landscape and scenery surrounded by coral reefs. As we had previously seen the sights of Tahiti, our day in Papeete only involved an easy wandering the streets and foreshores of the capital which is not a big town and easy to get around.

Our afternoon sailaway at sunset was an amazing experience with the ship sailing around and close to the island of Moorea which is only 20km from Tahiti, before heading out to sea.

Our next port of call is Pago Pago in American Samoa in two days time.

PHOTOGRAPHS HONOLULU WAIKIKI OAHU HAWAII

First View of Island of Oahu From Ship

Northern Side Of Diamond Head From Ship

Rounding Diamond Head and View of Waikiki Beach From Ship

Royal Hawaiian Hotel From Ship

Our Berth in Honolulu Harbour

Entrance to Honolulu Harbour from Ship

Diamond Head

Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head

Water At Waikiki Beach

A Quiet Afternoon Drink Beachside Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Marilyn Outside Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Evening Drink Before Sailaway At Aloha Towers Restaurant With Pride Of America in Backround

Change of Mind - My Car Chevy Corvette

HONOLULU WAIKIKI OAHU HAWAII

SATURDAY 11^th AUGUST 2012.

Following four relaxing sea days sailing across the Pacific Ocean in calm seas, we reached the islands of Hawaii and berthed at Honolulu on the southern shore of the island of Oahu in beautiful warm sunny weather of about 28 degrees.

This is a place we always look forward to coming to. It was fantastic on the ship, in early morning, sighting the partially cloud covered island of Oahu, then rounding Diamond Head to the magnificent view of Honolulu and Waikiki.

We couldn’t have wished for a better day and decided to spend the day in Waikiki, the meeting place. The more you visit Hawaii the better it becomes, it’s that laid back and hard not to relax and that’s what we did. Spent the morning doing some easy shopping, a nice coffee at “Starbucks” then had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory Restaurant in the Hawaiian Village complex. We then had a quiet and lazy afternoon drink with two fellow travellers, beachside in the pink palace of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. It was hard to leave, but we had to get back to the ship for evening drinks and a sailaway dinner with friends at the Aloha Towers Restaurant on the wharf beside the ship. This really finished off a fantastic day and we were sorry to leave that night.

We now have five relaxing sea days before we reach our next port of call, Tahiti.

PHOTOGRAPHS LOS ANGELES

San Pedro Taken From Terminal

Downtown Long Beach

Marilyn & Warwick with Queen Mary in Backround

Lunch at Lighthouse Restaurant Marina

Marilyn at Lighthouse Restaurant

The Queen Mary

Battleship USS Iowa

My New Mustang

LOS ANGELES

MONDAY 6^th AUGUST 2012.

Following four calm sea days from Puntarenas we reached the Californian container sea port and Cruise Terminal of San Pedro, the gateway to the county of Los Angeles. We were greeted by sea fog and mist, however this soon lifted to a beautiful clear sunny day of about thirty degrees. Berthed at the same terminal was the battleship USS Iowa, which is now a museum and tourist attraction

Our day in port consisted of doing our own thing with a visit to Long Beach which was about fifteen miles south of San Pedro. With Bill and Meryl, a  couple from our dinner table, we caught the local commuter bus outside the terminal for a $1-50 and a forty minute ride to Long Beach. This is a nice area with large wide streets and boulevardes and parks around the waterfront. We started the visit with a “Starbucks” coffee then walked down to the waterfront marina for a relaxing long lunch at a local “Lighthouse” restaurant which was right opposite the berthed Queen Mary.

After lunch we only had enough time to catch the bus back to the ship before it’s 4-30pm departure. A good all round relaxing day.

Next port of call is one of our favourite destinations Honolulu, Hawaii in four days time.

PHOTOGRAPHS CABO SAN LUCAS MEXICO

Resort Town of Cabo San Lucas Mexico

Another View Of Cabo San Lucas

Local Landmark Lands End

Hole In The Rock Lands End

Rocky Outcrop Lands End