Burnie, Tasmania, Australia

At 8:00am on February 24^th, our ship arrived in the Port of Burnie located in Tasmania, Australia.  It is a town known for timber and paper production.  The current population of the city is about 19,000 and is one of Australia’s largest and most significant deep water shipping ports.  From there is shipped honey, fine cheeses, fruits, vegetables, paper, and timber products.

We were met by the Mayor of Burnie pier side and a group representing the Chamber of Commerce.  They provided large buses as our shuttle into the city which was 1 ½ miles from the ship.  Once downtown we walked the town and made our way to the local McDonald’s to use their free Wi-Fi.  We got a Big Mac Meal for each of us at a cost of about $7 US dollars each.  

Afterward we continued walking the town and looking through the shops and stores.  We chose not to do an excursion out of the town because Cindy was ill with an upper respiratory infection and she wanted to get better prior to our overland tour of Australia.

There was a very unique sail away here in Burnie.  A local group performed playing drums and bag pipes in their traditional kilts.  We left the harbor at 5:00pm out across the Bass Strait heading for the Tasman Sea and our passage to the Australian continent.

  

Fjordland National Park, New Zealand

On Tuesday, February 21^st we started our touring of the Fjordland National Park, New Zealand.  The day began with low clouds, overcast, and some rain.  The rain created many magnificent waterfalls throughout the fiords.  But, we ended the day with the sun peeking through the clouds.  We visited Milford Sound, home of the Sutherland Falls, the highest waterfall in New Zealand, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Thompson Sound.  This area was created long ago when glaciers slowly sculpted the beautiful fjords.  Leaving Fiordland, we crossed a very smooth Tasman Sea and got to see some very large albatross sailing on the strong winds.  As the day closed, we viewed a colorful sunset.