Australia Circumnavigation 2022

Day 1

11th November

We are waiting in the lounge at Auckland airport for our flight to Sydney. We have just had a late breakfast as we did not eat before we left Hamilton at 07:30 on the bus.

Lift off! The wheels leave the ground and we say goodbye to Auckland Airport.

After having a medically supervised RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) at the Pharmacy on Circular Quay we went to this Italian restaurant by the hotel for a vegetarian pizza for dinner. We need the test for boarding the Noordam tomorrow.

Embarkation

12th November

As we were awake early this morning we decided to go and explore around the hotel. This area is called The Rocks. This is a photo of the underside of the Sydney harbour bridge.

An early morning view of a street outside our hotel. They are setting up a market outside the restaurant where we had our pizza last night.

From the roof of the hotel we have this view of the Harbour bridge.

Looking the other way we have a view of Sydney skyline and Qircular Quay.

At last we are on our way. Pulling away from the dock at White Bay.

Approaching the Harbour bridge.

And then out the other side.

Gladstone

14th November

This is Gladstone Queensland. In the distance you can see the street we have to walk up on a hot afternoon. We had to go up and over this hill on the way to Woolworths. Now we have to go back over it.

This park is on our way back to the dock. The Noordam is at the back of the picture.

And here is our ship tied up at the dock.

Alotau P.N.G.

17th November

Sunrise from our balcony as we sail in to Alotau, Papua New Guinea.

A little boat carrying one of our mooring lines to the dock.

Looking into town from our deck.

Three views of the road into town. We did not go all the way, it was too hot.

Conflict Island P.N.G.

18th November

On Conflict Island, named after the ship that charted the island, we found this shady spot on the ocean beach.

The water here was not as clear as the snorkeling in Fiji. Above are some photos taken near the beach.

These photos were taken out at the reef. I left Colleen at the beach and snorkled out to the reef to have a look over the edge.

Cairns Australia

20th November

Today we have our Kuranda Scenic Railway ride to Kuranda and back. We need an early start to pass through immigration an find the station. This is the breakfast we ordered to be delivered to our room ready for a quick getaway.

Cairns railway station. The ship docked late and we had to make a mad dash to the station. We made it just in time.

In side our carriage.

The ascent to Kuranda has started and this is a view looking back to Cairns.

That is the end of our train passing Stoney Creek Falls. The train was a long one.

We have arrived at Kuranda station. Elevation 327m above sea level.

One of the hand painted engines. This one will take us back to Cairns. Sorry about the Gents sign.

Two views of Kuranda station. One with Colleen waiting for me.

Barron Falls on the Barron river. These falls are 327m above sea level and drop 275m. It is quite impressive in the wet season we were told.

I wish I had know about this on the way up. Horse Shoe bend 180deg. I used a fisheye lens. You can just see the engine on the right and the last carriage on the left. The train on the way up was longer and would have made a better picture.

Torres Straight

22nd November

We had to be up early this morning. The captain had slowed the ship the day before so that we sailed through the Torres Straight this morning at 7am.

Torres Straight is between Australia and Papua New Guinea and at its narrowest is 151km wide.It is named after the Spanish explorer Luis vaz de Torres who passed through it in 1606.