Wednesday 24 February 2016

Australia 8th to 22nd February - Sydney, Airlie Beach, Great Barrier Reef


Our time in Australia has been split between a variety of tourist activities, visiting friends, sailing, diving, snorkelling, flying and a wedding.

Again, not to spend too much time waffling on about what we've done, I will upload a host of photographs, with comments and hope that the fun time we've had in Australia shines through...

8th to 11th February Sydney - Opera House, Bridge, wild life, and a Wedding

Opera House and Bridge - oh and wedding venue


Classic tourist photos 


Mad people walking the bridge - or fun, depending on your view!


History of the Opera House


Sydney sky line and cruise line...


more classic tourist photos...


Every city has an 'eye' now, and a signpost


Mr and Mrs Holland - yeah!


Wedding train around the Botanical Gardens - thanks.


Cutest wedding cake!


Sydney skyline by night, from the wedding boat




12th-15th February - HARS - Historical Aircraft Restoration Museum. Our friends Noel and Anna put up with us for a few days. They not only welcomed us into their home and treated us like family , but they gave us one of the best flying experiences we have ever had, or will probably ever have. We cannot thank them enough.

There are people out there who know how important this is...


Coffee break view on our way to Noel and Anna's



Got to love pelicans...


HARS...and the many planes we got to fly in :-)

Dave and the Connie


The Caribou


Caribou pilots, cockpit and Dave


Caribou view...engine or scenery!


Hanging out the back of the Caribou...


Static F1-11


Before our DC3 flight


DC3 tail and Connie


DC3, getting ready to go


DC3 view...engine or scenery?


DC3 view...cockpit or scenery?


DC3 view...wing or scenery?


Just scenery!


Noel, Anna, Dave and Noel's baby...


15th to 22nd February - Airlie Beach, Anaconda III, Sailing, Diving, Snorkelling, Turtles and Flying (again!)

Anaconda III at anchor


Twin sea-planes...at anchor!


 Sign post, just in case we get lost!


Anaconda III at anchor, sea plane at anchor!


Whitehaven Beach...everyone wearing black stinger suits!


Meter long monitor lizard on the beach...


Sunset from Anaconda III


Pleasure flight to the Great Barrier Reef...

...many islands...


...more runways...


...islands and runways...


...islands and sea...and planes...


...islands...planes...sea...and beaches...


...sea...beaches...islands...sky...clouds...


...Heart Reef...


...Great Barrier Reef...


...Great Barrier Reef...and sea...and clouds...


...islands, sea, sand, sky....and boats...


...toys...


Until next time...

Saturday 13 February 2016

Week three New Zealand - South Island

I've decided not to write too much on this blog, just post a host of photos, with some captions. I think the photographs say more than I can to describe the beauty of the south island...

on our way to Wanaka from Franz Josef Glacier





View over Lake Wanaka




Flight over Wanaka and Mount Aspiring
















Queenstown, TSS Earnslaw Steamboat and Banquet BBQ





Mirror Lakes

 


Road to Milford Sound


Milford Sound













Queenstown return





Lake Takepo, penultimate night in NZ








Next stop Australia, Sydney...