Shelby Senior Services recently sponsored a trip to Australia and New Zealand. What follows is a view of the countries through the eyes and notes taken by traveler Sherry Ponsler.
After a long plane ride, the group landed in Cairns City, Australia. Sherry noted that it was very humid. It is summer there right now.
The group enjoyed free time to get acquainted with the area. They began with a walk-about of the nearby gardens and a lagoon, and enjoyed seeing the beautiful lights on the trees.
Nearby, a Ferris wheel and small group of fishing boats dotted the scenery.
The trip featured many boat rides in various watercraft, including an old steamboat reminiscent of the African Queen boat captained by Humphrey Bogart. Aboard this steamboat the group was treated to a guitar player who enlisted them to be backup singers.
One full day on the water included snorkeling, a glass bottom boat ride, as well as viewing marine life while partially submerged in a small submarine.
A Skyrail Rainforest Cableway took them across the rainforest canopy.
“There was beautiful scenery above the treetops,” she wrote.
Also featured in the nearby Rainforestation Nature Park were Aboriginal dancers, spear throwing and boomerang throwing, she noted.
Flights between cities took them to Sydney, Melbourne, Queenstown, New Zealand and Christchurch, New Zealand.
In Sydney, the highlight was the Sydney Opera House, of course. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The group toured private areas inside the site.
After the tour, guests were treated to a dinner cruise with outstanding entertainment featuring singers and dancers.
In order to fully appreciate the scope of Melbourne’s beauty, an included excursion took them to the Melbourne Skydeck.
“What a view from the 88th floor of the Skydeck!” Ponsler noted.
One highlight for Sherry was visiting the Phillip Island Penguin Parade and Koala Conservation Center.
“We saw tons of kangaroos and wallabees. The penguins were very cute, also,” she said.
At Queenstown, they took a two-hour cruise on Milford Sound where they could see seals, dolphins and more.
Ponsler shared, “There was a massive quantity of sheep, cows (dairy and beef) and deer in fields enroute to Milford Sound.”
She also shared that Indiana farmers would probably be in disbelief when they saw the huge herds of deer that are raised for human consumption of venison. Normally, Indiana farmers aren’t thrilled to see deer in their fields of corn.
Also, she was impressed with how beautiful New Zealand was compared to Australia. In Queenstown, the coach stopped at Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. One stop allowed free time to take in the “sheepdog statue.”
Christchurch completed the tour with a bus tour of the city.
Overall, Sherry stated that it was a wonderful trip.
A special thanks to Sherry Ponsler for her informative overview of the trip to Australia and New Zealand.
If you would like to experience great destinations and fun times, please join us for our Travel Show on May 1, at the senior center.
Please call 317-398-0217 to reserve your free spot.
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