lyndarra

I just posted a reply on a different thread and it's not showing. Seems it's "hidden". How would that happen?

I can recommend the CKS Hotel at Wolli Creek. It's about five minutes from the airport (about a mile), in the same street as the Novotel, and they run a shuttle to/from the airport. It's about a 10 minute walk to Wolli Creek station from where you can take the train into the city to Circular Quay (17 minutes). It's on the same line as the airport station. I've used it many times (lost count) to stay the night before flying out of Sydney (mostly international), and found it cheaper than others in the area. CKS Sydney Airport Hotel (book-directonline.com) Train Wolli Creek to Circular Quay ferry wharf from $4 | Tickets & Timetables | Rome2rio

The way infections are rising, will they have enough quarantine cabins? Keep the masks on.

There's an interesting old building behind the "castle" where all the poop went into tanks. The methane from it was then piped back to the castle for gas lighting IIRC.

My first couple of years after retirement I'd be drinking my morning coffee on the back deck wondering if there was somewhere else I was supposed to be. Every day is a bit like Sunday. I know its Sunday because I get the Sunday paper delivered and I know it's Saturday because thye Newcastle Herald is on my driveway = weekend alert.

I worked in a bank for thirty years and on two occasions after I retired I went to my local branch on a Monday to find it closed - Bank Holiday. Doh! 🙄. I don't go to banks anymore but will have to soon as I have a lot of cash to deposit from selling a couple of bikes OR, I suppose, can do it at my local Post Office, do they still handle cash?

I was on HAL Volendam when it had a power failure somewhere between Darwin and Singapore. IIRC there was a problem with one or more of its generators. We drifted about on a dead calm sea for a couple of hours until it got going again. All power was shut down except emergency supply to the bridge and the casino!!

I'll add the Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch.

Only if they're Tigers supporters.😁

Looks like ship will be towed to Port Botany. Sydney has had more rain in a couple of days than London in a year. Really hissing down where I am ATM. Waiting now to sea how much the lake will rise at higfh tide.

I had a two night stay at Ibis Darling Harbour when I went to see Hamilton (the theatre is a short walk away). It's walking distance to all the Darling Harbour eateries, cafes etc., and light rail to CBD is close by. It was basic but clean and comfortable and inexpensive. It's only about 10 minute cab drive from White Bay.

I have cruised to New Zealand quite a few times (as well as land tours) on Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Holland America. I have found HAL to have the most varied itineraries and value for money. As mentioned in a previous post, if time limited, do New Zealand and save Oz for a later land tour (if possible), self drive would be the most economical as lands tours in Oz are ridiculously expensive. A number of cruise i lines start Auckland, finish Sydney or vice versa. This eliminates two return sea days which, IMO, are a waste. I thinks CCC's recommendation is worth considering. "So much to do, so little time" - Anon🙂

Bateau Bay?😆

😁 Relics?😁

Port Chalmers?

"Life's too short to drink bad wine" - Goethe

I had a recent purchase from USA on my NAB Visa. Exchange rate used used was 0.71 which is about right. They charged a transaction fee of 3%. I liked the Velocity Global Wallet because I could load it with different currencies and use as a debit card. If don't find something similar I may just stick to my Visa card. I also have a Mastercard as backup incase something happens to the Visa.

Correct. My first UK/Euro tour was six weeks. Four weeks is the norm for annual vacation. Also, we can add on Long Service Leave and, in some cases, untaken sick leave.

My wife and I were there on, IIRC, Radiance OTS. We left the day the fire started and could just see smoke in the distance. Stonehenge was very interesting. I emember it being a very hot day. We bought an ice cream each and they were melting almost faster than we could eat them.

Since Velocity is no longer supporting Global Wallet, which I found very handy, what's the go to for cashless foreign currency transacxtions? I have seen, in the past, that 28 Degrees has a few supporters. I'll be having a look at that one.

Looks like you'll be disembarking just before I'm boarding. I've had my flu and pneumonia shots as well as four COVIDS but I'll still be masking up.

Very familiar with HV wine scene. Was supposed to be going to Piggs Peake this Saturday night for their 2022 wine release - an annual event involving free food and wine tasting - but my cruising BF who usually comes with me has a funeral to attend at Harvey Bay. No problem, there are three other nights I can go to in July.

I'm wondering what to do when Westerdam calls in at Newcastle on January 4. Maybe a CC event at Harry's CDW?

Twin share PP.

Pulled the trigger today on what I thought is a good deal. Sydney/Singapore 16 days Westerdam o/v 3/1/2023. $2500 including return flight.