Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

Flying off on Friday w/my Nikon D610, my 24-70, 18-24 and 28-300. Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Gisborne, Rotura, Auckland and Wauheke Island. Any advice re sights to see or photo advice? It’s an Oceania cruise so daily ports of call, then 4 days in Auckland on our own.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I hope you have a wonderful trip.
I don't know if this will or has impacted your trip.https://7news.com.au/news/vic/cooler-temps-give-vic-fire-crews-some-hope-c-626764

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Best of luck. I'm going in Feb. Share your shots.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Have a great trip. Nice way to start 2020.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

tripadvisor.com

akfishguide Loc: PA

I just returned from 5 weeks in the South Pacific. I started in Tahiti and went to Moorea (beautiful Island) Bora Bora, Pago Pago, Fiji (two ports) Vanuatu, and New Caledonia (want to go back soon as it was awesome) and final port, Sydney. All aboard a Norwegian Cruise ship. Spent 4 days in Sydney (second time there, two years ago spent 5 days there) Never enough time in Sydney. Opera House for sure, but the Rocks area is full of Australian history (spent a day just following the history there). Botanical Gardens etc. Day trip to the Blue Mountains with a stop at an animal rehab (basically a zoo with all Australian critters) Then boarded another Cruise ship to New Zealand. Made 4 stops on the Northern Island from Bay of Islands down to Tauranga. I was aboard the cruise ship that lost 44 passengers and crew to the Volcano eruption. Not only was everyone on the cruise ship deeply affected by the loss, but Maori Warriors also came to the ship on the second day in port (our trip spent two and a half days in port when we were supposed to only spend a day there) and offered a prayer ceremony alongside the ship. Very emotional. When we left this port, our itinerary was completely changed and we did not get down around the southern island part of New Zealand. Then it was back to Sydney and a flight back to PA (another dreadful experience as American Airlines pilots had run out of flying hours in LAX so there was not even a plane in SYD to bring us home. We ended up on a packed Qantas as all AA passengers were switched in Sydney. 6 of 13 hours with the kid behind me kicking my seat on the way to LAX, but that's another story). 90% of the trip was awesome, but things change unexpectedly, so have a plan B as a just in case. I did not get to the places you have listed, but the fires in Western Australia had put so much smoke in Sydney that at times you could not even see downtown as we came back from the Blue Mountains. I hope your trip is filled with many great photographic opportunities and many great memories like mine was, but have a plan B if possible.

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

Thank you for sharing your deeply humbling experience. One always needs a bit of luck while traveling. Was your second cruise line also Norwegian?

I will do my best to stay flexible and have a back-up plan.

~ Eileen



quote=akfishguide]I just returned from 5 weeks in the South Pacific. I started in Tahiti and went to Moorea (beautiful Island) Bora Bora, Pago Pago, Fiji (two ports) Vanuatu, and New Caledonia (want to go back soon as it was awesome) and final port, Sydney. All aboard a Norwegian Cruise ship. Spent 4 days in Sydney (second time there, two years ago spent 5 days there) Never enough time in Sydney. Opera House for sure, but the Rocks area is full of Australian history (spent a day just following the history there). Botanical Gardens etc. Day trip to the Blue Mountains with a stop at an animal rehab (basically a zoo with all Australian critters) Then boarded another Cruise ship to New Zealand. Made 4 stops on the Northern Island from Bay of Islands down to Tauranga. I was aboard the cruise ship that lost 44 passengers and crew to the Volcano eruption. Not only was everyone on the cruise ship deeply affected by the loss, but Maori Warriors also came to the ship on the second day in port (our trip spent two and a half days in port when we were supposed to only spend a day there) and offered a prayer ceremony alongside the ship. Very emotional. When we left this port, our itinerary was completely changed and we did not get down around the southern island part of New Zealand. Then it was back to Sydney and a flight back to PA (another dreadful experience as American Airlines pilots had run out of flying hours in LAX so there was not even a plane in SYD to bring us home. We ended up on a packed Qantas as all AA passengers were switched in Sydney. 6 of 13 hours with the kid behind me kicking my seat on the way to LAX, but that's another story). 90% of the trip was awesome, but things change unexpectedly, so have a plan B as a just in case. I did not get to the places you have listed, but the fires in Western Australia had put so much smoke in Sydney that at times you could not even see downtown as we came back from the Blue Mountains. I hope your trip is filled with many great photographic opportunities and many great memories like mine was, but have a plan B if possible.[/quote]

hogesinwa Loc: Dalyellup Western Australia

Fires in Western Australia didn't put any smoke in Sydney - we're thousands of miles from there 😊

Jsykes

Went to Australia and New Zealand last February, and going back to New Zealand this Feb.

Last year in Sydney caught the "Big Red Bus" with multiple stops along the way covering all the major sites (Opera House, Harbor Bridge etc). Don't know if there is more than one cruise liner dock but there is one opposite the Opera House.

For New Zealand last year we had a one day sightseeing tour in Auckland with Viator which was excellent. If you are able to, give Rotorua a miss; popularity based on the Hobbit movie and nothing else.

Alternative try Lake Taupo (south west of Rotorua) or, better still if you have the time to fly, go to Queenstown in the South Island; great area for photography and gateway to Milford Sound.

This year we are traveling to Bay of Isles (north of Auckland) and Bay of Plenty (south west); then multiple stops on the north west coast of South Island (via Wellington) then finishing in Dunedin

NZ is as fabulous as they say it is.

JohnR Loc: The Gates of Hell

Hi. I have lived in Tasmania for the last 45 of my 74 years and have travelled extensively both around this island Tasmania and the larger island of Australia to our north! There are far far too many photo sights to list here - I'd be here typing for a month or more! Anyway I think you'll find crew on the cruise ship will provide much valuable help re sights at each port of call - may even organise special trips for you. Very strong recommendation - do not take multiple lenses! Buy/beg/borrow/rent or steal an 18-140 and it will cover everything you might see - you will not want to be changing lenses as while you are doing that you are not seeing the sights. Multiple batteries and SD cards will be of more use. Have a great trip.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

It might have been WA smoke Hoges. We are nearly 2000 miles from South Australia and this morning we have a grey morning and the sun rise is just a ball of fire thru the smokey haze. You arent much further by air. We can even smell the smoke today.
In the south of the South Island, Queenstown, probably a bit closer than us, they needed lights on in houses it was so dark at 3pm yesterday and some of the tourists were wearing masks because of the smell of smoke.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Sorry, dont like correcting you but you are confusing Rotorua with Matamata. Matamata is the home of the Hobbits and very popular, sort of a Disneyland of Hobbits and brilliant, if you like...Hobbits
Rotorua is a must visit for most. A photographic must to see the geysers, authentic Maori villages, Maraes, experience a Maori hangi-food cooked in a pit and baked with hot rocks and seasoned with native herbs and leaves etc. A boat trip on the Lakes to a natural hot water 'spa'. As a destination, one of NZ's most popular.
Your travel north of Auckland is to the Bay of Islands (not the Bay of Isles). I live in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty, just over 2 hours drive from Auckland and one hour twenty from Rotorua. If you want, contact me when you arrive and will meet for a coffee

akfishguide Loc: PA

My error for where smoke was coming from, but it did cover Sydney on Dec 2 when I was there from wherever it was coming from. I forgot just how large Australia is. (The entire US would fit inside the borders of Australia. Aussies are amazing and fun to travel with)

The second cruise from Sydney to New Zealand was on the RCCL Ovation of the Sea. Awesome ship with almost 5000 people aboard. The largest cruise ship travel for us. Everything aboard the ship was amazing. Boarding and departure ran so quickly and smoothly, food was great, and people were great fun. About 80% of people onboard were Aussies. We Would definitely cruise on that ship again. (We have traveled on several Celebrity ships, RCCL before on smaller ships, Princess, and Norwegian. Also, a Viking River cruise which is a different type of cruise and we look forward to doing more)

Enjoy your cruise travels.

mtcoothaman Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Not sure of your sequence but be prepared for serious smoke haze in Aust and perhaps over to NZ (satellite pics show it is already there )as the east coast of Aust in particular is experiencing severe bush fires. Several people have been killed and many buildings and large areas of bush land have also been destroyed. Tough times here.

Kereru Loc: Wellington, New Zealand

4 Days in Auckland

Take a day trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island on the local ferry

It is a predator free nature reserve so gives the opportunity to see some endangered NZ birdlife

Another trip worth considering would be a day trip on the ferry to Waiheke Island

Beautiful beaches and a vibrant wine & restaurant culture

For a longer day trip if you hire a car, consider visiting Tāwharanui Regional Park north of the city
Lovely beaches and some wild life as well