Tuesday
03/07/06
Departing Indiana

Thursday
03/09/06
Melbourne

We arrived in Melbourne around 9:15 a.m. local time and were taken by bus to our hotel, The Mercure Grand Hotel in the heart of the city.

Travelers were free to explore the city on their own for the remainder of the day, then we met for a "Welcome" dinner at the hotel in the evening.

Loading up the bus at the Melbourne Airport

The Mercure Grand Hotel where our group lodged in Melbourne.

One of the vintage trams that provide public transportation in Melbourne.

The city contains a fascinating mixture of old and new architecture. Contrasts in architecture.

The Center of the Moving Image

WBAA travelers celebrate at a "Welcome" dinner for the tour group. Pictured are Ed & Carol Helgerman, Helen Von Kannon and Ernie Wilkinson.

Friday
03/10/06
Melbourne

Today we toured Melbourne. Stops on the tour included Saint Patrick's Cathedral, The National Shrine of Remembrance, Fitzroy Gardens, and the Queen Victoria Markets.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Water Spout Decoration on St. Patrick's Cathedral

Melbourne Skyline

The Yarra River ... another view of Melbourne

Conservatory Building
in Fitzroy Garden

Cook's Cottage
in Fitzroy Gardens

Shrine of Remembrance

Memorial Entrance to the Shrine of Remembrance

Saturday
03/11/06
Melbourne - Cairms

Today we flew from Melbourne to Cairns. Cairns is in a tropical rain forest climate and it lived up to its name. It rained most of the time we were there..

Many of the travelers experienced the rain forest in the Barron Gorge National Park via the "Skyrail," the worlds longest gondola ride.

Today also included a visit to the Tjapuki Aboriginal Center.

Harbor in Cairns as viewed from the hotel

The Sky Rail takes visitors over the rain forest canopy

Laura Loy and Dave Edwards share an umbrella at the Sky Rail Station in the rain forest

Barron Falls in the rain forest

A view of the Grounds of the Tjapuki Aboriginal Cultural Center

A live demonstration of Aboriginal culture at the Tjapuki Center

Sunday 03/12/06
Great Barrier Reef

Today's sightseeing featured a visit to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Although it rained much of the time we were on the island our spirits were not dampened.

The island was lush with vegetation and wildlife. The island is also home to the Marineland Melanesia Aquarium, Museum & Crocodile Farm.

This catamaran provided swift transportation to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Laura Loy's hair demonstrates the speed of the trip!

Green Island

Entering the main visiting area of Green Island

The Swimming Beach on Green Island

One of the many birds that inhabit the island

One of many crocodiles on display at the Marineland Melanesia Aquarium, Museum & Crocodile Farm

The Micronesia Museum also featured many examples of aboriginal art

Cruse Ships in the harbor in Cairns

Monday
03/13/06
Cairns - Sydney

Today we flew from Cairns to Sydney.

The highlight of today's sight-seeing was a visit to Koala Park. The park feature many animals native to Australia.

In the afternoon we were given a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House.

Eastern Gray Kangaroo

Koala

Red Necked Wallaby

Dan Skinner pets a kangaroo

WBAA traveler Dave Edwards kisses a Wombat

The Sydney Opera House

The opera house is covered with ceramic tiles that are self cleaning

A view of the Sydney Skyline from within the opera house

Tuesday
03/14/06
Sydney

Today we took a bus tour around the city. The city features a mixture of very old and very contemporary buildings.

In the evening we went on a dinner cruse around the Sydney harbor. Following dinner we attended a performance of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" in the Sydney Opera House.

This evening we took a "Captain Cook" dinner cruise around the harbor aboard the "Sydney 2000"

Pictured enjoying their dinner cruise are Gil and Mary Satterly, and Phyllis and Gene Courtaney

Larry and Marianne Rose pose near the Sydney Opera House

A portion of the Queen Victoria Building

A portion of the Sydney Skyline

The Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge

The International Tour of the "United Buddy Bears" made a stop in Sydney. The exhibit featured bears painted by artists from around the globe to represent their country.

The United States contribution to the traveling exhibit

Wednesday
03/15/06
Sydney -
Queenstown, NZ

Today we left Sydney, Australia and flew to Queenstown, New Zealand.

We took the Skyrail gondola up to the restaurant for dinner. After dinner many travelers attended the "Queenstown Haka" performance to learn about Maori traditions.

The Skyrail Gondola gave us a lift to the Skyline Restaurant for dinner

Views for the restaurant observation deck

Lake Wakatipu as seen from the restaurant observation deck

The City of Queenstown as seen from the restaurant observation deck

Members of the Queenstown Haka pose for the audience

Downtown Queenstown.

Thursday
03/16/06
Queenstown -
Milford Sound

Today we traveled from Queenstown to Milford Sound in Fiordland Park. We had a light lunch aboard the ship and cruised the sound.

Reflections on Mirror Lake

A view of mountains as we traveled to Milford Sound through the Hollyford Valley.

Cruise ships take visitors through Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea and back.

A view of Milford Sound

One of several water falls to be seen in Milford Sound

A view of Milford Sound

Friday
03/17/06
Queenstown

Today was a "free day" for travelers to do as they pleased. Some travelers chose to go on the "Safari of the Rings" to locations around Queenstown which were used in "The Lord of the Rings" movies.

A "Lord of the Rings" scene location on the Arrow River. Our tour was via Land Rovers seen above.

Laura Loy pans for gold on the Arrow River next to Arrow Town, New Zealand.

The mountain range known as "The Remarkables" appeared several times in "The Lord of the Rings"

The Kawarau River where the "Pillars of the Kings" scene was filmed.

This bridge on the Kawarau river is the site of the first commercial bungee jump location in the world.

Another spectacular view of the mountains near Queenstown.

Saturday
03/18/06
Queenstown -
Mount Cook -
Christchurch

Today we traveled by bus from Queenstown to Christchurch with scenic stops along the way.

View of Lake Tekapo

"Church of the Good Shepherd" overlooking Lake Tekapo on the South Island New Zealand

On the shore of Lake Tekapo was this statue to the Collie dog deducated ub 1968 in reconigtion of the dog's importance to sheep hearding.

View of glacier on the mountain range as seen from the Mount Cook Hermitage Vistor Center.

2003 Statue of Sir Edmond Hillary at Hermitage near Mount Cook. The pose is based on a photo of Hillary when he completed a grand traverse of the three peaks of Mount Cook in 1970.

Sunday
03/19/06
Christchurch

Our day started with a tour of the Oakleigh Farm which featured sheep and dairy cattle.

The day was ours to explore the city that has been discribed as the most English city outside of Britian.

In the evening, WBAA tour members enjoyed dinner aboard an antique tram as it circled the city center.

For More Info: Christchurch Website

Sam Rose shares a moment with Sam the Sheep dog at the Oakleigh Farm

We are given a sheep shearing demonstration at the Oakleigh Farm located outside of Christchurch

One of the rustic trams serving the city center

The Christchurch Cathedral

The WBAA Tour Members enjoyed dinner aboard a tram as it circled the city center.

A view inside the dinning tram

Monday
03/20/06
Christchurch

Punting on the Avon River through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Chalice, located in Cathedral Square, is a work by internationally renowned sculptor Neil Dawson

Part of the Christchurch Arts Centre located in the the former site of the University of Canterbury which was first established in 1873

The Christchurch Art Gallery is home to Christchurch’s public art collection, which includes international and New Zealand historical and contemporary pieces

Our group toured the Riccarton House, an historic 1856 homestead, that was home to the Deans family, the first Europeans to settle on the Plains in 1843.

We concluded our visit to the Riccarton House with a farewell dinner, saying good-bye to those travelers who were not continuing on to Fiji.