Monthly Archives: May 2015

What a contrast. Samoa is as steep and covered in dense jungle, as Tonga is grassy and flat with coconut palms. We crept into beautiful little Paga Pago harbour before sunrise. Parked right in town, surrounded by a substantial fishing … Continue reading →

We arrived at a magnificent new (Chinese paid for) concrete cruise ship wharf in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, with a point blank view of the old Royal Palace. It was a special day … the opening of parliament by the King. If … Continue reading →

We were supposed to call at Tauranga on Sunday to go to Rotorua for the day. But because the harbour entrance is narrow, and the wind was furious, old Flokos the captain said we couldn’t go in! … damn! … … Continue reading →

Here’s the news from Napier New Zealand … home to the finest collection of Art Deco buildings in one place in the world … … and also home to Colin and Toni Lillywhite and their kids Ava, 7 and Christopher, 5. … Continue reading →

Insignia sneaked up to Picton at the end of the Queen Charlotte Sound before sunrise … … then gradually, a gorgeous crisp autumn morning greeted us in the little town … … so it was off in our rental car … Continue reading →

Crossing the Tasman can be problematic, but our three day and four night crossing from Hobart to Picton was pretty good … it started out very nicely … as Jan enjoyed a very late breakfast … then lunch … … … Continue reading →

We rolled out of Sydney on Saturday night, but the further south we went on Sunday, the flatter the sea became … so much for the terrors of Bass Strait! Perfect morning on deck …     … and a perfect … Continue reading →

At last, after all that planning and preparation, we were off on the train to meet the ship …      Gorgeous Autumn day in Sydney … and it’s all happening at Circular Quay. Home for the next 5 months is … Continue reading →

According to cruisemapper.com the ship is on it’s way down from Brisbane … so we’d better get organised … The clothes have been laid out, put back, re-collated, re mixed and matched, put back, laid out again, resorted … and, … Continue reading →