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The Big Trip
August 2018 - April 2019 |
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Coach x 1, Flights x 4, Cruises x 8, Hire Cars x 5, Boats/ferries x 20+, Train x 1
We began our 'Round the World' trip by taking a bus from Derby to Heathrow then flying to Vancouver, where we spent 5 nights before boarding Royal Caribbean's cruise ship Radiance of the Seas. Our short video below explains all...
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We cruised Alaska for 14 nights, northbound then southbound and back to Vancouver then stayed on the same ship for a further 30 nights as she repositioned to the southern hemisphere. The perfect way to get to the other side of the world without jet lag, in our opinion anyway.
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Between Canada and Australia we called at some of the most idyllic places; paradise destinations that we'd dreamt of going but were never quite sure we would have the time or money to get to. The first stop was Hawaii, Big Island, Maui, and Oahu, one of our long awaited destinations and it didn't disappoint, we even got to cycle part of the Kona ironman world championship route.
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Next on the itinerary were the Polynesian Islands of Tahiti where Papeete was a little underwhelming but Bora Bora and Moorea, wow oh wow. They were both just stunning. From here we headed across to New Zealand and finally Sydney, Australia.
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Australia
The plan was to stay in Australia for three months and tour around. We made friends with so many people from Australia on the Pacific crossing that we soon realised there was going to be more to see than we had bargained for.
On the advice of several Aussies we actually flew to Cairns and toured Queensland in a car for four weeks, eventually driving back to New South Wales and Sydney. We covered a few thousand miles with our northern most point being Cape Tribulation then as many of the must do sights as we could including The Daintree River and Rainforest, The Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands, Undarra Lava Tubes, Numerous National Parks, The Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach, Hervey Bay, Noosa, Brisbane, The Gold Coast and Tweed Heads on the border between Queensland and New South Wales.
The plan was to stay in Australia for three months and tour around. We made friends with so many people from Australia on the Pacific crossing that we soon realised there was going to be more to see than we had bargained for.
On the advice of several Aussies we actually flew to Cairns and toured Queensland in a car for four weeks, eventually driving back to New South Wales and Sydney. We covered a few thousand miles with our northern most point being Cape Tribulation then as many of the must do sights as we could including The Daintree River and Rainforest, The Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands, Undarra Lava Tubes, Numerous National Parks, The Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach, Hervey Bay, Noosa, Brisbane, The Gold Coast and Tweed Heads on the border between Queensland and New South Wales.
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Time for a bit of luxury
Our driving tour had been amazing but it was hot and tiring so back at Sydney we decided it was time to get on another cruise. This time it was Holland America's Noordam and we stayed on her for 30 nights. The first 15 nights was sailing south where we visited Tasmania, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and Eden before heading back to Sydney.
Our driving tour had been amazing but it was hot and tiring so back at Sydney we decided it was time to get on another cruise. This time it was Holland America's Noordam and we stayed on her for 30 nights. The first 15 nights was sailing south where we visited Tasmania, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and Eden before heading back to Sydney.
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For the second half of the trip we sailed north again calling at Gladstone, Papua New Guinea (Kitava & Kiriwina), Conflict Islands, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Cairns and Brisbane then back to Sydney again.
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Christmas and New Year was spent in Sydney and we watched the spectacular Sydney Harbour firework display. From Sydney we travelled to the New South Wales Southern, Central and Northern beaches, with some awesome coastal scenery. We couldn't go to Australia without a visit to the capital city Canberra, where we saw ancient Aboriginal rock art and so many kangaroos it was ridiculous.
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New Zealand
We got back on to Radiance of the Seas in mid January to sail to New Zealand, where we got to see the famous Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds of the South Island as well as Dunedin, Akaroa, Picton, Tauranga, Napier and Auckland, where we said goodbye to Radiance for the final time. We were met at the port by an old school friend, Shelley and then stayed at Arkles Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsular for our first month before the three of us toured around the North Island.
We got back on to Radiance of the Seas in mid January to sail to New Zealand, where we got to see the famous Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds of the South Island as well as Dunedin, Akaroa, Picton, Tauranga, Napier and Auckland, where we said goodbye to Radiance for the final time. We were met at the port by an old school friend, Shelley and then stayed at Arkles Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsular for our first month before the three of us toured around the North Island.
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Homeward Bound
We flew from Auckland to Singapore and where joined by our parents (Kev's Mum, Sue's Mum & Dad).
After a night in Singapore we boarded Royal Caribbean's 'Voyager of the Seas' and cruise to Vietnam and Hong Kong.
A further three nights in Hong Kong and we flew back to the UK.
We flew from Auckland to Singapore and where joined by our parents (Kev's Mum, Sue's Mum & Dad).
After a night in Singapore we boarded Royal Caribbean's 'Voyager of the Seas' and cruise to Vietnam and Hong Kong.
A further three nights in Hong Kong and we flew back to the UK.
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After a day walking around Singapore we returned to the Hotel and waited for our package to arrive. They slipped out of the taxi after a bumpy flight but they were here. No time for rest as we need to explore as we have an appointment with a Singapore Sling on the viewing platform at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
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The final cruise on this epic adventure on Voyager of the Seas
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We found Vietnam very interesting and the ports of call excellent
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Then finally on to Hong Kong
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You can also experience our adventures
through the eyes of an artist by visiting
www.susanbedfordart.com
through the eyes of an artist by visiting
www.susanbedfordart.com
The photographs and video on here are from our own trips, they're also copyrighted by us so no reproductions without specific permissions thank you.
