Tag Archives: travel photography

August 31, 2020 · 5:35 am

Circumnavigating New Zealand — Fiordland 2019


Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

You may recall that I recently finished up a three-month series of articles on circumnavigating Australia by cruise (beginning with: Circumnavigating Australia — Starting in Sydney). That series of photos were taken over the course of two voyages spaced one year apart. Over the coming months I’ll be presenting a similar series on circumnavigating New Zealand. And, as with the Australia series, this one will feature images taken a year apart on two separate voyages.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

This week and next will feature New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park during our first visit in March 2019 aboard Majestic Princess.  After that we’ll return to view pictures taken a year later aboard Radiance of the Seas.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Why show the same area twice? Because of the weather, mostly. As you can see in the photos here that the weather in March 2019 was, for the most part, quite nice, having started out on the cloudy side and brightening as the day moved forward. March 2020 was no less spectacular, but the weather this time was uncooperative, with low ceilings and periods of light drizzle. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the contrasting views offered during the two trips here.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

This first trip also had a pall cast over it. It was only one day before reaching Fiordland that our ship received word of the horrific Christchurch mosque shootings perpetrated by Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, an accelerationist and avowed white-supremacist with a documented history of ties to extremist right-wing groups throughout Europe and elsewhere. It was a truly sad time for both the Aussies and the Kiwis aboard.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

As you can see, Fiordland has much to offer in the way of scenic beauty, from tall mountains . . .

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

. . . to lush vegetation:

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

The waterway here is quite protected, so the surface is smooth and inviting:

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

And the cloud-topped mountains are stunning:

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

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August 21, 2020 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — Circumnavigating Australia; Puffing Billy and Yarra Valley 2


Yarra Valley Panoramic 1

Time for one last look at our circumnavigation of Australia. Next week is dedicated to the beauty of El Paso desert flowers and a spectacular sunset as seen from our backyard. Two weeks hence begins a series circumnavigating New Zealand — another series two years in the making. Until then, here are today’s Fun Photo Friday grand finale of Yarra Valley favorites:

Yarra Valley Panoramic 2

Yarra Valley Panoramic 3

Conductor Taking a Break

Crossing a Trestle

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August 19, 2020 · 5:35 am

Circumnavigating Australia — Yarra Valley; Yering Farm Wines


Yering Farm Wines

We were in for a very long haul for our next tour stop. The ride from Yarra Valley Dairy to Yering Farm Wines took place over a nap-inhibiting 1.6 kilometers, which took nearly three long minutes to transverse.

Yering Farm Wines vineyard

This Yering Farm stop was a fun one. The views were nice, the wines tasty, and the staff friendly.

Yering Farm Wines — Our knowledgeable server with Duck Down Under Cabernet Rose

One of the first things that strike you as you approach the tasting room is the old, weathered, rusted-roof structure. It’s like a scene right out of the Old West.

Yering Farm Wines — Like something right out of the Old West

Facing the other direction we were greeted with colorful scenery.

Yering Farm Wines views

Inside, the tasting room appeared right out of a square dance hall.

Yering Farm Wines tasting room

Our server poured us a good representative selection of Yering Farm wines, which range from there Farmyard Series, to a mid-range Estate Series, on up to their top line Reserve Series. None were disappointing.

Yering Farm Wines views

This week’s Fun Photo Friday will conclude this Circumnavigation of Australia series. One destination I’m going to have to skip. That was Tasmania. The weather was miserable the entire time, and I only acquired a very few shots. Three photos simple would not be enough to do an article on this destination.

Starting the Monday after next I’ll begin a series on traveling around New Zealand. As with this Australia series, the New Zealand photos were acquired over two separate cruises — March 2019, and March 2020.

Next week will be a bit of a vacation. During that time I’ll be posting photos of El Paso desert flowers and a spectacular sunset, all of which were taken April through June of this year.

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