Review: Australia & New Zealand, Sydney, Queenstown, Cable Ride Over Blue Mountains, Rainforest Walk, Wildlife

1. We did a "Fly, Nature Tour, Fly" to Milford Sound. This was probably our most favorite tour. We did this while staying in Queenstown New Zealand. The scenery was spectacular. The flight was on a small plane (45 minutes) and you felt as if you could touch the snow on the mountain tops. The cruise on Milford Sound was also beautiful. We flew back as well. The skipper of the boat said that the weather was the best in a year! We were lucky. The flights are canceled in the rain.

2. Walking through the "bush" (the rainforest) and going right up to waterfalls (with a rainbow in front of it) in the Waitakere Ranges outside Auckland, New Zealand, was beautiful. It made it even more fun doing this in the intermittent rain. We came armed with rain jackets and umbrellas. From here we walked on a black sand beach. This was the last part of our Best of Both Worlds Tour with the city tour in the morning.

3. We had a great full day tour to the Blue Mountains, outside of Sydney. These mountains are beautiful. We also had fun riding the Skyway, Railway and Cableway and then a beautiful walk in the rainforest. We had an Australian BBQ in the woods and then visited a Wildlife Park and I fed the kangaroos and wallabies form my hand. We also saw Koalas and different types of birds. We ended with a cruise on the Parramatta River to Sydney Harbour, sailing under Harbour Bridge and Past the Opera House. This was our first full day of our trip and it was a wonderful introduction to Australia.

4. Tour of Sydney Opera House. This was beautiful and very interesting.

5. We walked over the Sydney Bridge from one end to the other and took a ferry back. We did this on our own instead of the Bridgewalk. Also, on our own I made arrangements for different restaurants in each city. One of the best was a cafe in Sydney, which is overlooking Harbor Bridge and the opera house. Great food and service too. You need to reserve way in advance but it is worth it.

6. Phillip Island: penguin parade with a ranger tour. The tiny penguins are adorable and the ranger was excellent.