Whitsundays - Dive, sail, restore any day of the week

The Whitsundays' 74 islands make up the southern most part of the Great Barrier Reef's 1,600 miles.  These islands sport powdery sand, lush vegetation and endless opportunities to explore.  Although generally uninhabited, there are a few, including Hamilton Island, where one can let colorful foliage and sunsets simply wash over the spirit.

A couple of days diving on a skippered catamaran makes life seem just about perfect.

Here's a sneak peak of one of Steve's underwater photos. 

Click here for little Great Barrier Reef sunshine

Sydney icons get a colorful makeover

Those colorful irreverent Sydneysiders love having a little fun with their icons    

 Click here for Opera House & St Mary's Cathedral possibilities

"Vivid Sydney" is in its second year and attracts nearly a quarter of a million visitors. See what else the festival has to offer.   

Check out Vivid Sydney

"Pub crawl" or "Bridge Crawl" ?

Hey, anyone can tip a few dozen pints, but how many can climb across Sydney's Harbour Bridge.  Lured by a spectacular view, Karen overcomes her fear of heights, while Steve smiles through his second time climb.  

In Sydney? Give the climb a go.  

Breaking news - Kaufman dukes it out with the local wildlife

And we all thought those hopping long tailed fuzzy beasts were cute.

They are, but don't take their picture without getting asking them to sign a release, or they just might land one on your jaw.

Karen asks Steve if her camera is ensured.

Kiwi - fruit or fowl?

New Zealand's national bird - or - national fruit?  You decide.

• The bird does not fly and there's debate if there really are wings.
• The fruit outwardly quite similar in appearance.

Small, fuzzy, brown - they both look awfully similar. Do you think the beak is real?  Or part of a disguise.

On the Road Again - New Zealand

Some people having a mid life crisis buy a Ferrari.  So what might two corporate retirees do to break out, go a little crazy and "find themselves"?

MAYBE they grow a beard, don tie-died clothes and go on a road trip to New Zealand.  Or maybe not.  We'll never tell.

Honey I don't think we are in OZ anymore

Want dense forest,  dessert or glaciers?   Maybe you prefer placid rivers, rapids, waterfalls or deep water gorges?  Vineyards or ranches? Oh, mountain peaks are what you are in the mood for. No worries.

Just cross "The Ditch" from Australia to New Zealand and you can have it all and then some.

The South Island has Queenstown, which at 45 degrees latitude is the as Eugene, OR - just on the other side - so the red wines are amazing!  Doubtful Sound is really a fjord and its Tasmanian Sea waters are some of the roughest in the world. There are also deserts, glaciers, forests and ranches of cattle and deer.  You may have heard they have a few sheep.  At about 43 million, that's 10 sheep for every person.  Escape to Glenorchy's Blanket Bay and you are in heaven and the land of the Lord of the Rings.

The North Island's warmth suggest you are thousands of miles away.  Auckland boasts more sailing vessels than any other city in the world.  Useppa - with a little effort we could take them on!
Click for pics - look for the latest Maori fashion in Auckland
Music from "The Piano"

Kaufman's raise funds to extend trip

Yes, we have been away for a LONG time.

Wondering how we can afford all this travel?

There's our man at work.

Baby needs a new pair of airline tickets!

Strangely Magnificent

Australian birds don't sweetly sing.  They scream, mimic, "caw" and screech with gusto, but rarely a twitter is to be heard.  However, they are amazing to see.  

Did someone open up the pet shop cages? Is Paul Miller available for a consult?

Click here to see birds galore

For the MUMs!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

We saw thousands of "stickies" posted on the outside of a window display in  Auckland, New Zealand.  Passers by were invited to fill out a special message for their Mum.  Great idea!

It's been up for days!  Can you imagine that anywhere in the USA? 

Well, maybe we should just give it a go!