Thursday, December 27, 2012

Experience the Wonders Down Under: Top Ports Cruising Australia and New Zealand




Going on a cruise is a great vacation option. Whether you're going with family, friends, a significant other, or on your own, there's no shortage of fun to be had at sea. You'll get to visit and explore a number of new exciting places on your trip and enjoy all kinds of entertainment and activities aboard your ship. If you're looking into taking a cruise, consider going to Australia and New Zealand. While these countries may not be the first ones that come to mind when you think about going on a cruise, you'd be surprised at how many interesting and exotic places you can explore in them. Here are some of the top ports you can cruise to down under.

 
Tauranga, New Zealand
Tauranga is New Zealand's sixth-largest urban area, and it serves as a gateway to Rotorua, one of New Zealand's most popular tourist attractions. After docking at the Port of Tauranga, you can explore the beautiful scenery of the area, including the vast beaches and lush reefs. Go dolphin watching on the Bay of Plenty, take a scenic hike through Tauranga Domain, or pick up souvenirs from one of the numerous shopping centers in Tauranga's suburbs.
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
A popular stop for cruises from Sydney and other Australian cities, Hobart is a city rich with Australian history. Originally founded as a penal colony in the 1800s, Hobart is now bustling with culture and beauty. The Wrest Point Hotel Casino is a big draw for tourists who want to play a game of luck, and music and art lovers can enjoy the sounds of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the sights of the Museum of Old and New Art. A stroll through the beautifully planted Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens can wrap up your visit to Hobart in the loveliest way.
Darwin, Australia
For a real taste of the land down under, dock in Darwin and bask in the yearlong Australian sun. Though Darwin is one of Australia's most modern cities, you'll have no trouble finding adventure outdoors here. Go on a fishing trip and catch some of the Pacific's most sought-after fish. Or rent some jetskis and hit one of the city's numerous beaches. There are also a number of excellent golf courses and parks to spend your day at.
Queenstown, New Zealand
If you're a nature lover who books a cruise that stops in Queenstown, you're in for the experience of a lifetime. A short drive away is Fjordland National Park, one of New Zealand's most pristine areas of natural beauty. Hundreds of waterfalls cascade down the cliffs and can be seen while hiking through the incredible landscape. Visitors can also see seals and dolphins on the beaches, and depending on the season, whales may be sighted as well. Queenstown itself is often called the "Adventure Capital of the World", with activities like skiing, skydiving, rafting, and fishing being plentiful all year round.
With Australia and New Zealand increasing in popularity as cruise ship destinations, there has never been a better time to take a cruise to the region and experience its unique brand of adventure!




Pin It


Friday, November 23, 2012

Vivi's Random Ramblings turns 1!

at King's Palace, Ubud, Bali Indonesia
My blog is now 1 yr old! Yey! With 119 posts,  3k comments, 144k page views (with almost 2 months of dry spell.. Hehe, sorry got busy with some personal stuff ),  consistent good ranking on Top Blogs, occasional direct advertisers (thank you for believing in my blog!), selling some pictures , getting featured by other bloggers, great comments from readers, numerous nominations for various awards (haven't won anything but just the thought of people recognizing your work is already something right?).  Who would have believed that my passion for traveling and photography will bring me here? I can't even imagine it!

one lazy afternoon at Poracay Resort, Porac Pampanga
Birth pains are tolerable like receiving  criticisms  to better my grammar ( hehe ) or  suggestions for me to just blog in Tagalog..(Ouch!), or comments that my pictures are not really that great (some DSLR users getting upset whenever I say I am satisfied with my bridge camera... eat my dust guys! hehe, you are free to state your opinion and I will respect them, but learn to respect mine too..)  But those are just minor birth pains, I had my share of the worst kind that almost made me deactivate my blog and hire a lawyer, my share of almost 2 weeks of non-stop personal harassment thru my blog which I'd rather not elaborate. ( the pain is still fresh guys, but I still want to thank you for stopping, sigh ).

Gold Souk, Dubai Mall
At first I was just looking for a venue to share my photos, but maintaining a photo blog is more than just pictures. I've learned a lot for the past one year and I still have so much more to learn. As long as I am enjoying it, I am staying. I'm looking forward to celebrating more anniversaries and I hope you will still be there for me, to keep on checking my grammar?? hehe. 

Putrajaya Cruise with friends
To all my supporters, thank you so much, I still have so many things in my sleeves for you, watch out for those!  To all my detractors, thank you for always teaching me that I will never be good enough because it only proves I still have so many things to learn. If I'm already perfect then what's next in life? Nothing.. Because life is about learning!  So thank you!!

Singapore, from the viewing deck of Marina Bay Sands
Timely too that my blog has just received its best anniversary gift, a nomination to be a part of the "Top 10 FBW Travel Blogs of 2012", if you believe in my blog please support it by voting for Vivi's Random Ramblings, here's the link to the site: vote here.  Thank you in advance!

As a way to thank all my supporters, all of the photos you will see in this post are photos I have not used in this blog  and some places I have not blogged about yet. Enjoy!

Putrajaya , Malaysia's Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
my Instagram shot of Subic, Philippines
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Ocean Adventure, Subic, Philippines
Sunway Lagoon, Malaysia
Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Cameron Highland, Malaysia
Coron, Palawan, Philippines
San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines
Kintamani, Bali with magnificent panorama of
Batur Lake and active volcano.

Penang, Malaysia
Genting Highland
with cekak dancers, Indonesia
Nagsasa Cove, San Antontio, Zambales
Chin Swee Cave Temple in Genting Highlands, Malaysia
and so much more..... and more! So watch out guys. Thanks everyone for viewing! 


Pin It