beelikej: (Ruben is stoer)
[personal profile] beelikej
Don't know how it has been a month already since my previous post, time truely flies! In between work, I visited brotherdearest in Amsterdam and I ordered a custom made bookcase that I then had to put together myself. Will share photos of that once I filled it with books;) First, lets continue my travelseries; last picspam I got off the train in Wellington, which is on the South of the North Island of New Zealand. Had a morning to explore the waterfront there before I flew to Sydney where I was picked up by my other brother, my sister in law and nephew for a bit of a family visit. Before traveling to their home, we got on a ferry in Sydney Harbour:) Below are also photos from my first day in Newcastle, where we walked along the beach. So I guess this picspam has a watertheme, enjoy!

Friday, April 7: From Wellington to Sydney
I spent the night in a private room in the youth hostel across the train station.

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For breakfast I had a granola bar and a yoghurt. After checking out I walked around the station to see where the bus to the airport would leave from.

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Across the street I saw the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings which is called The Beehive (Māori: Te Whare Mīere). Discovered Platform 9 3/4 in the station building, heehee.

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Calculated that I had until the bus at noon to do a bit of exploring. After a last look at the youth hostel I walked to the Wellington waterfront.

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Cool manhole cover and lovely view in the harbour.

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This yellow building is the old ferry terminal, built in 1912; it is now home to the Police Maritime Unit and National Dive Squad.
Across from it is sculpture The Grove, by Whanganui artist Glen Hayward; made of recycled wood from a former Wellington ferry wharf it consists of 15 “copper-headed nails” of various heights hammered into the pavement.

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After a very short walk I find a bench to read until noon (I have Tigers & Devils by old fandomfriend Sean Kennedy on my e-reader, a romance featured in Melbourne, which I plan to visit later!)

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Around noon I walk back to the station for the bus to the airport. Before checking my bag I weigh it and to my surprise it's more than 3 kilos heavier then when I left home! (Must be the NZL chocolate;)

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Huge bird in the airport, where I do some souvenirshopping before going through customs. Next to the gate there's a subway where I get lunch.

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Flight leaves around 16:00 (4 p.m.) and it's off to Sydney, bye New Zealand!

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The vegetables are not very appealing, but the beef is delish.
View of Australia!

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I promise you I was met by my family, but the photos were a bit wobbly. From the airport we took the fast train into Sydney where checked into a youth hostel (again across from the trainstation) and then we walked down George Street where we had build-your-own-burgers for dinner, omnomnom.

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Then we walked to the waterfront, but the expected lightshow wasn't happening this evening; still had a great view of the Operahouse and the sparkling eye:)

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We took the tram back to the hostel, where I shared a room with my sister in law G., while my brother and nephew had a 'boys' room on the floor above us. Good night!


Saturday, April 8: From Sydney to Newcastle
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Love that colourful building among the skyscrapers. See my family waiting to cross the street, I'm not exploring on my own! We walk to The Queen Victoria Building (abbreviated as the QVB). Designed by George McRae, the Romanesque Revival building was constructed between 1893 and 1898; it is 30 metres (98 ft) wide by 190 metres (620 ft) long!

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We have a fancy breakfast (oh pardon, a Petit-Déjeuner) at Manon. I have an freshly squeezed orange juice and a French Onion & Gruyère Scone with fried egg, cherry tomato chutney and chipolata sausages, mmmm.
After that we take the tram to Circular Quay for the ferry across the harbour. Y'all know how much I love ferries; this view of the Opera House is the BEST.

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We are going to the harbour bridge side though: right behind the bridge is a Luna Park, originally constructed in 1935. The big face at the entrance between two Art Deco decorated towers culminating with spires imitating the New York Chrysler Building is designed by Rupert Browne.

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Yay, a fun ALP (arm length photo or selfie;) from me with my brother J., sister in law G. and nephew R.
It was too hot and crowded to go on any rides, so we just enjoyed a drink near the waterside while people watching. Look at the cute frog detail on that wall!

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We took a tram back to George Street and got our backpacks from the locker in the youth hostel before walking to the station.

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We just missed a train, so sat down for a chicken sandwich until the next one.

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It's about a three hour trainride from Sydney to Newcastle, the views are amazing. We had great seats and relaxed:)

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In Newcastle we walked from the station to my family's appartment which has a great view.


Sunday, April 9: Newcastle Beachwalk
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Finally a lovely sleep in and in the afternoon we drove to Newcastle beach for a walk along the boulevard.

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Zooming in on the cool Ocean Baths; I dip my feet in the shallow pool:)

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Collected some pretty shells just for the photo and I had caramelised white choc brownie gelato and a hot Vegemite & Cheese scroll.

What a lovely day!


More to come: the family will show me more beaches and I have planned a fangirl trip to Melbourne!

J.

1. Businesstrip to Auckland [and Livejournal] | 2. Tour to Waitomo Caves & Rotorua [and LJ] | 3. Auckland and Northern Island train [and LJ]

Video Playlist of New Zealand

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