travelbynatasha

©Jean Janssen    In the vineyards of Marlborough, the largest wine-producing region of New Zealand

©Jean Janssen    Making our way into the port at Picton, New Zealand

Today we are docked in Picton, New Zealand at the northern point of country’s southern island. Although there are also small islands that are part of the country, New Zealand is considered a country of three islands, the southern island, the northern island, and Stewart Island. Not surprisingly given its location, Picton is the point where the rail, truck, and car ferries leave for the Northern Island. We are docked right next to the ferry terminal after a nice ride in along the channel. Not all cruise ships have the opportunity to approach the city this way so we are fortunate. Another cruise ship was at anchor, but we are docked today.

©Jean Janssen   A pitcher of Sauvignon Blanc right out of the stainless steel drum to sample at Allan Scott Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand

By the time we got off the ship the sun had peaked out, the first time in over a week. The winery excursion is by far the most popular and there are four buses going to different regional wineries today. Our first stop was a small winery, Allan Scott, where we were welcomed with a tasting of their sparkling variety. The Winemaker gave us a wonderful introduction to their process, especially for the sparking wines that require far more care. It is only fitting that Natasha’s favorite is Champagne and other sparkling wines; Boris will tell you that I require far more care.

©Jean Janssen    Sampling the Chardonnay at Allan Scott Wineries in Marlborough, New Zealand

After describing the differences in making the Sauvignon Blanc (easier and quicker turn out time), the winemaker put a pitcher to the stainless steal drum and drew out the processing wine. We all got a tasting of that. Since he saw we were all ok with a cloudy wine, he took us around to another row and we tried a Chardonnay. Finally, out of the oak barrel, we got a sampling of the pinot noir. As we filed inside to sample the finished product, I saw I guide speaking to a gentleman not of our group who was watching the tour. I took a chance and was rewarded with an introduction to the owner/winemaker Allen Scott himself.

©Jean Janssen Allan Scott Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand

We chatted for a moment about wine, the difficulty of distributing in the United States, and travel to and from Houston, Texas (my home). Inside, I picked up a bottle of the sparkling that I particularly liked. I also sampled and purchased a bottle of another sparkling wine that was enhanced with a touch of cognac. (About now my book club friends are salivating with anticipation that I might share some of this with them.)

©Jean Janssen The vineyards at Allan Scott Winery, Marlborough, New Zealand

As we departed, Boris reminded me that we were now at our limit of duty free wine bottles. I reminded Boris that Azamara allows us to take the wine to our room so we could always drink some of the bottles before we got off the ship assuming we wanted to buy more at the next two stops. Boris liked that plan.

©Jean Janssen Newly planted vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand

We passed vineyards on both sides of the road as we made our way to the next stop. Our guide (who was also the bus driver) did a great job of telling us about the industry. It is obvious that machinery trims the vines by the spacing of the rows and the cropped appearance of the wines. The greatest threats to the harvest are the weather-too much water or frost-disease, and the starlings that like to eat the ripe berries. They use air guns to scare off the birds, but after 25 years in use the birds have learned not to be too weary. As a result, they have reintroduced native falcons to the area. While revitalizing the species, the project also introduces a predator to the starlings. Over several vineyards, I saw falcons gliding and in one instance saw one swoop down and (presumably) capture a bird. The falcons are quite fast.

©Jean Janssen The vineyards at Drylands, Marlborough, New Zealand

Our second stop was Drylands, a large producer who distributes under several brand names. They do distribute in the United States. Monkey Bay is apparently one of the well known varieties; later in the tour its namesake body of water was pointed out to us. At Drylands, we were taken to the edge of the vineyard and a representative told us about the wines and their care. Harvesting in this region begins in late March, so we are not too far off. They are not ready, but the vines were heavy with grapes. This region, with its free-draining soil, is best known for the production of Sauvignon Blanc.

©Jean Janssen The largest producing winery we visited in Marlborough was Drylands. Some of its wines, like Monkey Bay, are exported to the United States

Inside the lobby that was really not large enough for all of us, we sampled the same types (Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir) as we had at Allan Scott. Boris and I were in agreement that we didn’t like anything we had sampled. Very few people bought wine, but for some that was because it was easily purchased at home.

©Jean Janssen   Canopy vineyards in the parking area for Hunter’s Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand

The third stop was a small boutique winery with a long history. The owner has been named the world’s best female wine producer and is very hands on in the process. Hunter’s Winery had a nice setting with canopies of grape wines with space to park cars underneath. They were just for aesthetics and not used in the wine production.  There was also an artist in residence who did lovely work-but there was not a way to get anything like that back home.

This time we were in an even smaller lobby. After an introduction to the winery, they offered a tasting of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Once again, neither Boris nor I found anything we were particularly fond of. Everyone on the bus was hungry because no food was offered at any stop; the bigger seller was the winery’s bags of potato chips. They were just what I needed.

©Jean Janssen Treehouse living in Picton, New Zealand

On the way back to the ship, we saw even more of the wood that is grown and harvested in New Zealand.  A pine variety was imported from California and it was found that it grew 2 to 3 times faster in New Zealand.  Faster growth can mean thiner wood so the product is divided into two grades.  Grade B, the thinner grade is exported whole to China where is made into cardboard and paper. Grade A wood is processed in New Zealand and used for home framing there and in Australia.

©Jean Janssen   I just thought this railroad sign I saw while riding through Marborough was petty cute.

We also saw cattle.  In southern New Zealand, most of the cattle is dairy.  On the northern island, there are both dairy and meat-producing cattle.  Wild deer are scarce here, unlike in North American where deer hunting seasons are used to control overpopulation.  Deer in New Zealand are raised on farms for the venison.  Boar hunting is done on New Zealand with hunters armed only with a large knife and assisted by a pack of dogs.  Boars can weigh up to 300 lb. and have 6-8 inch tusks.

Of course there are also sheep.  It wouldn’t be New Zealand without sheep.  They are sometimes used in the vineyards as “organic lawnmowers”  They are also an excellent source of manure.

©Jean Janssen We were docked right next to one of the large ferries in Picton, New Zealand.

When we returned to small town of Picton, population 5,000, you could get off in town or ride back to the ship.  There wasn’t much to see in town, but you could stretch your legs a bit and make the 5-minute walk through the ferry port to get to the ship.  Our balcony looked out over the docks and ramps for the ferries and I enjoyed watching them unload and then load again.  There wasn’t much time in between trips.

©Jean Janssen   Ferries in port at Picton, New Zealand on the north side of the country’s southern island. The closer, larger ferry transported vehicles which loaded and unloaded from a single ramp on the lower level. The more distant, smaller ferry unloaded vehicles from the top level via an elevated roadway. A rail line connects to the bottom level where a special engine moved rail cars on and off the ferry.

One of the ships offloaded walk-on passengers (some with bicycles), cars, motorcycles, 18 wheelers and other large trucks, and mobile homes/campers.  The other smaller ferry, had more of the same on the top that exited off an elevated roadway and rail cars on the bottom with their own track and engine to get them on and off.  The vehicles best represented on the ferries were the campers.  Free campgrounds are found all over New Zealand and campers were out enjoying the summer in full force.

Next stop is Napier, on the northern island of New Zealand.

UPDATE:  There were problems with our approach into Picton caused by the local pilot who hit the rocks.  The cruise company is required to have a local pilot on board when they are close to land and dock in these unique ports.  The error was not the fault of the ship’s crew, although they stepped in to correct the problem when it occurred.  On the night we left Picton it was thought there was no damage to the ship. The investigation of the ship took place while we were docked in Napier and was also conducted by divers outside Picton. The local pilot has been suspended.

©Jean Janssen   Coming into the harbor at Port Chambers, New Zealand

©Jean Janssen The Edwardian Railway Station in Dunedin, New Zealand

We are in Port Chambers the seaport gateway for Dunedin on the southern island of New Zealand.  Our tour today is by train into the Taieri River Gorge of gold rush fame.  We were actually met directly on the pier by the train whose tracks ran along side our boat.  We scored a seat in one of the vintage cars that have been renovated for comfort but retain their vintage charm with a tin ceilings and iron luggage racks.

©Jean Janssen   A vintage car on the Tairei Gorge Railway. Note the tin ceiling and iron luggage racks

After passing through the charming port city, we arrived at Dunedin and made a brief stop at the beautiful Victorian Railway Station where we will be able to get off near the end of our tour.  Each car has a hostess who brought us snacks and drinks.  Margaret, a volunteer, served our car.  She works one or two days a week to support the tourist trade.  The railway line would be unable to operate without these valuable volunteers.

©Jean Janssen   The Wingatui Horse Racing Track near Dunedin, New Zealand

The opening part of the route through Wingatui Junction is owned by the New Zealand Government.  After Wingatui, we had wonderful views of the countryside, passing sheep stations (sheep ranches) and farmland.  We saw the Wingatui horse racing track and the farms where championship horses are bred and raised.

©Jean Janssen   Future champions frolicking in the field outside Dunedin, New Zealand.

Construction of the rail line through the Taieri River Gorge (a gorge formed millions of years ago by natural causes) began in 1879 near the end of the gold rushes when the agricultural and pastoral potential of the land was being explored.  The line was used to haul “[t]housands of tons of farm produce and fruit and hundreds of thousands of head of livestock”through central Otago to the port and as a supply train with early morning deliveries to the country towns along the route.

©Jean Janssen   Sheep in the rocky hillside of the Tairei River Gorge, New Zealand

“Transport licensing protected the railway from road competition until 1961 for the carriage of livestock and until 1983 for general freight.”  In 1990, it was announced that the line would close.  The Dunedin City Council sponsored the Save the Train appeal which resulted in the line’s purchase by Taieri Gorge Railway Limited.  “It is the longest privately-owned railway in New Zealand.” The Otago Excursion Train Trust supports the rail line and was instrumental in bringing cruise ships to Dunedin.  Our hostess Margaret is a trust volunteer.

©Jean Janssen   Along the Tairei River Gorge, New Zealand

We passed through 10 tunnels along the route, the Salisbury Tunnel being the longest.  After the tunnel the photographers all jockeyed for position to catch a picture of the Wingatui Viaduct, “one of the largest wrought iron structures in the southern hemisphere.”  We passed through several crossing stations and water stops that were part of the original service on the line before reaching Hindon Station where we made a brief stop.

©Jean Janssen   The Wingatui Viaduct along the Tairei Gorge, New Zealand

Hindon Station is still used as a crossing station.  It is the site where the first section of the line opened in October of 1889.  There were beautiful views into the gorge and line accenting the rocky hillside.  A statue of a dog is erected here.  “Sue” represents all the collie sheep dogs that have worked in this area.

©Jean Janssen   View at Hindon Station along the Taitei Gorge, New Zealand

©Jean Janssen   Boris in our coach along the Taieri Gorge, New Zealand

After Hindon, the hillsides became more steep and the gorge more rocky.  Boris and I had the more gorgeous views on our side of the coach.  The day had warmed, so I was able to open the window and enjoy the breeze.  It also meant better pictures shooting without the reflective properties of a glass window.  We climbed higher in the gorge.  Stone chimneys marked the place were the construction workers had had their camp.  At the Notches, we crossed four very deep gulches.

©Jean Janssen   “The Notches” of the Taireri Gorge, New Zealand. Note the two bridges and the tunnel ahead.

Just before leaving the gorge and reaching the flat plains, we passed the Reefs where a “hotel” for miners has existed since 1906.  The Barewood Gold Mines are just over a mile to the south.  You better not blink or you will miss the hotel.  I was one of the lucky one  photographers to get a picture.

©Jean Janssen   The Reefs Hotel for miners along the Tairei Gorge, New Zealand

At Pukerangi (means hill of heaven), we stopped and got off the train to visit a refreshment and crafts market set up at this sheep station (ranch).  This port was our first time to walk on New Zealand soil and Boris and I had not had the opportunity to get New Zealand currency.  (We have found that you get the best exchange rates are by using the ATM.)  A few of the vendors took credit cards or American currency.  Rather than turn the train, an engine was set up on the other end.  Unfortunately, this meant we had the same view going and coming.  Some people exchanged sides, but we were across from a wheelchair bound patron who was unable to sit on our side.  We actually had the better view.

©Jean Janssen   Near Pukerangi, New Zealand

©Jean Janssen  “King of the Mountain” near Pukerangi, New Zealand

The ride back was downhill and much faster.  A picnic type lunch was served by Margaret.  She also offered wine and quickly ran out of one variety.  With the open window I thought I would get lots of pictures, but we were moving pretty quickly.  At one point I went and stood on the outside porch of the coach.  It was cool and offered great views of the tremendous scenery.

©Jean Janssen   Along the Tairei Gorge, New Zealand

On the return trip, we made one stop in Dunedin.  With only 45 minute left before the last shuttle left the city for the boat and with 15 minutes to take pictures, I elected to use the time for photography and make the rest of the return via train.

©Jean Janssen   Platform of the Dunedin Station, New Zealand   It is the country’s longest railstation platform

Most European settlements in New Zealand were by English immigrants.  Dunedin has the distinction of being settled by Scottish settlers who named their city Dunedin, a derivation of the Gaelic name for Edinburgh.  Margaret was very proud of her Scottish heritage and told us that the Scottish immigrants here were much better educated that most of the English who came to New Zealand.  Traditional Highland Games have been held here for over 150 years.

©Jean Janssen Platform side of the Railway Station at Dunedin, New Zealand

The Maori people came to this area between 1250 and 1300 AD.  The first colonists were the Scots who came in 1800s.  The discovery of gold in 1861 resulted in a population boom.  New Zealand’s first university, The University of Otago, was founded in Dunedin.

©Jean Janssen Cadbury World is an attraction in Dunedin, New Zealand

The Octagon and Otago Harbour, Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand – aerial

In addition to the beautiful railway station, the city boats several lovely Edwardian buildings and the 19th century botanic gardens.  A short walk from the train station is the Octagon, the central hub of the city and a pedestrian area featuring a statute of Scottish poet, Robert Burns.  The Cathedral, Municipal Chambers (Town Hall), and the very modern Public Library (donated by American Andrew Carnegie) are all found on the Octagon.

©Jean Janssen   Anzac Square and the Dunedin Law Courts, Dunedin, New Zealand

You can also check out one of the World’s Steepest Streets, Baldwin Street or visit the Dunedin Law Courts.  If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, you can check out Cadbury World and see how they make chocolate while you try a few samples.

©Jean Janssen The Railway Station in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is often called the Gingerbread house. My image only captures about half of it.

I spent most of my time at the most photographed spot in Dunedin, the railway station built in the Edwardian Style between 1903 and 1906.  At the time of its construction, this was the busiest station in the country.  The interior is even more beautiful than the facade.  The main hall, or booking hall, features a floor of 750,000 mosaic tiles by Minton and Royal Doulton porcelain on its balcony floor.

©Jean Janssen Mosaic floor tiles in the booking hall of the Dunedin Train Station

©Jean Janssen   Center of the mosaic floor featuring 750,000 Minton tiles at the Dunedin Train Station, New Zealand

©Jean Janssen    View of the balcony in the booking hall of the Dunedin Train Station, New Zealand

After our break in Dunedin, we rode the train back down to the dock.  Before entering the station, an official came on board to check our boarding cards and picture ids.  Apparently, this is a requirement in New Zealand.  It was a full day of touring.  We quickly changed for dinner and the evening’s special event, an appearance by a local student group who demonstrated traditional Maori dance and song in the costume and paint of the local tribe.  They invited the cruise guests to join them and a few of the men did so shirtless to mimic the boys.  It was a great start to our land-based touring of New Zealand and our introduction to the Maori culture.

©Jean Janssen   Maori performers on ship in Port Chambers, New Zealand

©Jean Janssen At the Hinton stop along the Tairei Gorge, New Zealand

©jean Janssen Milford Sound, New Zealand

For the last two days we have crossed the Tasman Sea. We are once again on the boat today, but land is in sight as be traverse the fjords on the southwestern side of New Zealand. Warned of the Tasman’s Sea reputation for rough waters, Guest Relations handed out seasick pills and there were bags along the railings in the hallways and staircases. Boris and I took the pills and did just fine on the crossing.

©Jean Janssen Milford Sound, New Zealand

We were scheduled to arrive at the entrance to Milford Sound at 6:30 am, so I asked Boris to wake me up by that time. He is a very early riser. I woke up when I felt the boat slowing and asked if he knew what time it was. Boris said it was just after 5 am, but I took a peek anyway. My view was breathtaking, a series of waterfalls in the gray mist. We were wrong about the time. It was after 7 am and we were already almost at the far end of the sound where we were meeting the tender for those taking a two-day land excursion to Queenstown; it was also our turnaround point.

©Jean Janssen Meeting the excursion boat in Milford Sound, New Zealand

In the sun, the green peaks are reputed to be beautiful. In the early morning rain, it was magical. The Sound is one of the wettest places on the planet with an average of 23 feet (7m) of rain a year. Between the melting snow and the rain, hundreds (yes, hundreds) of waterfalls are created. The pictures I had seen were taken in sunlight showing full color. My photographs, shot in the limited morning light with the rain falling, look like they were taken with black and white film. They are not.

©Jean Janssen   The largest waterfall in Milford Sound. For scale, note the ship near the bottom of the fall.

Milford South is not technically a sound, which is a wide inlet from the sea.  It is actually a fjord, a deep narrow inlet surrounded by tall peaks. It is part of Fjordland National Park and a world heritage site carved out during the last ice age.   Because of all the rain and cascading fresh water into the sound, 10m of fresh water sits on top of the sea water found in the sound which makes for some interesting aquatic life.   In addition to the many unique New Zealand birds found here, seals, dolphins, and penguins are among the animal life found in Milford Sound.

©Jean Janssen Milford Sound, New Zealand

Boris and I sat on our balcony and just stared. When the rain started coming onto the balcony, we retreated inside leaving the door open until the boat changed direction and it was safe to sit outside again. Milford Sound is a place of unbelievable beauty that everyone should see during his or her lifetime. It is like a dream.

©Jean Janssen Dolphins in the Fjords of Southwestern New Zealand

When we were once again at sea, Boris and I went to breakfast and the boat picked up speed, a lot of speed. The captain announced that given how well we had maneuvered through Milford Sound, the pilot had suggested we pass through some other fjords, so we were going to go fast to create additional time for the bonus scenery. After a nap-I am on vacation-we had lunch by the tall windows in the dining room and in the afternoon sat on the balcony enjoying the view as we passed through the fjords of southwest New Zealand. In one fjord I was rewarded with a school of dolphins. Welcome to New Zealand, Natasha.

©Jean Janssen The Fjords of Southwestern New Zealand.

©Jean Janssen The oldest bridge in Australia, Richmond, Tasmania, built by convict labor in 1823.

This morning we are in the capital of Tasmania, Hobart. The state has a population of 512,000 people and about 100,000 live in Hobart. If you add in its suburbs, about half of the island’s population lives here. As you enter the harbor, all the land is covered in homes. It looks like every house has either a view of the mountains (Mt. Wellington), the water, or both.

©Jean Janssen Original schoolhouse still in use today, Richmond, Tasmania

Dutchman Abel Tasman first sailed into Marian Bay in Tasmania in 1642, naming it for his commanding officer Van Diemen. It was known as Van Diemen’s Land for many years and original land grants bear that name.  Since 1855 the island has been known as Tasmania. Abel Tasman didn’t think much of it and never came back. It was not until 1804 that the English established the first successful colony in Hobart.

©Jean Janssen War memorial, Hobart, Tasmania

We took a brief ride through Hobart, although there wasn’t a lot to see in this relatively young city. The most beautiful park used to be a burial ground. The City has tried to maintain many of the original sandstone buildings. The large bridge we can see from our ship crosses the River Durban separating the east and west sides of the city. A captain who preferred to take his ship under the bridge closer to the shore one night knocked out two bridge piers. The ship was loaded with zinc that became concrete-like underwater.  That ship still sits at the bottom of the river. Periodically, unsuccessful salvage attempts are made.

©Jean Janssen Harbor Bridge in Hobart, Tasmania. Note the lack of symmetry in the support columns.

At the time of the accident there was no lighting on the bridge.  Cars passing over the bridge didn’t realize sections of the bridge were out and drove off the edge.  The damage to the bridge meant that suddenly a large portion of the population was cut off from their jobs and vital city services. In the three years reconstruction took, government funds were used to develop the isolated east side of the city. The designers could not simply replace the piers with the ship sitting under the roadway, so a new structural design emerged.  Today the bridge is secure, but lacks a symmetrical look.

©Jean Janssen Australia’s oldest Bridge, Richmond, Tasmania. The bridge was built by convict labor in 1823.

Tasmania’s Governor is not elected, but rather named by the Queen on the recommendation of the local officials. The current governor is a woman, the country’s first. She enjoys a lovely stately home on a hilltop. Leaving the city behind, we passed the hilly, dry landscape hope to wine and whiskey producers. The flat land provides the ground for grain production.

©Jean Janssen Richmond, Tasmania

Our first stop is Richmond, a historic town that used to do a bustling business with its mills until the River Pitt became too shallow. The enterprising townspeople reinvented the area years later when they discovered tourists liked the charming, historic village. Today it is filled with gift shops, bakeries, restaurants, and an alarming number of ice cream parlors. The local “lolly shop” will even put your sweets into ice cream.

@Jean Janssen St. John’s, the oldest Catholic Church in Australia, Richmond Tasmania

Richmond is also home to St. John’s Catholic Church, the oldest Catholic Church (1836) in Australia. To reach St. John’s you cross the river on the oldest bridge in Australia built by convict labor in 1823.

©Jean Janssen The Richmond Arms, Richmond, Tasmania

After viewing the church and taking photographs of the bridge, we parked in town. I walked around a bit and took a few pictures. I thought the Richmond Arms was charming until I read their chalkboard menu and realized they were serving marinated kangaroo fillets. I did do a little shopping and finished my visit at the post office where I sent a few cards back to the states. Boris shopped and toured the gaol (jail).

©Jean Janssen Chalkboard menu at the Richmond Arms, Richmond, Tasmania

We retraced our route and made our next stop at the Coal Valley Vineyard, a small family winery. They ship to mainland Australia, but since 9/11 are no longer able to ship to the UK, Canada, and the United States. We tried a sparking wine, two Rieslings, a Pinot Noir, and a Merlot/Cabernet blend. Although she told us the area is perfect for growing the grapes for the Pinot-in fact they pulled out the vines used in the Merlot/Cab production to put in more of the vines for the pinot grapes-my personal opinion was that the Pinot Noir was the weakest offering. Generally I am not a Riesling fan, but both these offerings-one dry, one sweet-were pretty good. My favorite was the sparkling pinot noir chardonnay and I bought two bottles. Not sure if these will both make it home; there may be a cabin party on the ship.

©Jean Janssen Coal Valley Vineyards, Hobart, Tasmania

The winery has a lovely sitting along the Pitt. They also offer meals and a beautiful terrace to enjoy the view of the vineyard and river while you enjoy your food and wine. A tasting flight is $5 and you can add a cheese plate for another $10 if you prefer just to snack. There were other wineries along the route and you could make a day of tastings if you had a driver.

©Jean Janssen Early refrigeration, Runnymede, Hobart, Tasmania

Our final stop was back in town, Rummymede, a traditional Tasmanian home. This was not a two-story upper crust establishment, but a single story regency style sandstone villa for a family who wanted a weekend home outside the city-at least it was outside the city when it was built in 1840. It has been operated by the national trust since 1964. Original efforts were to make it into a stately home, but a later revision thought to bring it back to what it was like for the Bayley family, the third owners of the home, that lived here for 100 years.

©Jean Janssen Rummymede with its unique shutters, Hobart, Tasmania

We were rushed to finish on time, but we had a fabulous guide Ian with a cheeky personality. Master mariner, Captain Charles Bayley was prominent in the whaling industry, primarily exporting whale oil to the American market. He renamed the property Runnymede after one of his whaling ships, a portrait of which hangs over the fireplace in the museum. The home has been added on to a few times. It has very clever shutters for the windows and French doors covers that dropped into the floor. The steps leading up to a high bed also served as the enclosure for a chamber pot. Ian also showed us a wonderful high chair that converted into a stroller.

©Jean Janssen corrected wallpaper border Runnymede, Hobart, Tasmania

I loved the dining room table leaves that were crescent moon-shaped, expanding the oval table at the ends rather than in the middle. The enterprising Mrs. Bayley found that while decorating she had run out of wallpaper. Rather than reorder from England and end up with a different die lot and experience delays, she painted in the unfinished area. It was a detailed and remarkable likeness. You could tell now that they are not all wallpaper only because the color had aged differently on the wallpaper and on the paint. Mrs. Bayley’s painted portion was more vibrant.

©Jean Janssen Dining Room, Runnymede, Hobart, Tasmania

The period artifacts they had collected added a great deal to the tour. 60% of the collectables and furnishings in the home were original to families that lived there.  There were wonderful gardens and outbuildings to tour, but we didn’t have time.  If period home touring is something that you like, visit Runnymede and be sure to ask for Ian; he “made” the tour.

©Jean Janssen Coal Valley Vineyard, Hobart, Tasmania. The rose bushes at the end of rows are not decorative. The plants are susceptible to disease and alert the vineyard owners if there might be problems with their vines.

After dropping off the wine bottles and other purchases and a nice lunch on the ship, Boris and I returned to the cruise terminal for the crafts market. There is a special market each Saturday in Salamanca Square near Battery Point, just one of the many areas in town with free wi-fi. The booths came to us since we were not docked on a Saturday. Boris and I found some cute local crafts and used up our Australian Dollars. Next stop is New Zealand.

©Jean Janssen Runnymede, Hobart, Tasmania