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(noun)               a large flightless seabird of the southern hemisphere, with black upper parts and white underparts and wings developed into flippers for swimming under water. Among the many different types, we were fortunate to see hundreds (perhaps thousands) of Emperor Penguins.  They are the largest and tallest of all the penguins and call the…

The Ross Sea, is the southern-most body of water on the planet, located approximately 2,000 miles south of New Zealand and just 200 miles from the South Pole.  The Ross Sea is also home to the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, approximately 500 by 370 miles; roughly the size of France…

The heroic age of Antarctic exploration occurred in the early 19th century and included over a dozen expeditions from countries including Belgium, the UK, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France and Japan.  Most were billed as scientific studies, with a race to the South Pole for many, but they also included the chance to claim some of…

“If Antarctica were music it would be Mozart. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater; the only place on earth that is still as it should be. May we never tame it.”– Andrew Denton Antarctica, the southernmost continent and site of the South…

From windy Wellington to Bluff at the south end, we spent a quick couple of weeks in New Zealand.  Wellington is a vibrant city, home to lush hills, too many coffee shops an amazing National Museum.  It is also home to the Weta Workshop, where the creative artists designed and fabricated most of the costumes,…

A microcosm of Australian in its southern island.   We crammed a lot into a week, starting in Hobart. As the capital and most populated (though still small) city on the island, Hobart offers a unique charm, highlighted by the extraordinary Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) . Accessible primarily by ferry, this museum defies…

New Years eve in Sidney, what more can we say…OMG…nothing to say but beautiful picture.  They have an early fireworks show at 9 for “the children” and an even more amazing display at midnight.  Bucket list item checked.

If you have ever driven the Pacific Coast Highway, this is that on steroids. At just under 200 miles, it is shorter than the PCH, but more windy and winding and even more beautiful.  It runs along the southern coast of Australia leading into Melbourne and includes places like the Loch Ard gorge and the…

Richard took to the road on the “wrong side of the street!”  After leaving Brisbane, we started our adventure on the wine trail of the Barossa Valley.   It is a beautiful valley with vineyards and wineries throughout.  We also had the opportunity to go behind the “cellar door” with a vintner we met on the…

What an interesting city.  Here we met up with Jenny’s dear friend Alisa and got to know what was amazing about this city, and to catch up on her living here.  It is the capital of Queensland with a river that is traversed by several purpose built footbridges and lined with towering buildings. We had…