Memorable Holidays

http://joyolneyfamily.blogspot.com.au

Memorable Holidays

We all enjoy holidays so I thought I would share with you some of my most enjoyable holidays since 2005, when digital photography started for me.

I have kept a good record of family holidays by way of photo albums, so if you want to see all the photos you will have to visit me!

But previously, we went to live in New Zealand for 3 years 1964-1966 and returned for a visit as a family in 1971 and have done many family camping holidays.

I went to England and Europe in 1974 for 8 weeks with my parents who were tour leaders.  In 1978 Peter and I took our children to England and Europe for 10 weeks.

Peter supervised the construction of the Town Centre at Jabiru in Northern Territory in 1982.  That was one big holiday for me!  Peter had to work and the children had to do their schooling as we were away for 9 months.

A family holiday to Perth in 1986, the adventure of driving over, and breaking down in Ceduna on our return.

Peter and I have done many itinerant ministry trips to Malaysia and the Philippines 1985-1999.

We drove around Australia for 7 months in 1997 with our 4WD and tent which was quite an adventure as we drove into many remote areas along gravel roads.

In 2001 we took a two weeks bus tour of New Zealand.  We arrived in Auckland early to have extra time there.  Between the north and south island segments we had an extra week to visit friends and explore Wellington more.

In 2002 Peter and I took a 6 week flying trip around Australia, using our 30,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer Points to stop off at 5 destinations - Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin (with a Greyhound bus return trip to Broome), Perth, Alice Springs (which included a week camping safari to Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon etc) and home to Melbourne.

In 2003 we took 6 weeks to explore outback South Australia, covering the Strzelecki, Birdsville and Oonadatta Tracks and Kangaroo Island.

In 2004 Peter and I took 4 months to drive around Australia again, but decided to stick to bitumen roads as we towed a caravan this time.

As I type this I realise how blessed I/we have been to travel and see so much of this wonderful country we call Australia.

Tasmania - October 2005

I had recently become interested in family history and having read my Grandpa's diaries dated from 1897-1921 while he was a Methodist Minister in Tasmania, I knew it was time to go and see the Churches, houses and cemeteries.  Both Grandpa and Grandma were born in Tasmania, their siblings lived there and had businesses in Hobart.  (Refer to my Blogs - Macdougall Family Archives, Rev.Leslie Macdougall's Diaries and Beatrice Macdougall's diaries) .

William Davidson was the First Superintendent of the Hobart Botanical Gardens in 1828.  (Refer to Davidson Family Archives).  John Macdougall arrived as a Convict in 1821.  He and his 2 sons, John and Archibald Macdougall were Proprietors and Editors of "Colonial Times" in Hobart 1825-1855.  (Refer to Macdougall Family Archives Blog).  Charles Haywood was a Biscuit Maker with many shops in Hobart. (Refer to Allason Family Archives Blog).   Harry Wells was the Station Master at Hobart Railway Station 1914-1924.  (Refer to Wells Family Archives Blog).  His wife, Elizabeth Saunders brought up three children, Beatrice, Winifred and Gladstone.  (Refer to Saunders Family Archives Blog).

England - August/September 2007

Darren, Fiona and family joined us for a week in London, then Peter and I spent 3 weeks going to the villages where our forefathers had lived, seeking out the houses they lived in, Churches they had attended and the cemeteries.  Firstly though, we visited the town of Olney where Rev John Newton was Curator and wrote "Amazing Grace".  Next to Pulloxhill where many of the Olney family came from. (Refer to Olney Family Archives Blog).  "Stanfield Hall" near Norwich was of particular interest.  (Refer to Riches Family Archives Blog).  Pulham Market in Norfolk was where the Riches family lived.  (Refer to Riches Family Archives Blog and Wallis Family Archives Blog).  Hull, Brantingham, South Cave and Kirk Ella were of particular interest as the Petfield family came from there.  (Refer to Petfield Family Archives Blog).  Great Oxendon and Simpson was where the Wells and Saunders families lived.  (Refer to Saunders Family Archives and Wells Family Archives).  Low Row was where Rev John Allason was minister 1807-1835.  We visited his Church 200 years later.  We were able to spend quality time with cousins in Wormley (Refer to Wallis Family Archives Blog) & in Nordley Common (Refer to Saunders Family Archives Blog).

Athens and Greek Islands - September 2007

I love Athens, having been there in 1973 and 1978. We went to the Acropolis, Parthenon, Hadrian's Gate and Temple of Zeus. After several days in Athens we went to Mykonos where we hired a quad bike for 24 hours. The main town on the island of Santorini is Thira, perched high on the volcanic rock.  The white buildings with blue trims and blue sea are spectacular. Of course we had to have a ride on the donkeys from the port up to town.

Turkey - October 2007

A two weeks tour around Turkey visiting places like Gallipoli and Anzac Cove, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, ancient city of Hieropolis near Pamakkale and the White Terraces, Antalya, Cappadocia where we did a hot air balloon ride, Istanbul's Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Spice market and more.

King Island - November 2007

My great grand parents were pioneer farmers on King Island from 1901 - 1914.  We walked on the two properties that they owned - "Dunollie" and "Lorne", also the property that Auntie Olive had until later in life at "Three Rivers" . We relived the account of  "Out of the Jaws of Death" at Naracoopa.  (Refer to Macdougall Family Archives Blog).  I donated a large family photo of the Macdougalls which is hanging in the Hall of the Museum.

Canada and USA - June 2009

A long flight to Vancouver before taking a tour of the Rocky Mountains which included Whistler, Jasper and Lake Louise.  The scenery was magnificent. The Rocky Mountaineer train trip from Banff to Vancouver was 1st class travel. A week long cruise up the Inside Passage to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan on Holland America's "Zuidendam" introduced us to cruising.  A couple of days were enjoyed in San Franscico before flying home.

Eastern Australia - July/September 2010

A 9 week trip away in our caravan was quite an adventure. We travelled up the coast to Brisbane, Townsville to Cairns, returning inland via Undarra, Carnarvon, Lightning Ridge, Bourke, Gundabooka National Park, Cobar, Wilcannia,  Menindee, Mongo National Park, Wentworth, Swan Hill and home.

The Menindee Lakes system is located on the Darling River 200 kms upstream of the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers.  There are 4 large natural lakes and several smaller connecting lakes. Menindee was the first European town Mitchell discovered in 1835.  Burke & Wills passed through Menindee 14 October 1860.

South Pacific Cruise - May 2011

Peter and Joy, Dawn and Brian embarked on "Dawn Princess" in Sydney and we sailed to Noumea, Isle of Pines and Lifou in New Caledonia.  Then to Vila, Wala and Champagne Bay in Vanuatu.

Outback NSW - July/August 2011

With our caravan in tow we headed for Broken Hill to Tibooburra and Cameron Corner. With lots of free camping we headed east to Bourke where we stayed for 4 weeks helping with maintenance on the Bourke Christian Church and Darling Farms. On the road to Gundabooka National Park we had an "exciting" experience when our 4WD and caravan started swaying from side to side on a wet dirt road with the Ranger following. Fortunately we kept the car & caravan on the road. Peter suffered severe stomach cramps for 3 days.  He could not drive but we could not leave the National Park  anyway as the road was closed.  A scary outback experience.  We headed down the Darling River to Wilcannia via White Cliffs, Hay and home.

New Zealand Cruise - February 2012

Time for another cruise, again on "Dawn Princess" and with Dawn and Brian, but this time to New Zealand. Leaving from Sydney is always a spectacular sight. We called in to Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin, Milford Sound and back to Sydney.  We met up with Sue Johnstone who was a friend from the days when we lived in New Zealand in 1966.

Europe April/May 2012 

We were away for a month on this trip.  We flew to Helsinki for 3 days.  A dream came true as snow was on the ground. Train across Finland to catch an overnight ferry to Stockholm.  Another dream came true as snow fell for about 12 hours.  After 3 days in Stockholm we trained across Sweden to Gothenberg for a 2 night stay.  A ferry to Frederickshavn in Denmark for the night.  Next day we caught a train for 7 hours to Copenhagen and stayed for 3 nights.

We flew to Helsinki and onto Budapest, where we joined a Blue Danube River Cruise with Avalon Cruising on "Imagery" for a week.  Stops along the way included Bratislava, Vienna, Durnstein, Melk, Salzberg, Passau, Regensburg. We coached to Prague and visited Terezin Concentration Camp while there.

We took a train from Prague to Dresden and down to Bayreuth and Bamberg where we stayed with friends.  A train to Nuremberg and flew out of Frankfurt for home.

(Refer to Scandinavia and Eastern Europe 2012 Blog).

Cape York Peninsula - September 2012

This was an opportunity to camp in Cape York without having to drive to Cairns first!  A group from gym (Mary & Geoff , Janet & Ray, Gerry) flew to Cairns before joining the camping tour to the Tip of Australia. We flew to Horn Island first, then ship to Thursday Island and then to Seisia on the mainland. Our stay in Seisia was extended an extra 3 days because the barge across the Jardine River was damaged by a huge truck laden with gravel. We had a make a more rushed trip south but still saw the highlights. (Refer to Cape York Peninsula 2012 Blog).

Tasmania  Cruise - March 2013

Dawn and I took a 7 day cruise to Tasmania on "Carnival Spirit", stopping off at Burnie, Hobart and Port Arthur. While in Burnie a friend showed me around the area where my Grandpa was in the Methodist ministry in 1918-21 and we went to the house he lived in in Penguin.  Another friend and I spent the day in Hobart exploring the houses, churches and cemetery associated with the Macdougall,  Davidson and Allason families. 

South Pacific Cruise - July 2013

Peter and I boarded "Carnival Spirit", leaving from Sydney and stopping at Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, Mystery Island, Vila, Santo and Wala in Vanuatu. On our return to Sydney we spent a couple of days with friends in Sydney and took a day out to the Blue Mountains. 

USA March/April 2015

This was a holiday I prefer to forget, although eventful! A few days before our departure Peter was feeling uncomfortable in his liver area.  He was tested for Hepatitis but proved negative. He had another blood test the day before our departure. Dr gave approval to travel and said he would email the results.  They arrived while we were in Las Vegas - "Seek medical attention".  Peter chose to go on a liver friendly diet and continue on our way as we had car and accommodation booked to travel through the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Pheonix before getting to stay 10 days with our friends Mark and Nancy in Tucson, Arizona.

The next morning Nancy took us to the Hospital where various blood tests were taken, ultrasound and MRI.  Within 2 hours of arriving at the hospital we were told the grim news. Due to a mass in the head of the pancreas which was pressing on the bile duct, Peter was scheduled for surgery the next day.  Fortunately I had the support of Mark & Nancy and able to visit Peter every day for the next 6 days.

Meanwhile the family were at home cancelling our plans for the next 5 weeks and working with our insurance company to repatriate Peter and I home.  We were going to take a train from Tucson to New Orleans, fly to Miami and take a 7 day cruise on "Oasis of the Seas" in the Caribbean Sea, fly to Los Angeles for a few days before returning home.

A month after our return to Melbourne, Peter had major surgery to remove the stent which was put in his bile duct in Tucson. He also had a Whipple Procedure which involved the removal of his gall bladder, fifth of his stomach, cancer in the head of his pancreas and part of the duodenum.

Cairns - November/December 2015

Peter and I joined Robyn and Andrew, Mark & Emma, Hayden & Abbey and Emma for a 2 week holiday in Cairns, but for several days before, we went to Mareeba and Hopevale where Peter was supporting an Aboriginal clan. Regardless of his condition, Peter remained stoic and it was a precious family time. 

South Pacific Cruise - February 2016

Royal Caribbean compassionately gave us a free trip due to our circumstances in April 2015. We took a 12 days cruise out from Sydney on "Explorer of the Seas" to Isle of Pines, Mystery Island, Vila and Noumea.  Peter was starting to feel pain and uncomfortable which meant he rested a lot, but lovely to get away.  Robyn and Andrew also came to Sydney for a couple of days before our departure. It was on this cruise that we met Vicki & Phil who invited us up to Newcastle the next month to meet their friends.

Portsea - March 2016

I have to include this holiday as a memorable one as we all knew it would be the last holiday together. Robyn organised a large house in Portsea where Darren & Fiona, Adrian & Donna, Robyn & Andrew, the 9 grandchildren and 2 girlfriends could spend time with Pa.  He was starting to feel pain, although he always called it discomfort.  We spent many hours just being together and share some special moments.

England & Paris - September 2016

Darren was going to England for 3 weeks on business so suggested I came with him.  Wow, what an opportunity. I made my way around London while Darren was in the office.  I went to visit Geoff & Jan Whitcombe, cousins in Rudgwick for 2 days. Darren and I went to see Veronica Moss one day in South-end-on-Sea.  Another day we visited Vera & Kath Moss and some family in Worthing. It was only 3 years earlier that I had discovered Peter's Grandmother Doris Olney (nee Moss) had step siblings in England.  What a joy it was to meet some of them. We also spent a weekend in Bridgnorth with cousins Eleanor & Alec Andrews.   (Refer to Saunders Family Archives Blog).

Because of our interest in the Moss family, St Helena and Napoleon, Darren and I went on the Eurostar to Paris for 3 days. We saw Napoleon's coffin in Les Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Versailles, Chateau de Malmaison and more.  (Refer to Olney Family Archives Blog and Solomon/Moss Family Archives Blog).

Tasmania - September 2017

This was a quick visit to Tasmania with Darren, but we achieved a lot. We visited St Matthew's Cemetery in Rokeby where many of the Morrisby family were  buried. (Refer to Norfolk Island, First Fleeters and families Blog).  I took him to Hobart Botanical Gardens where William Davidson was the first Superintendent in 1828. We saw the Davidson sundial, his portrait and his signature etched into a pane of glass. (Refer to Davidson Family Archives Blog).  We visited friends of Darren's for dinner.  To my delight they live in "Sunnyside", a large home that Grandpa frequently visited 1896-1939 and I had read about in his diaries.  (Refer to Rev L.S.Macdougall Diaries Blog).  A visit to St David's Park and Cornelian Bay Cemetery had lots of family interest.

Norfolk Island - March 2018

A family holiday with a good mix of togetherness and family interest.  I had recently discovered 7 convicts and 2 marines on my family tree that were First Fleeters, and sent to Norfolk Island in 1788/90.  They married women convicts that had arrived on "Lady Julianna" and together established families on Norfolk Island before being relocated to Tasmania in about 1808. Many of them were buried at Rokeby or St David's Park. We stayed on James Morrisby's land grant and walked on Daniel Stanfield's land. Having read Colleen McCullough's book "Morgan's Run", I had a good insight into life on Norfolk Island 1788-1808. (Refer to Norfolk Island, First Fleeters and families Blog)

Brisbane to Cairns Cruise - July 2018

Robyn and I enjoyed a week cruising on "Pacific Aria" with P&O.  I was using a walking stick due to sciatica nerve problems so required wheel chair access. The funny thing was that we were given a wheel chair access cabin. Robyn made sure I did lots of exercises, but I called it 'boot camp". I had a lot of pain but enjoyed the opportunity to be away with Robyn.  We spent the day with Graham and Julie in Cairns. Our day in Brisbane was the Cartwright family annual reunion, so great to meet my cousins and their families.  (Refer to Petfield Family Archives Blog).

Hong King, Vietnam - September 2018

Robyn and I had planned this trip for a year. As I was still using a walking stick I needed wheel chair access through the airports, a total of 10 ups and downs. We arrived into Hong Kong for 3 nights and made the most of our time there.  We took the hop-on-hop-off bus, went up Peak Hill, visited Aberdeen with lots of sampans. A flight to Hanoi where we did several day trips out from Hanoi.

I celebrated my 75th birthday overnight on a junk on Halong Bay in Vietnam.  A 7 hours bus trip to Sapa where we visited Cat Cat Village one day and Ta Van Village the next day. Robyn did a 3 hour trek. An overnight train from Hanoi to DaNang, staying at Hoi An.  Took a day trip to Cham Islands. Next a flight to Ho Chi Minh City where we stayed a few days and visited Ho Chi Minh Tunnels and Mekong Delta.  

Pacific and New Zealand Cruise - November/December 2019

"Ovation of the Seas" with Royal Caribbean and 5000 passengers was enjoyed by me with Emma as my cabin mate, with Robyn and Andrew next door. We sailed out of Sydney to Noumea in New Caledonia, onto Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Auckland and Bay of Islands in New Zealand over a 12 day period.  Highlights on board were the IFly where air gives you the sensation of flying. We went on the North Star in a capsule high above the ship while at sea.  Robyn celebrated her 50th birthday while on board "Ovation of the Seas".

While in Noumea we took a tour to an aquarium to see tropical fish.  Robyn and Emma took me by the hand out snorkelling at Mystery Island.  In Auckland we went up 328 metres in Sky Tower for  a 360 degree view of Auckland. A visit to Kelly Tarlton's fresh water aquarium and lots of penguins was enjoyable.  At Bay of Islands we looked at Waitangi where the Treaty was signed between the Maoris and White man and nearby Paihia.

"Queen Elizabeth" Cruise to Adelaide & Hobart- January/February 2020

Dawn and I took a 7 day cruise from Melbourne to Adelaide to Hobart to Burnie and return on "Queen Elizabeth" with the Cunard Line. A more regal ship with lots of character which I enjoyed. The afternoon teas were very special and there was ballroom dancing each night, although I didn't have a partner!   We spent the day in Adelaide, and enjoyed a tram ride down to Glenelg beach.  Our day in Hobart was enjoyable as we visited a cousin of Ken's who was also interested in family history.  She took us to the Cemetery before returning to the "Queen Elizabeth".

As we boarded we were aware that there was a virus coming out of Wuhan, China.  We were asked if we had a temperature or flu symptoms, little did we know that the virus would cause havoc world wide.

By March there were a couple of cruise ships carrying sick passengers docked in Perth and Sydney. Boarders were closed, cruising and overseas holidays were a thing of the past.  We have all experienced lockdowns through 2020 & 2021 due to Covid 19.

With the lockdowns in 2020, it has given me an opportunity to reflect and write about past holidays via my Blogs, so enjoy.  Hopefully one day I will be able to add to my Memorable Holidays Blog.

If you have any comments, please email Joy Olney - joyolney@gmail.com