December 28, 2025
RAIATEA, FRENCH POLYNESIA was our Port for Christmas & Boxing Days. Our ship pulled right into the town center. We love these kind of Ports, where we can walk right off into the center of things. I have to admit I only went out on my balcony on the 25th, as we were quite busy and it was a bit rainy. But I went for a nice walk through the town center and outlying area today.
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The buzz around town was that the Mayor got married this morning in town under a big white tent, I only saw a black police SUV decorated with white tulle and flowers. The windows were tinted, so not sure if bride and groom were inside. I was just admiring the art murals, tropical flowers, rooster crowing and general peace and serenity along my walk. I had to check out the local catholic church of St. Andrew ( Sadly, we got into Port too late for there one Christmas mass at 8am yesterday).
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.