Exchange Bank New Horizons Travel Club

10/17/2024

10/17/2024

In Fiji today, some of us went to Garden of the Sleeping Giant, a beautiful orchid range started in 1977 by the late Raymond Burr, star of Perry Mason and Ironside. We also stopped at a local farmers market and a Hindu Temple. Member FDIC

10/15/2024

Our last day in Australia was a free day to do what you wanted. Then a dinner cruise this evening to end our time here. Now on to Fiji 🏝️🏖️

10/14/2024

A tour of Sydney was on the agenda for New Horizons travelers today. The Harbour Bridge is beautiful and who knew you could pay to climb to the top? Look closely at some of the close up pictures of the bridge.

We had a private tour of the Sydney Opera House poised majestically in Sydney Harbour. Construction started on the opera house in March of 1959 with an estimated cost of $7 million and expected to be completed in 4 years. Fourteen years later in 1973 the opera house was completed with a cost of $102 million. There are 6 theaters inside that host many shows throughout the year from classical music to pop music, symphonies and ballets, this UNESCO World Heritage sight is something to behold.

At a stop at the National Opal Collection, we learned how opals are made. These beautiful stones were too much of a temptation to some of the travelers, several opals will be headed back to the US.
Member FDIC

10/12/2024

Great Barrier Reef and Green Island Member FDIC

10/11/2024

New Horizons had a fun packed first day in Australia. We started the day in Rainforestation Nature Park where we learned the oldest customs and traditions from an Indigenous Aboriginal guide. We were treated to some of the aboriginal dances and learned how to play the didheridoo.

Our next stop was at Hartley Crocodile Adventures where we saw a Crocodile Attack Show, birds, reptiles and wallabies. The best part was the koala chat where we heard about the laziest animal around. Koalas sleep most of the day and eat eucalyptus. Definitely a highlight of our day. Member FDIC

10/09/2024

On our last full day in New Zealand we entered Fiordland National Park, the home to Milford Sound. Known for its towering Mitre Peak and waterfalls like Stirling & Bowen falls, our cruise was one of the highlights of our time in New Zealand. Next stop Australia! Member FDIC

10/08/2024

The t-shirt from previous post!

10/08/2024

Well today didn’t go as planned for New Horizons but we made the best of it. Rain and possible mud slides kept us from going to
Milford Sound. We will try again tomorrow. We did visit the first bungy jumping site here in New Zealand. We had 2 brave women take the plunge. The rest of us just got the t-shirt!! Member FDIC

10/07/2024

Today New Horizons cruised Lake Wakatipu aboard the iconic coal-fired steamship, the TSS Earnshaw. We enjoyed a “Kiwi” BBQ lunch before watching a sheepdog demonstration. This afternoon we took the gondola up to Bob’s Peak to see the stunning panoramic views and were treated to a beautiful rainbow. Member FDIC

10/06/2024

Today we departed Christchurch and made our way down to Queenstown, known as the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Along the way we made several stops to take in the majestic snowcapped mountains. We were lucky to get to see Mt Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand with an elevation of 12,218 feet. It sits in the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs the length of the Southern Island. Member FDIC

10/05/2024

G’day mates from our New Horizon travelers. Our first full day in New Zealand was filled with adventure. We learned about the local indigenous culture of the Māori with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional waka (canoe).
Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people who arrived in several waves of canoe voyages.

Next we went to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Willowbank offers the chance to view New Zealand’s “Big 5” - the Kiwi, the Kea, the Tuatara, the Kaka, and the Takahe - up close and personal. Member FDIC

09/23/2024

Get your deposits in this week!

Prague, Prague Castle, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace, Classical Music Performance, Choice on Tour, Bratislava, Lunch with Locals, Budapest, Matthias Church, Fisherman's Bastion, Visegrad, Renaissance Dinner

09/20/2024

Today we took in the natural wonderland of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. The gardens are spread out over 300 acres and are the home of 5 giant trolls, each with its own story. We then had our last lunch and shopping of the tour in Boothbay. Tomorrow we head home after a wonderful trip to Maine.
Great tour and a marvelous time meeting new travel friends. Member FDIC

09/19/2024

New Horizons started our day tasting some regional wines at Cellardoor Winery. This winery was one of the prettiest I have ever seen.
We made a stop at the Graffam Bros.
Seafood Shack for lunch and were treated to the Maine lobster roll. Some were even brave to taste their Moxie Elixir (think Robitussin cough medicine.) We ended our day arriving at the charming Harraseeket Inn in Freeport for our final two nights. Member FDIC

09/18/2024

New Horizons had a full day of exploring today. We started the
morning in Acadia National Park admiring the striking mountains, towering forests, and rocky shorelines. This afternoon we went out on the Lulu Lobster Boat to see how lobster traps are retrieved from the ocean. We also spotted an eagle as well as some seals sunning on the rocks. Member FDIC

09/17/2024

Today we departed Portland and headed to Bar Harbor. Along the way we stopped at Wolfe Neck Oyster Company to get an intimate look at a working oyster farm. We learned how to dig into these local delicacies with an oyster shucking demonstration.

Next we visited the Maine Tasting Center to try a variety of Maine’s iconic foods such as blueberries, seaweed (not a fan), potatoes and more. We learned about the hardworking locals behind these specialties. Member FDIC