Favorite Memories from the Wonder Down Under

Here I am, fresh off contract two aboard the Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wonder. This contract took me to Australia, New Zealand, and to Hawaii. To say it was transformative would be an understatement. How lucky am I to have a job that takes me to beautiful destinations, forms everlasting bonds, and continuously challenges me?

Visiting the Southern Hemisphere, along with Hawaii, has always been on my bucket list. I was just never sure I would make it there.  Below is a collection of my favorite “pinch me” moments from experiencing the Land Down Under and the magic of Hawaii.

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

When I joined the ship, the New Zealand portion of our itinerary was already underway. What started as a normal breakfast with friends quickly turned into one of my favorite spontaneous memories of the contract.

When the ship docks in port, it’s incredibly easy, and convenient, to stay within walking distance. But if time allows, and especially if I’ve visited the port before, I try to explore a little farther. That morning, I had found a café about a 25-minute walk from the port, so off we went. Along the way, we passed a sign for the aquarium. My friend looked at me and said, “Should we?” And just like that, we did.

What we didn’t realize at the time was that SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium is one of the top attractions in Auckland. It houses thousands of marine animals, contains the largest Sub-Antarctic penguin colony in the Southern Hemisphere, and is home to New Zealand’s only Turtle Rescue Centre. But the highlight? The shark tunnel.

It was the world’s first curved aquarium tunnel, and it is exactly as magical as it sounds. A slow-moving conveyor belt guides you through the tunnel while sharks, stingrays, and other marine life glide effortlessly above and around you. For a few minutes, you are completely immersed, transported into their world. It was surreal, and all because we decided to say yes to a sign on the side of the road.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary 

Before I embarked on my second contract, I set two goals for myself: meet Robert Irwin and pet a kangaroo. I am sad to report that the closest I got to meeting Robert Irwin was an advertisement featuring his wax figure at Madame Tussauds. However, the second dream? That one came true. A visit to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary made sure of it.

Located in Brighton, Australia, Bonorong rehabilitates native Tasmanian wildlife and works to connect people with animals in a meaningful way. From the moment I walked through the entrance, I was beaming. You could feel how deeply the staff care, not just about the animals themselves, but about their role in preserving the ecosystem. After a short walk through the sanctuary, learning about its history and seeing rescue and rehabilitation up close, we were led into an open field where kangaroos roamed freely. Yes, freely. No fences. No barriers. Just us, and them. Buckets of kangaroo feed were placed around the field for guests to use.

At first, I was slightly terrified. What do you mean there’s no protection between me and the kangaroos? I hesitated, unsure how close to get. But within moments, I realized how gentle and well-behaved they were. If they didn’t want to be bothered, they simply hopped away. They were calm, curious, and completely unbothered by our presence. So when one allowed me to pet it, and even feed it, I cried. Just a little. I won’t lie.

This was something I had always dreamed of doing, but never truly believed would be possible. Getting to experience Australian wildlife up close, in such a respectful and intentional environment, is something I will never forget.

Breakfast with Koalas 

If you couldn’t tell by now, I became a huge fan of wildlife adventures during my time Down Under. So when my roommate looked at me and asked, “Do you want to eat breakfast with koalas?” Of course I said yes.

Our morning began with a VIP tour of WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo before it opened to the public. Having the zoo nearly to ourselves made the experience feel intimate and unhurried. We were able to observe each species up close while our guide shared fascinating facts about the animals and conservation efforts.

The wombat was the unexpected star of the show for me, happily eating his breakfast in peace, and occasionally attempting to sample the wallaby’s food, too. We even saw a platypus, which felt like spotting a real-life mythical creature. Getting to see so many species native to the Southern Hemisphere, animals I rarely have access to back home, felt incredibly special.

Then came the main event: the Koala Rooftop. We enjoyed breakfast surrounded by koalas perched in trees above us. Now, koalas are not known for their high energy, so for a while, we mostly admired them snoozing peacefully in their branches. One particular koala named Scarlett suddenly became active, climbing through the trees and moving gracefully around her habitat. We watched in awe as she stretched, climbed, and explored, all while we sat there with our coffee and breakfast plates, completely mesmerized. We were even able to take photos with the koalas. And yes, they are just as cute and cuddly-looking in person as you would imagine.

Sydney Opera House Tour 

As a huge fan of architecture, seeing the Sydney Opera House in person felt unbelievable.

I’m also a longtime fan of the show Dance Academy, which prominently featured the landmark, so it already held a special place in my mind before I ever stepped foot in Australia. Naturally, I wanted to learn more about the history behind this iconic structure, so I booked a tour.

Getting to go inside the Opera House and explore several of its theatres was surreal. One of the most fascinating things I learned was that the design came from an international competition. An architect submitted an idea unlike anything the world had seen before, and it became one of the most recognizable buildings on the planet. There is something so inspiring about that. A bold vision. And now, a global icon.

Walking through its halls, even just as a visitor, felt like walking in the footsteps of greatness. I have such a deep appreciation for live performance, at the end of the day, that’s my job. Seeing a space so intentionally dedicated to keeping the arts alive made me proud to be a performer. 

After my tour, I met up with some friends on the steps of the Opera House. One of them mentioned she was looking for “Benny the seal.” I assumed she meant a statue or some kind of art installation. Nope. An actual seal. Benny is known for lounging near the northern steps at Bennelong Point, which is how he got his name. And to my complete surprise, he was there. Just casually sunbathing beside one of the most famous buildings in the world.

Exclusive Down Under Programs 

One of the most special parts of working for the Disney Cruise Line is that certain itineraries come with exclusive programming inspired by the regions we’re sailing. For our Australia

and New Zealand season, that meant two very exciting additions:  

• Crush’s Totally Awesome Pool Party 

  • This adorable deck show brings human dudes onstage to compete in poolside games, all hosted alongside characters from Finding Nemo. As the host, I received my introduction from Bruce the Shark and got to co-host with Crush the Turtle as we cruised the East Australian Current. And yes, it was, in fact, totally righteous.

• Who’s Behind the Curtain - Bluey

  • Bluey and Bingo sailed with us, and to say they were popular would be an understatement, families went wild the moment they appeared. We had a special game show, “Who’s Behind the Curtain? - Bluey,” and I was the only Entertainment Host trained to run it, so I got to host it every cruise. One sailing topped them all: the creators of Bluey from Ludo Studio were onboard, and I got to run the show in front of them. Talk about nerve-wracking! They were so kind and complimentary, and watching their joy, alongside the crowd’s excitement, was unforgettable. Plus, using the iconic “Yes/No” button from the show as a prop? A total full-circle fan moment.

Only at Sea

Sailing on the seven seas has its perks. I get to experience some things only sailors do. Here are my highlights from this contract:

• Crossing the Equator

  • From Pollywog (a sailor who has not crossed the equator by ship) to Shellback (a

    sailor who has), I experienced a classic maritime milestone. We had a massive Equator Crossing Party, and I had the pleasure of hosting the after-party, guiding crew, guests, and even the captain to jump into the pool, a Disney Cruise Line tradition. To be officially recognized as a Shellback, one must complete the trials of King Neptune, but Disney reimagined it as a King Triton ceremony, themed after The Little Mermaid, which I was thrilled to be part of.

• Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

  • Cascading waterfalls, beautiful greenery, what else could you hope for?  This location is often called one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. The national park is made up of 14 glacial-carved fiords and showcases nature at its finest.

• Sailing into Sydney Harbor

  • Depending on the port we docked in, we would either sail under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge or past the Sydney Opera House. Both were breathtaking sights. During our final sail into Sydney, many of the crew gathered on the crew deck at 1:30 a.m., taking in the moment together as a team.

• International Date Line

  • February 8, 2026, a day so nice we had to live it twice! A real-life Groundhog Day moment at sea.

• Transpacific Crossing

  • Crossing the Pacific Ocean? Been there, done that! Had some rocky seas, but unforgettable memories.

Uniquely Hawaiian Experiences 

Completing a Transpacific Crossing means stopping in Hawaii! Here are my most special moments on the Hawaiian Islands: 

• Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa

  • A stop in Honolulu while working on the Mickey Boat meant a visit to Aulani! Crew members received a day pass, giving us access to everything the resort has to offer: a relaxing lazy river, thrilling water slides, sparkling pools, and soothing hot tubs. It was exactly the rejuvenating day I needed.

• Snorkeling with Turtles

  • While on the island of Honolulu, I had the incredible opportunity to snorkel among sea turtles. Watching these magical creatures glide gracefully in their natural habitat was absolutely stunning. It was my very first snorkeling experience, which made the moment even more special.

• Ho’Okipa Beach

  • Located on the island of Maui, Ho‘Okipa Beach is known for sightings of Hawaiian green sea turtles resting on the sand. Needless to say, I was not disappointed, seeing these majestic creatures up close was a rare and memorable experience.

• Black Sand Beach

  • Whenever someone asked me about a dream destination, my answer was always “a beach with a different-colored sand.” Visiting Richardson Ocean Park in Hilo finally checked that off my list. The completely black sand was stunning, and I was completely enamored by its unique beauty.

    
    

Gratitude

My adventures in the Land Down Under and Hawaii will always hold a special place in my heart. From wildlife encounters to incredible sailings, each up and down was worth it. Plus, I now have a forever new fun fact to share: I am a Shellback!