No, you may be any age, and you may bring a child or grandchild 12 years or older. It’s a great way to take your child or grandchild on a worry-free vacation. We do not normally go to amusement parks, etc., but you may take a day to depart from the group to take side trips. Normally, we have travelers from 45 to 85, but we have had 90-year-olds and 15-year-olds.

“Do I have to be from Shelby County?”

No, people from all over the country join their friends and/or family for our trips. It is a perfect way to celebrate a class or family reunion, an anniversary, a birthday, or any other special occasion.

Traveling expands your horizons (no pun intended), fulfills dreams, and gives you new perspectives on life. Join us!

2024 Travel Schedule

From the Horizon: 

Shelby Senior Services recently sponsored a trip to Australia and New Zealand. What follows is a view of the countries through the eyes and notes taken by traveler Sherry Ponsler.

After a long plane ride, the group landed in Cairns City, Australia.  Sherry noted that it was very humid.  It is summer there right now.

The group enjoyed free time to get acquainted with the area.  They began with a walk-about of the nearby gardens and a lagoon, and they enjoyed seeing the beautiful lights on the trees.  Nearby, a Ferris wheel and small group of fishing boats dotted the scenery.

The trip featured many boat rides in various watercraft, including an old steam boat reminiscent of the African Queen boat captained by Humphrey Bogart. Aboard this steam boat the group was treated to a guitar player who enlisted them to be backup singers.

One full day on the water included snorkeling, a glass bottom boat ride, as well as viewing marine life while partially submerged in a small submarine. A Skyrail Rainforest Cableway took them across the rainforest canopy. “There was beautiful scenery above the tree tops,” she wrote.  Also featured in the nearby Rainforestation Nature Park were Aboriginal dancers, spear throwing and boomerang throwing,” she noted.

Flights between cities took them to Sydney, Melbourne, Queenstown, New Zealand and Christchurch, New Zealand. In Sydney, the highlight was the Sydney Opera House, of course.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The group toured private areas inside the site.  After the tour, guests were treated to a dinner cruise with outstanding entertainment featuring singers and dancers.

In order to fully appreciate the scope of Melbourne’s beauty, an included excursion took them to the Melbourne Skydeck. “What a view from the 88th floor of the Skydeck!” Ponsler noted. One highlight for Sherry was visiting the Phillip Island Penguin Parade and Koala Conservation Center. “We saw tons of kangaroos and wallabies. The penguins were very cute, also,” she said.

At Queenstown, they took a two hour cruise on Milford Sound where they could see seals, dolphins and more. Ponsler shared, “There was a massive quantity of sheep, cows (dairy and beef) and deer in fields enroute to Milford Sound.”

She also shared that Indiana farmers would probably be in disbelief when they saw the huge herds of deer that are raised for human consumption of venison.  Normally, Indiana farmers aren’t thrilled to see deer in their fields of corn.

Also, she was impressed with how beautiful New Zealand was compared to Australia. In Queenstown, the coach stopped at Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand.  One stop allowed free time to take in the “sheepdog statue.” Christchurch completed the tour with a bus tour of the city. Overall, Sherry stated that it was a wonderful trip.

A special thanks to Sherry Ponsler for her informative overview of the trip to Australia and New Zealand.

If you would like to experience great destinations and fun times, please join us for our Travel Show, Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the senior center.  Please call to reserve your free spot – 317-398-0217.