Rossmoor News, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, page 2B

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2B Rossmoor News • September 30, 2026

LIBRARY: Speakers

Continued from page 1B storytelling to heal what silence could not. Time for comments and questions will follow the presentation.

Seating is limited and sorry, no reservations. The Library Speaker Series looks forward to seeing residents. Email kit. kennedy@yahoo.com with questions.

The Australian Outback

Photos courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel Christchurch, New Zealand

By Rossmoor Travel Club

The Rossmoor Travel Club invites anyone who has ever wanted to watch the sun set over Uluru, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, and cruise a New Zealand fjord all in one unforgettable journey to join for Overseas Adventure Travel’s “South Pacific Odyssey: Australia, the Outback, and New Zealand.” Travelers will visit Melbourne, Alice Springs, Cairns, Sydney, and the South and North Islands of New Zealand in this month-long adventure.

The journey begins in Melbourne for a welcome dinner and a visit to the Koorie Heritage Trust to learn about the region’s Aboriginal history and art. From there, the group heads deep into the country’s interior – Alice Springs, the historic Old Telegraph Station, and a night camping beneath the stars at Simpsons Gap.

The itinerary’s heart lies in the Red Centre: Kings Canyon’s dramatic walking trails, and two full days at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, to watch the sun set – and rise

– over the ochre monolith that has been sacred to Aboriginal peoples for more than 20,000 years.

From the desert, the trip turns tropical. In Cairns, travelers wade for crabs at Cooya Beach, explore Mossman Gorge on the edge of the Daintree Rainforest, and sail to the Great Barrier Reef itself for a day of swimming and snorkeling above the coral – with an optional helicopter ride for those who want the reef’s full scale laid out beneath them.

A flight south brings the group to Sydney, where a guided tour of the iconic Opera House and a stroll through The Rocks district offer a dose of cosmopolitan polish before the adventure turns south across

the Tasman Sea.

In New Zealand, the pace shifts from grand landmarks to quiet, personal encounters: paddling a traditional waka canoe down the Avon River in Christchurch, sharing a home-hosted dinner with locals, and visiting a working sheep farm in the Rubicon Valley for a candid conversation about the country’s “100% pure” reputation.

The scenery only grows more dramatic from there. In Queenstown, travelers cruise the glassy waters of Milford Sound and can opt for a jetboat ride on the Dart River. In Rotorua, they meet baby kiwis at the National Kiwi Hatchery, walk among giant redwoods, and are guided through a liv-

Travel Club sponsors 2028 odyssey to the South Pacific

ing Maori village by one of its own residents.

The odyssey closes in Auckland with a visit to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari – a conservation reserve reintroducing endangered native species – and a farewell dinner to toast a month of shared discovery before the flight home.

Departure is set for Oct. 18, 2028, returning Nov. 16, 2028. This adventure includes 27 nights of accommodations, six internal flights, 54 meals, and 30 small-group activities,

all guided by a local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader. Those wanting even more can add the “Undiscovered Tasmania” pretrip extension – seven nights exploring Hobart, Cradle Mountain and Launceston.

Contact Travel Club trip host June Miller at miller. junem@gmail.com or 1-541-554-4744 for more information. Brochures are available in the Travel Club mailbox in the Gateway Administration building or on the Rossmoortravelclub.com website.

By News staff

The News provides an occasional roundup of restaurant, café and other retail openings and closings in and around Walnut Creek. Here is what we found this week.

Saatva The mattrass retailer has opened a store at 1619 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Walnut Creek. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For

more information, visit www.saatva.com or call 1-925-940-3938.

Sorso Bar & Bites The new Italian tapas bar has opened at 2 Orinda Square 106 in Orinda. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday). Bar is open until midnight. Visit www.barsorso.com for more information.

Dumpling Harbor The new dim sum restaurant has opened at 1420 Contra Costa Blvd. D1 in Pleasant Hill, near Sunvalley mall. Call 1-925-878-6666 or visit https://yiznetad.wixsite.com/94523 for more information.

Retail Roundup: Saatva opens store, two new restaurants also debut Mattress retailer adds Walnut Creek location

By Rossmoor Recreation

Come down to the cozy Redwood Room at Gateway Clubhouse on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at noon to learn about Rossmoor, meet new residents, and enjoy some refreshments.

Penny Reed, LCSW Counseling Manager, and various

Counseling manager to speak at next social gathering on Oct. 20

Rossmoor club representatives will be speaking.

New Rossmoor residents are encouraged to attend, but all Rossmoor residents are welcome. This is a perfect opportunity to learn more about Rossmoor, meet other residents, and enjoy some treats. No reservations are needed to attend. Contact Elena Ybarra at 1-925-988-7703 or eybarra@rossmoor.com for more information or questions.

All residents welcome to come

SIGN UP FOR ROSSMOOR NIXLE EMERGENCY ALERTS: Residents who are signed up with Rossmoor Nixle will receive alerts and notifications from Public Safety and Security personnel that

pertain specifically to Rossmoor

residents. Text “Rossmoor” to 333111, or visit https://local.nixle. com/signup/widget/g/2818

Photos on this page

Bright yellow sunrise illuminating grassy plains and distant low ranges in the Australian Outback. Caption: The Australian Outback
Aerial view of turquoise waters and coastal mountain ridges around Christchurch, New Zealand. Caption: Christchurch, New Zealand