newcastle to morpeth river cruise

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Historic Morpeth Cruise from Newcastle with Tasting

• Full day guided tour from Newcastle to the historic town of Morpeth
• Enjoy local produce tastings including cheeses, wines and sourdough
• Travel in comfort with air conditioning and heating on board

Enjoy a relaxing full day tour from Newcastle to Morpeth and return cruising down the beautiful Hunter River. Learn about the historical town of Morpeth from the informative commentary on board and indulge in local produce tastings as well 1.5 hours in the charming town to explore, dine or shop.

What's Included?

• Scenic Hunter River Cruise
• Morning tea
• Complimentary tea, coffee & biscuits throughout the cruise
• Informative commentary
• Morpeth sourdough & locally made fudge on journey up
• Local wine tasting with cheese & crackers on the return trip
• Free entry into the Historic Morpeth Museum

Experience a day out on the beautiful Hunter River in Newcastle and discover the historic town of Morpeth, once the gateway to inland Australia and the busiest trade ports in NSW. Begin your journey aboard the 'Bay Connections 1', cruising down the river and enjoying morning tea, with informative commentary from your tour guide for the day. Watch the Lifting of the Hexham Bridge and enjoy a number of tastings on board of local produce, including cheeses and wines. Once arrived at Morpeth, enjoy a leisurely 1.5 hours to freely roam, and take advantage of your free entry into the Historic Morpeth Museum while you're there. Finish off with a a scenic journey back to Newcastle, indulge in Inner City Winemakers wines, Miss Lily's Lollies fudge & Arnott's Bakehouse sourdough. This is a perfect day tour to share with family or friends, immersing yourself in the culture and stories of this charming and historical town.

Session Length

• This experience has a duration of approximately eight hours
• Times and dates will vary depending on the tide

Important Information

• Please advise at the time of booking if you have any dietary requirements
• Not all shops open 7 days, check before booking
• Please note, there is a 200 metre inclining walk from wharf to main street

Cancellation

• In the case of Cancellations announced by the company the customer is entitled to a full refund or held as credit for a future cruise
• All Cancellations incur a 15% cancellation fee (total booking) up to 2 weeks prior to departure date.
• Cancellations made by the customer with less than 2 weeks' notice and more than 48 hours' notice are subject to a 50% cancellation fee (total booking)
• Cancellations made by the customer with less than 48 hours' notice of cruise departure are subject to a 100% cancellation fee (total booking)
• Booking transfers are at the discretion of NOVA cruises and will incur the same fees, terms and conditions as cancellations

Bring something warm to rug up in if you wish to enjoy the view from the upper deck.

This experience takes place on the Hunter River, Newcastle.

Available dates

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William The Fourth Cruises

An Unforgettable Cruise On Newcastle Harbour

Experience Our Working Harbour Onboard William the Fourth

Enjoy the sights and sounds of a beautiful working harbour, aboard an authentic replica of one of the first Australian-built cargo ships that worked the harbour in the early days.

This Is How Experiences Are Made

Nowhere else can you feel you are going back in time. The unique character of William the Fourth inspires all forms of emotion. Enjoy the serenity or soak up the grand vistas of the Newcastle city panorama from the harbour. You know this is not like any other voyage as you sense what life was like for our pioneer forefathers. We know you will never forget it and we will see you again.

A Brief History Of William The Fourth

William the Fourth is an accurate operational replica of Australia’s first steam powered ocean-going paddlewheel ship.

When convict settlement was established at Newcastle from 1801, ships were the only form of transport. Within 30 years the settlement of fertile lands along the Hunter River and a growing coal trade – Australia’s first significant export industry, enabled the era of steam ships. In 1831 – when the Australian Agricultural Company began to have a profound impact on Newcastle, a shipyard was established at Clarencetown, taking advantage of the excellent timbers, to construct Australia’s first steam-powered ocean-going ship – William the Fourth , to operate between Sydney and the growing settlement inland from the ‘Green Hills’ now known as Morpeth.

There were almost no roads, and the graveyard of shipwrecks at the harbour entrance is testimony to the many hazards our local pioneers faced. The ship was a general carrier, transporting produce to the markets in Sydney and every product the settlers needed to live in the valley. It’s hard for us to imagine the hardships they faced, but their enterprise and determination developed the characteristics that are still in our blood today. By its very unique nature William the Fourth still serves as a faithful testimony to that tough pioneering and maritime heritage.

The replica William the Fourth was constructed as a community 1988 Bi-Centenary Project at Raymond Terrace, at a cost of $1.5 million and was launched on 26 September 1987 by Mrs Hazel Hawke. During construction hundreds of people purchased engraved copper nails – still in the ship’s hull, and since then thousands more have enjoyed the experience of the ship whilst learning of our maritime heritage. The replica operated commercial cruises on Newcastle Harbour and the Hunter River for 14 years until a boiler leak put it out of service in 2001. It was earmarked to be dismantled.

In 2008 a community-based organisation, William the Fourth Inc. was formed to take ownership from Newcastle City Council and complete a total restoration of the ship and return it to service. Difficulty in raising funds delayed the restoration for 10 years but with generous public and corporate support, work valued at over $650,000 was completed without incurring debt. As part of the full refurbishment a powerful diesel engine with propeller, as well as bow thruster were installed to maximise availability and overcome the issues presented by steam and paddlewheel propulsion (whilst retaining and simulating the steam experience).

William the Fourth provides the ideal platform to showcase the beauty of the city from the harbour.

It is available as a floating display, a unique venue for on-board refreshments and functions, and also has an operating licence to undertake corporate and tourist charters in sheltered waters. Charters are based on an hourly rate, for any number of passengers up to 54. Operations are available at any time, subject to availability of volunteer crew.

Available For Charter

Business or private functions. The perfect venue for any organisation to give your clients or guests an experience to remember. We have a range of options available. Call or email for details. The ship on the harbour is the perfect special venue to celebrate your special event. Weddings, parties, anything. Invite your family and friends and make your own special event.

HIstory Cruises

Usually on the third Sunday of a month – a 3-hour themed cruise of the harbour explores all aspects of our region’s history and culture. Check the cruise schedule for new events continually being added. Departing at 10.30am.

Morning and Afternoon Tea cruises

Usually on the first and third Sundays of each month - a 90-minute harbour cruise including morning tea departs at 10.30am. Check the cruise schedule for new events continually being added.

OPERATIONAL NOTICE

The ship will be out of service for a major deck replacement project, funded by nsw government, from 3 june 2024 for up to three months. the work will be carried out by a team of expert shipwrights at a maintenance berth at kooragang. this is a major life extension project for the ship. annual survey and docking will be completed during this time., purchase a gift voucher, the perfect gift for family or friends, or if you can’t choose a cruise date. .

Purchase a certificate to the value of one of our cruises. Customised vouchers available on request.

Only $30  For use on all of our harbour cruises.

Only $60 For morning or afternoon tea for 2 adults.

Only $85 For a family of 4 (Children up to 12 yrs)

OTHER VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

To redeem a voucher, select your cruise and tickets. Enter the voucher code at CHECKOUT.

  Get more ideas on what to do on the   Newcastle Travel Guide

To see our complete current timetable, and book – click here, or keep up to date with the latest news, views, cruises and charters, join us on facebook ., as seen on tv:, tv series 'the great outdoors' in 1990, showing the replica under full steam., a quick glimpse of the ship at work on newcastle harbour 2019., william the fourth begins harbour cruises again, what you can expect on one of our harbour cruises, some recent comments from delighted passengers and tripadvisor members.

One word for our High Octane Afternoon High Tea cruise: FABULOUS

From start to finish: Fabulous Crew: Fabulous Food: Fabulous Everything: Fabulous

Tku for an unforgettable afternoon. Todays adventure will stay with us always. Regards Barry & Anne Foley

Barry and Anne Foley

William the Fourth is a beautifully re-created historic paddle steamer that is moored in the Honeysuckle Precinct of Newcastle Harbour with plenty of nearby parking. Whilst on board we explored the harbour opening and the various channels and watched cargo ships, tugs and sailing boats pass by.

Strongly recommend to everyone who wishes to have a better understanding of the City of Newcastle.

Margaret A.

An excellent way to see the sights of Newcastle Harbour aboard this fully restored historically significant paddle wheel steamer, I would highly recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Newcastle.

Christopher B.

Fantastic journey on this historic ship. Whilst the cruise is only approx one and a half hours long, the experience is long lasting. An excellent way of seeing the working port close up

Fabulous cruise on Newcastle harbour and surrounding channels. Wonderful perspective of Newcastle from the water. Crew are great. All ages had a terrific time. A must do experience!

newytraveller53

What a terrific day on board a beautiful ship. The harbour experience was fabulous on board this wonderful vessel. Crew were obliging and extremely knowledgeable. We would have return visit any time.

What a fantastic experience. A wonderful enthusiastic crew, and and huge part of Australian history. Step back in time and understand the old steamers and ships. Truly wonderful day 👌🏽

The whole crew were very committed to making sure we had a lovely day as well as keeping us informed of the history of Newcastle as we sailed past each site of interest.

The day turned out to be sunny and the ocean was like a millpond. The crew were very happy and friendly, nothing was too much trouble. They made sure all the Covid rules were abided by.

The High tea was to die for. We had fresh home-made baking at it’s finest. I have had High Tea at Harrods and this was on par. There was even a small card to let everyone know the selections from quiche, scones, Rose cupcake, Lemon Meringue Tart to name but a few.

I would highly recommend that we support this Newcastle venture and bring your friends for a beautiful day out to celebrate a special occasion.

Hours of care and work that goes on behind the scenes obviously pays off. Couldn’t be more proud of the team, my second cruise and still cannot fault a thing xxx

Was a lovely day, weather perfect, crew very informative. Food, packaging and flavours magnificent. Would recommend it to all.

We are a group of five ladies who had a wonderful day on our cruise last Sunday.

Everyone involved was so helpful and went over and above what was required to make the day pretty special.

The kindness to one of our ladies who is suffering from Alzheimer’s was amazing, we are so grateful for this kindness from all the crew on Sunday’s cruise, Thank you.

Christine T.

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Cruise Newcastle and the Hunter with NOVA Cruises

Phone: 02 4088 8800 e-mail: [email protected].

About Nova Cruises

Nova Cruises Pty Ltd, is a locally owned and operated business. Our vessels “Bay Connections 1” and “The Princess” operate from Newcastle Harbour offering a wide range of scheduled cruises including; Newcastle Whale Watching Cruises, Newcastle Harbour Cruises, Lunch Cruises, Hunter River Discovery Cruises, Dinner Cruises and voyages to the Historic inland shipping port of Morpeth, all departing from Lee Wharf pontoon Newcastle.

NOVA Cruises also offers a range of exclusive cruises which allow private groups the opportunity to enjoy their private functions on the harbour or journey up the Hunter River to Raymond Terrace or Morpeth. Cruises for small groups, birthday parties, business functions, family functions, karaoke nights, or relaxing and exploring Newcastle Harbour with family and friends.

NOVA Cruises have a range of fully catered charter options. Enjoy a luncheon, dinner or cocktail cruise on Newcastle Harbour, or perhaps a progressive dinner cruise along the Hunter River. Call NOVA Cruises to discuss your individual requirements.

Covid-19 Response

As a responsible cruise tour operator, we are committed to providing our guests with unforgettable cruises in and around the Port of Newcastle. COVID-19 restrictions have begun to be eased across New South Wales and Australia, but we must not be complacent. As such, NOVA Cruises has taken additional measures to keep our experiences as safe and as comfortable as possible for our guests. Our Covid-19 Response is available to view in our Terms and Conditions of travel.

“The Princess”

Dinner and Luncheon Cruises on Newcastle Harbour NOW OPERATING

Fresh from having undergone a major refurbishment and equipment update “The Princess” has made her way down the east coast of Australia and is conducting Lunch & Dinner Cruises on Newcastle Harbour. “The Princess” was an icon amongst prestigious charter boats on the Gold Coast and at just under 30 metres in length is the longest and most luxurious charter vessel to operate in the Hunter. “The Princess” is currently used for our Lunch and Dinner Cruises on Newcastle Harbour.

“Bay Connections 1”

NOVA Cruises vessel “Bay Connections 1” is a 16 metre fibreglass semi-hydrofoil planing catamaran. Constructed in  South Africa, and fitted out in Fremantle Western Australia, the vessel was designed to operate in waters up to 300 nautical miles from the coastline. Having been constructed to this standard the vessel is extremely stable and offers a remarkably comfortable cruising experience. “Bay Connections 1″ is licensed to carry up to 60 guests. The vessel has two levels consisting of a main saloon with integrated wheelhouse, bar, and an upper sundeck. “Bay Connections 1” is currently used for our Historic Morpeth Cruises, Hunter River Discovery Cruises, and Whale Watching Cruises.

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NOVA Cruises

Postal address: 7 Wyalong Place, Salamander Bay, NSW 2317 Phone: 02 4088 8800 E-Mail: [email protected]

The ultimate guide to Norwegian fjord cruises

A cruise to Norway, with its fjords and archipelagos, offers the best way to see the region – with a chance to glimpse the Northern Lights

The likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights is far greater at sea than on land, and in Norway’s high Arctic the aurora can be seen day and night during the polar winter. No wonder, then, that  Norway  is on most cruisers’ wish lists. At 62,705 miles it has one of the longest coastlines in the world and the drama is right there, in front of you, all the time. 

Head up on deck after dinner to watch the sun set behind mountain peaks, or stay up to witness the midnight sun. Do your weights or yoga poses overlooking a shimmering fjord, sail into impossibly beautiful port towns and ditch Spotify for the sound of seabirds and frothing waterfalls.

Distances are shorter on the water – no mountains to contend with – which means you’ll see far more in a week than you would on land. Norway is a year-round destination. As the sun casts its late-summer rays, winter fun begins. 

So, what’s it to be? Hungry for activities? Fancy a rail and sail trip? Maybe wildlife is a priority, or a cruise that suits the whole family? Make your holiday planning easier with our ultimate guide to cruising in Norway.

Where to go

How to get there, when to book, how much does it cost.

Five of the best cruises to book

Fjord itineraries call at coastal cities including Bergen, Stavanger, Ålesund and Trondheim, and some ships visit the Lofoten Islands. Further north, above the Arctic Circle, are Bodø, Tromsø, Hammerfest, Honningsvåg – the gateway to the North Cape – and Kirkenes, near the Russian border.

Expedition vessels visit the Svalbard archipelago, around 500 miles north of the Norwegian mainland. Don’t overlook the cities and towns, which offer fascinating museums, fishing heritage, historic centres and cosy cafés and waterfront restaurants. 

Good news: the holiday can begin in the UK. Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises,  Fred Olsen , Norwegian Cruise Line, Cunard,  P&O Cruises , Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and  Disney Cruise Line all sail from Southampton to ports in Norway during the summer. Seabourn and Saga sail from Dover, and Fred Olsen has sailings from Portsmouth and Newcastle. Viking has three sailings from London Greenwich to Bergen, including Midnight Sun and Northern Lights itineraries.

There are flights to Oslo and Bergen, and domestic connections to destinations including  Kristiansand ,  Stavanger , Bodø, Tromsø and  Trondheim .   Between October and April, Hurtigruten operates charter flights to the Fjordland hub of Bergen from Manchester, Gatwick, Bristol, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and Leeds. 

Reaching Svalbard, which is situated between Norway and the North Pole, takes more effort. Some operators use charter flights – most of Quark Expeditions’ itineraries depart from Helsinki in Finland. Norwegian and SAS offer connections from Oslo and Tromsø to the capital Longyearbyen. Another alternative is to choose a longer cruise that combines mainland Norway with Svalbard. 

Remote though it is, it’s also possible to cruise to Svalbard from the UK with bonus calls at some truly remote islands. Quark has a sailing from Aberdeen via the Faroe Islands and HX has one sailing from Glasgow, via Iceland.  

Summer Fjordland cruises, midnight-sun sailings and Northern Lights itineraries are the most popular, but wildlife, spectacular scenery and natural phenomena can be seen all year. Statistically, spring (March and April) and autumn (September and October) see the highest level of aurora activity. Being at sea, far from artificial light, will increase your chances of seeing the lights. Svalbard has three key seasons: Polar summer, winter Northern Lights and “sunny winter” (March 1 to mid May). 

The further north you travel, the more rewarding the experience is likely to be. The midnight sun lingers longest in Svalbard, where the sun doesn’t set between mid April and mid August; however, the regions of Finnmark, Troms and Nordland also sit above the Arctic Circle (66 degrees 33 minutes north).

As cruises to Norway are often bucket-list holidays, higher-grade cabins and balcony cabins tend to sell quickly. Northern Lights cruises get booked a year or more in advance, and sailings with astronomers and wildlife experts are popular. Expedition vessels and yacht cruises carry far fewer passengers. SeaDream’s 2025 cruises went on sale in 2023 and are sold out.

The most affordable cruises are “no-fly” cruises to the fjords, the majority sailing from Dover and Southampton. Expect to pay from around £700 per person per week on a larger ship. Head deeper into Norway on a Northern Lights cruise and you’re looking at upwards of £1,200 per person.

Expedition trips to far-flung Svalbard cost from £7,000 per person. If sipping champagne in the high Arctic is more your style, Scenic’s 16-day Fjords and Arctic Circle itinerary costs just shy of £17,000. The operator’s luxury yachts carry a helicopter and a submarine; a 40-minute submersible experience costs $795 (£606) per person. A more affordable yachting experience is offered by SeaDream Yacht Club, which has a week’s cruise in the fjords from £6,839 per person.

In terms of distance covered and ports visited, it’s hard to beat the hop-on, hop-off “ coastal express ” from Kirkenes to Bergen (and vice versa) operated by Hurtigruten and Havila. First operated by Hurtigruten as a mail, goods and passenger service in 1893, this route is still used by coastal communities today. Havila’s six-day “ voyage south ” calls at 33 ports and costs from £730 per person. Before you book a coastal express voyage, check what’s included, as excursions and alcohol might bump up the fare.

What are excursions like in Norway?

From sea-eagle safaris by rib boat to waterfall hikes, ice fishing and snowshoeing, Norway offers some of cruising’s most thrilling excursion opportunities. Foodies, families, adventure seekers and the culturally inclined are catered for with quirky museums, visits to Sami communities, architectural tours, concerts at Tromsø’s striking Arctic Cathedral, and trips to farms to try brown cheese ( brunost ) and cloudberry jam.

Think teenagers might get bored? Created by former SAS personnel and led by survival guides, P&O Cruises’ Special Forces Adventure in the fjords includes a rib ride from Hellesylt to Ljøkaia, a paddle along Geirangerfjord by kayak and a “wilderness barbecue lunch”, in preparation for a five-hour mountain hike. 

Can I combine a cruise with a land tour?

It’s not just city breaks in Oslo, Bergen or Tromsø that tempt cruisers to extend their trips. Cruises combined with scenic rail routes are increasingly popular. A spokesperson for Discover the World said: “After taking our fjords by rail holiday from London to Stavanger, guests often continue their journey north on a cruise to Kirkenes, before travelling home by rail or plane.”

Hurtigruten’s rail and sail packages including an epic 16-day journey that couples a 12-day Coastal Express voyage with a trip on the Flåm Railway to Bergen, and Viking’s pre-cruise extensions include a two-night city stay in Oslo paired with a trip on the 1909-built Bergen Railway, one of the highest in northern Europe. 

And if you want to linger in the Lofotens, Havila offers a hop-on, hop-off option that combines a cruise with a stay in a rorbu (fisherman’s cottage) in the Lofoten Archipelago.  

Five of the best Norway cruises

Tartan to tundra.

This expedition cruise from Aberdeen to Svalbard promises dramatic Arctic scenery and extraordinary wildlife sightings. After a call at Scotland’s remote Fair Isle, home to Atlantic puffins, the 140-passenger Ultramarine sails across the North Atlantic to the Faroe Islands, where the ship will navigate the outer islands (there are 18 in total) and visit the capital, Tórshavn. The island of Jan Mayen, north of Iceland, promises sightings of northern fulmars, little auks, glaucous gulls, kittiwakes, and black and Brünnich’s guillemots (thick-billed murres). The trip finishes with three days in glacier-choked Spitsbergen. 

How to book: a 14-day Arctic Saga Exploring Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen costs from £9,950 per person, including one hotel night in Aberdeen, transfers in Aberdeen and Longyearbyen in Svalbard and a charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki. Excludes return flight from Helsinki to the UK. Departs April 29 2025. (0808 134 6000;  quarkexpeditions.com )

Lights, camera, action

According to the Norwegian Space Agency, aurora borealis activity is expected to reach its highest levels in 11 years this winter. What better way to witness it than with an aurora chaser? As well as onboard guided tours of the night sky, aurora expert Tom Kerss will bring the galaxy’s stars, planets and meteors into focus via storytelling and lectures. The cruise also includes a visit to the Northern Lights Planetarium in Tromsø with Hurtigruten’s astronomy experts.

How to book: a 12-day Astronomy Voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes (and back) costs from £1,969 per person excluding flights. Kerss will join seven departures between September 2025 and March 2026. (020 3603 7112;  hurtigruten.com )

Decorated chef Michel Roux will join two of Cunard’s ships in the Norwegian fjords next year for a series of Le Gavroche at Sea residencies. Queen Mary 2 will host the first five-night takeover, Le Gavroche at The Veranda, in April. Roux will then host a residency aboard Queen Anne – Le Gavroche at Sir Samuels, in May. The final two sailings are in August. During these voyages, Oysters at the Champagne Bar (QM2) and Oysters at Carinthia Lounge (Queen Anne) will be serving Norwegian seafood on a walk-in basis. Roux will also host a live cooking demonstration and appear as an insight speaker, revealing stories from his 40-plus-year career.

How to book: a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise calling at Stavanger, Ålesund, Olden, Innvikfjorden, Nordfjord and Bergen costs from £1,249 per person departing round trip from Southampton on April 6 2025. Dining at the residencies costs extra. (0344 338 8641;  cunard.com )

P&O Cruises is a popular choice for families as there are no flights involved (just pile all that luggage into the car) and several departures tie in with school holidays. This seven-night cruise on Iona offers some exciting off-ship excursions, including a Special Forces Adventure in Hellesylt, yoga with a view of the Briksdal Glacier in Olden and a rib tour in Ålesund harbour. Iona has several pools, eight dining venues, an indoor and open-air cinema, a sports arena and a complimentary children’s club and night nursery. 

How to book: A seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise round trip from Southampton costs from £699 per person, departing in April 2025 (0344 338 8003;  pocruises.com )   

Munch moments

Viking offers passengers behind-the-scenes tours with curators at the Munch Museum in Oslo. Guests will see the museum’s private collection of printing plates that showcase Munch’s pioneering woodcuts. Back onboard, as part of their Munch Moments experience, guests have access to the entire digital collection of Munch artwork. The cruise starts in Amsterdam and visits Skagen in Denmark before calling at five Norwegian ports.

How to book: An eight-day Viking Shores and Fjords itinerary costs from £4,540 per person including flights from London and selected regional airports. Departs August 2025. (0800 458 6900;  vikingcruises.co.uk )

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Nova Cruises

Nova Cruises, is a locally owned and operated business. offering ocean, harbour and river cruises from right in the heart of Newcastle. Their vessels 'Bay Connections 1' and 'The Princess', offer a wide range of scheduled cruises including Newcastle Whale Watching Cruises, Newcastle Harbour Lunch and Dinner Cruises, Hunter River Discovery Cruises, Bingo Cruises, and voyages to the historic inland shipping port of Morpeth and Raymond Terrace.

Nova Cruises also offers a range of exclusive cruises which allow private groups the opportunity to enjoy their private functions on the harbour or journey up the Hunter River to Raymond Terrace or Morpeth. Cruises for small groups, birthday parties, business functions, family functions, karaoke nights, or relaxing and exploring Newcastle Harbour with family and friends.

Nova Cruises now have wedding packages available to suit your individual needs. Call them now to receive a wedding brochure.

Bingo Afloat

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