New Zealand / Australia Trip

Auckland 2/7/2005

Other trip days

Auckland-Morning Walk

This time the lousy SW alarm went off early. Got a wake-up call for the Kwut’s early start for the Bay of Islands tour. I got up and started organizing stuff in the luggage. Also ironed some shirts. Ate breakfast with a couple from Hartford, Wisconsin. Put valuables in the safe deposit box at the front desk. Left room to go to the Auckland Museum (8:30 AM), met Jann in the elevator, she connected me with the concierge to get directions for the (so-called) 20 minute walk and also got a map. Walked thorough the hotel and the shopping arcade and went out the back door. Climbed up the hill to Albert Park, took some pictures of the pretty landscaping, then walked past the University of Auckland (city campus). Then to the Auckland Domain (another park and another hill) where the Auckland Museum is.

Auckland-The Auckland Museum

Got there at 9:20, but the museum did nit open till 10 AM, so waited outside and took some pictures of the nice view of Auckland. Museum had 3 floors-the ground floor has Maori art, the second floor has natural history of the unique plants and animals of New Zealand , and the third floor is the war museum of all of the wars that New Zealand has fought in. Spent about an hour in the museum, at 11 AM tried to get back to the hotel but had just missed the bus. After talking to the info lady waited (ate some lunch-meat pie) for the 11:30 bus but did not see it and finally took a taxi at 11:45. Got to the hotel at 11:55 was supposed to be there at 12 noon to catch the Wilderness Experience tour bus that was supposed to leave at 12:15.

Auckland-Wilderness Tour (Aritake Centre)

Concierge called Bush and Beach, who said that the bus was coming. About that time Elaine (tour guide) arrived in the bus. We waited for James who was also at the Crowne Plaza. Also went down by the waterfront to a second pickup for a UK and an HK couple. Then we set out for the Aritake Centre, but first we stopped for food and drink. Since I already had lunch, I just got a custard pie. Since Aritake is up in the Waitakere mountains we had a good view of Auckland in the distance and the Manukau harbor. There was also a Maori exhibit inside.

Auckland-Wilderness Tour (Waterfall and Karekare Beach)

Drove to Karekare beach, because there was no parking we parked in someone’s house. We walked for some distance down to the waterfall. Then we walked from the waterfall to the beach. Elaine showed how the black sand would stick to a magnet. The beach was on the Tasman Sea facing Australia. We saw tiny purple shell and a starfish. Walked along a little stream that ran from the waterfall, back to the bus.

Auckland-Wilderness Tour (Waitakere Rain Forest)

Continued on to the rain forest. When we got there we sat on some benches and a had a picnic with biscuits and tea. Walked though the rain forest, seeing lots of interesting plants. Then we drove back toward Auckland. Since we still had some extra time we stopped off to see some ancient Kauri tree. On the way back to Auckland we ran into rush hour traffic. I got back to the hotel around 5:45 PM and took a nap. Kwut got back around 8:30 PM. Went to dinner at Midnight Express (Turkish). I had the stuffed eggplant and the Turkish dip appetizer. Went to a 24hr internet cafe to get some bottled water and to send e-mail to M and Bear. When we got back we found that there was no soap so we had to get some delivered. Also had to get the stuff out the safe deposit box.