Auckland, NZ 1/28&29/18

This is the City of Sails - Auckland, New Zealand. 

Sky City and Sky Tower

The Ferry Building

Tarlton's Aquarium

Tarlton's Aquarium - Shark Tunnel

I loved Auckland.  Great bustling city.  It was a holiday on Monday and there were many activities in the harbor area and throughout the town.

My friend and I did the Hop-On, Hop-Off Yellow Tour Bus after the included excursion.  It was a great value.  We had our passes for 24 hours and it included a ferry to a quaint neighboring island, Devonport.  We climbed an extinct volcano called Mt. Eden and were amazed at how far we could see in all directions.  In the early evening when we took the ferry to Devonport, we climbed another extinct volcano to enjoy the view.

My second day on the HOHO bus, I visited Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium.  It was awesome.  Very clean and remarkably, it was built underground in an abandoned sewage facility.  I also went to the beautiful Holy Trinity Cathedral.  I got off the bus at the Queen Street stop and found my way around an Asian section.  For less than $100., I had foot reflexology, facial and got a haircut.  Each one was excellent.  Turned out to be a great day.

Headed to Rotorua (Tauranga), NZ tomorrow.  I don't know why almost everywhere we go has two names.

Aukland at night from our ship after the performance Te Puawai "Mana", an authentic Maori cultural folkloric show.  

Aukland and surrounding area from the top of the extinct volcano, Mt. Eden.

Beautiful Holy Trinity Cathedral.  Amazing stained glass windows.

Downtown Aukland where our ship was docked.  It was great to be in walking distance to the downtown area and not driving 45 minutes or more to get there.  

Savage Memorial with reflection pool and gardens at Bastion Point.  

Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell stained-glass windows

View from Mt. Victoria another extinct volcano of Devonport.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Tug boats pushing each other around.  Boys and their toys.

Largest colony of penguins on display in Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium.  They make 3 to 5 tons of snow every day.  

Auckland Domain's Winter Garden in a greenhouse.  Constructed after WW I.

Busy harbor - more boats per capita than anywhere else in the world.

Wharenui (big house).  Maori gave Bastion Port to the Europeans for a defensive point.

View from Mt. Eden

Devonport Harbor

Devonport 

View from Mt.Victoria, Devonport

View from Mt. Victoria, Devonport

Interesting tree in Devonport

Te Puawai "Mana", an authentic Maori cultural folkloric show

Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium Turtle Rescue

Kelly Tarlton's Shark Tunnel

Seahorse Kingdom

Bishop's Office

St. Mary's Church

Savage Memorial and garden honoring beloved Prime Minister

View from Mt. Eden

View from Mt. Eden

Scott's Hut 1911 Antarctic Expedition

Antarctic Expedition Quarters

FACEBOOK  Auckland, NZ has a lot to see and do which made for a busy two days.  This is a culturally diverse city nestled between two harbors.  There are more boats per capita than anywhere else in the world.  Auckland is considered the "City of Sails".

The first day, we did the short included tour and then we chose the Hop-on, Hop-off bus to get around town and spend time where we wanted.   We stopped by the Sky Tower and the Auckland Domain Winter Garden.  There were beautiful displays of flowers in green houses that were built after WW I surrounded by lovely green areas.   Bastion Point offered views of Hauraki Gulf and Waitemata Harbor.  The Maori tribe Ngati Whatua gave this land to the Europeans for a defensive point in 1885.  There is a Maori Marae on site as after much controversy which included 506 days of protestors occupation the land was returned to the Maori instead of being developed.  This stop also included the Savage Memorial, an art deco obelisk with reflecting pool and beautiful gardens to honor a beloved prime minister.  The next stop was Mt. Eden, an extinct volcano and believed to be the home of a Maori god.  The 360 degree views were amazing.

After dinner on the ship, we took a ferry to nearby Devonport.  This was another part of our Hop -on/Hop off package.  We walked around the picturesque town and then climbed to the top of another extinct volcano, Mt. Victoria.  The views were great and they are trying to refurbish the former guns from the days when a fort was located on this vantage point.  We returned to the ship in time to see Te Puawai "Mana", an authentic Maori cultural folkloric show.  

Day two, I was back on the Hop on/Hop off bus.  I got off at Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium Sea Life which is located underground in a former sewer facility.  It was one of the nicest aquariums I have visited.  There are 13 theme zones and 30 live animal displays including Scott's Hut from 1911 Anarctic Expedition, the largest colony of penguins on display requiring 3-5 tons of snow daily, turtle rescue, shark tunnel, seahorse kingdom, and more.   Back on the bus, I went to Holy Trinity Cathedral with beautiful, modern stained glass windows and St. Mary's Church.  Next, Parnell's Rose Garden was a lovely cottage style garden.  I finished my day by getting off in the Theater area and happened into an Asian section.  I had reflexology, facial and haircut for less than $100. total.  All the services were great.  

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Auckland.  I don't have all the information on how far we've traveled but it was 6,847 nautical miles from Los Angeles to Auckland.