Blogs from Central, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central February 9th 2023

Jane did all the heavy lifting today. Why? She isn’t colour blind or deaf, can read, stable … on her feet that is, able to run and is a techno whiz. I tagged along … enjoying the no responsibility day. We purchased an Auckland Transport (Metro bus) card and loaded each with $10. First destination, Mt Eden (Maungawhau). The bus driver got out of the bus to show us where to catch the return bus … result … we forgot to tag off … result … $1.31 remained on each card for a trip that was to use only $1.15 Travel and learn. We walked along a rising road winding around the Mt before taking over 300 wooden stairs to the top. It was fresh and we enjoyed the greenery and the views even though the ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central February 7th 2023

Even though we have been riding for long periods each day we are not sleeping well at all. As way of an example was being fully awake before 3.30 this morning. We didn’t miss the shuttle to the airport for our flight to Auckland at 9.45am! Jane had the window seat and took some great shots. I've used 3 ... with permission! Accommodation is central, downtown Auckland and the room is very roomy, quiet and high class. We shuttled in by shuttle …definitely the cheapest and delivery right to the door. We have spent the remainder of the day looking at maps, hard copies and internet variety, and reading of places of interest to explore. We came with an overview of what we wanted to do in the North Island but for Auckland itself we were ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central November 5th 2022

Bonjour à tous, Comme vous pouvez le constaté je suis bien à Auckland. Je n'ai pas d'explication, au texto que j'ai reçu concernant cette panne technique. Je n'en ai pas demandé non plus, beaucoup trop de difficultés à comprendre les australiens. Vol à l'heure, tout ce qui à de plus normal. Juste une bonne crise d'angoisse pour moi, avec ce sms. Le repas du matin, était franchement pas terrible, mais celui pour Auckland, immonde. La boîte repas occupe une moitié de tablette d'avion, c'est dire si c'est copieux. 2 saucisses genre cocktail, une cuillère à café de purée, idem en petits pois, et rien d'autre, même pas de pain. Il ferait mieux de ne rien servir. Comme je vous l'avais dit à Auckland, j'étais prit en charge par un chauffeur, pour me conduire à l'hôtel. RDV ... read more
côte NZ
Auckland
Auckland

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central February 29th 2020

Leaving Paihia, we dawdled down the beautiful coast back to Auckland. All along the coast are wonderful vistas either at. sea level or from the heights above, and the coast is replete with wide sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. As in all places in New Zealand, tramping trails abound. We took some time working our way back to Auckland, since we had little desire to do anything there other than see the wonderful museum with its Maori treasures. The Auckland Museum surmounts a hill in the large park called the Auckland Domain, occupying an old volcanic crater. The park includes tree-lined drives, walking trails, and a glass-enclosed botanical garden, and occupies 75 hectares (185 acres) just southeast of the main downtown area of Auckland. The park was established in 1843, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum ... read more
Coastland north of Auckland
Maori sailing vessel
Large Maori war canoe

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central December 5th 2019

I've had some emotions yesterday. I arrived, was completely and utterly exhausted, and started thinking about my situation. I already missed my family and friends, and I didn't know what to do with myself. They are half a world and a few timezones away; when I'm awake, they are asleep, and that doesn't make anything easier. I felt very much alone - even though I know it's ridiculous. After all, I'm staying in a room full of people going through the exact same thing as me. Today we had our first workshop, and that rekindled my excitement to be here. After that, we went out for lunch; we went to a pizza place, and I had some beer. I couldn't help but think of the last time I had pizza and beer - Sunday evening before ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central March 12th 2019

Hi everyone Well, I have 3 weeks to go before I set off on my first solo MLCOE (Mid Life Crisis Overseas Experience). Checklist nearly complete: Backback - tick (my first ever backpack and my first backpacking experience...ever...) Boots and sandals - tick Ugly hiking pants and shirt - tick Medicine - tick...last rabies shot this week ...you get the idea. Lots of stuff and I haven't tried packing it all in the backback yet. Many of you are a little worried about how I'll manage and some of you have concern for my safety. I get that and I share your concerns! I probably won't be on the phone much so, here's my blog page to keep you up-to-date with my travels, and a place where you can see (most of) what I'm up to...but ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central November 12th 2018

SC:Internet problems...not convinced that this blog post actually went, so I'm sending it again... Cjwrites: An easy getaway from our Guatemalan hotel at 04:30 on Friday 9th November and a reasonably comfortable flight to Dallas. Fortunately we spotted the need to change terminals before it all got too tight! but there was an anxious wait for seat allocations once at the gate. The flight from Dallas to LA is clearly hugely popular, with a lengthy list of stand-bys. Time in Dallas is as in Guatemala: 7 hours behind the UK. (SC adds: This was a good flight with a fabulous sunset and some great early evening views of LA.) A much longer period hanging around LAX - and no lounge available that will let us in (this Priority Pass isn’t nearly as useful as we’d hoped). ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central January 20th 2018

Before heading to New Zealand we motored north three hours away from the 40 degree heat of Sydney to stay with friend Liz Warne in Salamander Bay. Liz hosted us royally and we enjoyed the local sights including the largest moving beach in the Southern Hemisphere called Birubi. We also watched a magnificent storm roll in and out; wind rain, lightening, it had it all. It was easy to sup the odd glass of wine from Liz’s house with views over the bay. After three days we headed back to Sydney airport, leaving at 06.45, strangely the kick off time of the Sheffield derby, back in Blighty. (0-0 a good result under current circumstances). We flew Qantas on a 737 and the 12 of us in business class were well fed and certainly not left short ... read more
Supper at Liz’s
Storm approaches
Photo lit purely by lightening

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central May 3rd 2017

If you want a quiet pace to have a picnic lunch,or even the more traditional pie and sammies from the local vietnamese bakery, I thoroughly recommend the romatically named wintergarden, one of the most benign remnants of colonialism in new zealand, two sprawling late victorian neo gothic glass -houses, full of verdigris covered statues and carniverous plants,and bierdslyesque wishing wells. Set in the grounds of the domain,surrounding the forbiddingly named war memorial museum, the wintergarden reflects the other sade of the late victorian coin,lushness and exoticism and a faintly eliotian odor of decay... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central April 11th 2017

6th March Embarking Queen Victoria This leg of our trip is going to take us back to Australia via The Bay of Islands calling at Sydney (2 days) and Melbourne. From there, it's back across 'The Ditch' to cruise the Sounds starting with Milford Sound. We then sail around to Dunedin and Christchurch (from Akaroa) before heading to Wellington, from there it's to Apia (Samoa), Honolulu, Hawaii (the Big Island) and finish the leg with a two day stop in San Francisco. Pictures are of us leaving the beautiful 'City of Sails'. Once again Thankyou John & Heather x... read more
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