Goodbye Australia, Hello New Zealand

---

Up and packed by 8.26 - checked in by 9 and on the plane by 11.30. We thought this was a long flight to NZ but the captain said it would be 2 hrs 55 mins and that the weather in Auckland was better than Sydney.... this was good news as it was raining and grey as we took off! Landed in Auckland at about 5 with the time difference and once we had been through the longest immigration EVER - passport check, questions about why we were only there 6 days, then baggage collect, through another check where we we were asked if we had any food, medicine or had been hiking in the rainforest etc and then finally
all our luggagae had to go through another x ray machine!!! Very differnent to the Uk!! We picked up our hire car - a massive silver sporty beast and started the journey into town. No traffic at all and with my pathfinder skills, Woody's driving and Alan's good road tips we were there in no time. The hotel was really central and after a short break we decided to venture out.
All the guide books said the top attraction was the Sky Tower so off we went. It was a building with a sort of Trump Towers feel to it, waterfall in the lobby, live singer etc. The ride up the Tower was brilliant with a glass floor and half way up you could see out - it was freaky! At the top the glass was angled outwards so you felt as though you were looking down all the time. There were also areas that were glass that you could stand on which just felt wrong! Because we had got up there late we were able to watch the sunset over the city and get some great photographs. It was also very funny as there was a group of Nuns that were having a tour that were attracting a lot of attention... I kept expecting to see Whoopi Goldberg at any point! Next was the upper deck which is the highest point in the Tower and again this gave us amazing views!!! Once we had followed the nuns round this bit as well the private function in the bar had finished so although the day before I had vowed never to drink again I got back on the wagon and had a beer!!! (I must admit I asked for an Australian one which did not go down to well in NZ!!!, being an international traveller though it is hard to remember where you are!) At the bottom of the tower there was the biggest plasma in the world - 103 inches don't you know and I was reliably informed that is our next tele and Woody felt he had to give it a kiss - saddo!!!!
After we had done the tower to death we were starving - it was about 10pm and there was a Mexican across the road which looked cosy and had salsa on....... to summarize - atmosphere 10, drinks 10, my food 10, Woody's food - the most disgusting chilli I have ever tasted - bless him!!! There was no 'livin' lavida loca' and definately no tip (apart from learn how to make chilli!) Too knackered for salsa but we sashayed home for another night in a hotel!

---

Photos

pic 1
Sunset over Auckland from the Sky Tower

pic 2
Night from from 60 floors up

pic 3
A welcome beer and a great view

pic 4
Ooooo, my dream TV