Auckland N.Z.

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Auckland: Through the night we steamed on a South Westerly direction, and in the early morning approach to the Hauraki Gulf from the North. We utilized the sector light positioned on Takapuna Beach as we entered Rangitoto Channel leaving Rangitoto Island on our port side. Under the command of the captain supported by the bridge team and by the pilot we rounded North Head and entered into Waitemata Harbour before making our way towards our berth Queens Wharf, starboard side alongside.

Our berth was right in the centre of Auckland, and adjacent to the ferry terminal where we caught the ferry to Devonport, and did our own walk around this quaint seaside part of Auckland. The Naval depot is situated here H.M.N.Z.S. Philomel, is where I had a game of rugby back in the early 70’s it still haunts me we got smashed.

We also made a visit to the Naval Museum which had many interesting exhibits on display, it has only been open a couple of years.

The day was very cold however, and on our return from Devonport we had to return to the ship and get a jumper each the wind was icy.

Some friends of ours went on a ferry to one of the islands near Auckland and were lucky to witness a pod of about seven Killer whales extremely close at hand. Apparently they were in the harbour feasting on Stingrays.

For dinner tonight we went to the same Pizzeria we ate at four years ago with George and Sandi Robinson, the pizza was okay but not as good as it was at that time.

Well the blog is drawing to a close as we are at sea until Sunday morning when we arrive in Sydney, so there will be probably be only one more entry, some readers are probably saying thank god.

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Photos

Aboard the ferry
Heading to Devonport the Dawn Princess can be sen in the left top background.

Devonport
Auckland in the background

Navy Museum
Me looking all nautical.

Mock set up of a mess deck
Left hand side is a row of bunks three high. On the Vampire my bunk was the bottom one, I remember there was a lot less headroom.