Blogs from Central, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 7

Let's start this blog with a spoiler: I got a car! Sorry couldn't restrain myself. So yesterday was an interesting day! Got up early in order to get some money out of the bank, and then we went to the car auction to get me a car! We arrived later than expected, so we didn't have time to check out all the cars. There were basically 3 that had enough space in the back for me to put my bike+backpack in and even potentially sleep in it in the price-range I was looking for (below 1500 dollars aka 900 euros). Bidding started and it was quite exciting to experience. They start at the high price, go lower until the first bidder, and then work up from there. The first few cars went over my budget quite ... read more

Auckland The City of Sails and New Zealand's biggest city offered the welcome relief from the humidity of Cairns and a place to organise and plan our trip around New Zealand but not a huge amount else. Often called a "bit of a boring city with not much to do" even by a travel agent in STA travel (she was enthusiastic and obviously enjoyed her job), we spent a lazy few days trying to secure a campervan. After researching all the main companies like Jucy and Escape, all of which were overpriced and unavailable, we were forced to put all our hope in a leaflet for a company offering campervans at half the price of everyone else and that no one had ever heard of. After traipsing to the other end of town only to find ... read more

Bungy Jump day! Like yesterday I woke up around 6 in the morning and I spent the morning walking around in the harbour and try to not become to nervous. The jump wasn't scheduled until 1.30 so I had a lot of time strolling around.While at the harbour I found a sign about a Coast to Coast walk through Auckland so I decided that I would spend tomorrow doing that and have at least some kind of "hike". we Around 1 went to the pickup spot and met a Finnish guy who was also going to bungy jump and like me he was a bundle of nerves. His girlfriend were there as well, but she wasn't going to jump. They picked us up and we went to their office to sign papers agreeing that we won't ... read more

Boxing Day Wednesday 26th Dec we start on our 9 Month Tour...."ADVENTURE before DEMENTIA"......! Both full of flu & chesty cough...1st leg of our tour...Coach trip from Northampton to Heathrow.....3 hours in the rain! Heathrow checked in & had farewell champers with my little Sis Sheilagh & her man Chris...& we're off on our 28 hour journey. Brief 2 hour stop at Hong Kong airport...just enough time for 'Stan the Man'(STM) to share his chesty cough with a few more unsuspecting travellers. Having had 'man flu' for over a month he thought is was best to share! Friday 28th Dec - Arrive in Auckland...My brother John & his wife Andrea over from Perth for their Xmas Hols pick us up from airport...tired but excited...checked into The Waldorf Serviced Apartment just off Queens Road ...FAB location...5 minute ... read more

I hopped in a shuttle once I made it through customs in Auckland and made my way to my hotel, the Kiwi International Hotel. It was just after 7:00 am when I arrived and thankfully there was a room ready that I could check into. The five hour flight and losing two hours was not nearly enough sleep so I was ready to lay down for a bit. The only thing I scheduled for the day was renting a plane at Ardmore Airport with Auckland Aero Club at 2:00 that day. I woke up around 11:00, had a shower, and took off into the heart of the city. The Sky Tower is only a couple of blocks so I walked down and snapped a few photos before grabbing a bite to eat and heading back to ... read more