A sign of somefinn

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We arrived in Auckland on Sunday evening and checked into our backpackers in Ponsonby. That evening we explored Ponsonby road and found a decent foodcourt for cheap and delicious Thai food.

On Monday, we walked across Western Park (Verandahs Backpackers sits on the edge of this green space) and into the city's CBD for a spot of shopping and general information gathering. By evening, we had worked our way down to the harbour and ate greenlip mussels and seafood chowder for dinner in a waterside restaurant/bar.

On Tuesday, we went to RockShop on K'Road - just to look at the Slash signature Les Paul Gibsons! Then, we headed out by car to explore some of the suburbs on the North Shore. We drove up to Torbay and then worked our way down to Devonport. Mainly, we were just getting a feel for the areas around Auckland should we end up finding jobs here...but we squeezed in the time to climb a volcano (Mount Victoria) for stunning 360 degree views of the area.

On Wednesday, we drove down to Newmarket to see some friends who run the "Organic Pizza Bar and Restaurant". Whilst we were there we indulged in a delicious 12" half monster prawns, half lamb, mint and kumara. Highly recommended! Afterwards, we drove out across the Waitakere Ranges, stopped at the regional park information centre (and discovered that there are 22 species of stick insect, 16 species of gecko and countless other unusual critters native to this country) to superbly remote bay of Piha (coincidentally, the place where Neil Finn has his house).

(Whilst I'm writing this there is a huge green praying mantis walking across the table. Emma has decided he's our new pet, is now called "Harvey" and is attempting to feed him apple).

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Photos

Verandahs backpackers
On the edge of Western Park

Greenlip mussels
Auckland harbour

Auckland by night
View from Verandahs' verandah

Lion Rock
on Piha beach

Comments

[Genuis]

Agree with Em, that is a fabulous info board, never seen one quite like itX