Auckland - Dry land and meeting old friends

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I know this is a few days out of date but we are doing things everyday.

I'm writing and publishing these blogs from, New Plymouth, Taranaki on a sunny Tuesday evening, very early morning for all back home.





Auckland 13th March
Well we made it to New Zealand, even after leaving Papeete and going through a Force 10 gale.

The weather was blowy when we disembarked and we were surprised at the number of people transferring off the ship.

Our tour round the North Island is centred on Auckland and it's a big thanks to our friends, John & Heather (the Paine family) who have allowed us to use their house as a base and to leave our luggage with them as we go North or South of the City of Sails.

Our plans are fluid as we some accommodation booked for certain nights but not all.

We are heading to the Bay of Islands and end up in Napier towards the end of our 3 week stay.

Well the weather wasn't going to deter us, the first evening saw me manning the bbq before the rain set in. Collecting the car on the 14th in the pouring rain and setting off North

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