Blogs from Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 350

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland November 3rd 2004

Went to tawharanui with my family for a weekend away at the neighbours bach (holiday home). Sat out on the deck having dinner then played tennis but it was too hot. Went to Omaha beach for a surf then set off for Goat Island, a marine reserve where you can go diving, snorkelling or on the glass bottom boat. Looked really choppy from the carpark so as we had all been there before we left. Me Neil and Joe went off for another surf and played rugby on the beach then met the others back at the house for a BBQ. In the morning I listned to Great Britain get beat by New Zealand in the tri nations while the others went for a surf. Went to Goat Island again and went snorkelling this time. Could ... read more

Titirangi

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Waitakere Ranges November 2nd 2004

Bodhi

About 10 minutes walk away from the house is Titirangi village. It has the usual supermarket, dairy, chemist library etc. The Hardware café is a popular place throughout the day and night and also Tobys Restaurant where I worked behind the bar. I went to the village during the day to get some lunch or have a drink at the hardware, occasionally at night to have a few beers with Neil and his mate Peej and obviously go to work or have a drink at Tobys.... read more

First Day In New Zealand

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Waitakere Ranges November 1st 2004

Bodhi

The flight from Fiji was fine and once I finally got through customs was met by Paula and Ella (my auntie and cousin)We drove back to their house and I put all my things in my room. Met Annie, Joe and Neil when they all got back from school (my other two cousins and uncle) and stayed in with some champagne.... read more

Jobs and rainforest

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Waitakere Ranges October 24th 2004

Maori statue in the Rainforest

Jo and Graeme

Hello all! We haven't been up to much lately, which is why there hasn't been a blog for a while. The best piece of news that I have is that we both have jobs - yay! - Graeme starts on Tuesday as a planner with an engineering company and I'm temping for the moment. There's not any teaching work as it's the end of the school year, but I've landed on my feet with temping as I'm working in the Mayor's office at Auckland City Council and it's pretty interesting - I'm learning things about NZ! Graeme's job is a 6 month contract so we'll be here till April at least, so if any of you are going to be in the area, drop us a line :-) Other news... Graeme has decided to enter the ... read more

Flat warming

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland October 6th 2004

Lindsey, Graeme and Kenny

Jo and Graeme

We had a wee flat warming last Wednesday night, and invited all the people we know in Auckland! That made a huge party of six people, and since we all had work the next day (except Graeme who had an interview) it wasn't a late night. Here are some pictures to mark the night.... read more

Devonport

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland October 3rd 2004

Rangitoto Island

Jo and Graeme

We went on a day trip to Devonport, which is directly across the harbour from Auckland city. It's part of Greater Auckland, but is a separate town. It's a wee holiday place, with lots of Victorian buildings, and was a nice place for a stroll. We found a pub that sells Tennants lager as a speciality beer, isn't that funny! Devonport is built on two volcanic cones, and we climbed up one of them. We took lots of boring pictures of the Auckland skyline (which I'm not going to bore you all with) but in the other direction you could see for miles. The closest island to Devonport is Rangitoto, another volcano, but one which has only been there for about 600 years. Geographers among you - isn't that a great picture of a volcano?!... read more

Settling in

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland October 1st 2004

Auckland from the Skytower

Jo and Graeme

Hello! We've had a busy week job-hunting, so there's not a whole lot to report. Last weekend we went up the Skytower (the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere apparently) because it was a gorgeous day and we got some lovely photos. It was good to get an idea of the geography of the city from high up. We moved in to our flat and have settled in well. Yesterday we took a bus tour of the city, and we've worked out where some of the good pubs are! I've added photos to some of the other diary entries (Tahiti and the last NZ entry) so be sure to go back and look. from Jo x (and Graeme) ... read more

Auckland Harbour Bridge from the Skytower

Looking over to Devonport from the Skytower

Arrived Safely

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland September 17th 2004

Jo and Graeme

We got here at lunch time yesterday and were met at the airport by Graeme's cousin Kenny. We went out for lunch, then Kenny took us to our hostel. We spent the afternoon getting our bearings, buying a sim card for the mobile, then Graeme decided to ring some of his Kiwi friends. Just by luck, Scotty happened to be in the area, so we met him and his girlfriend Crystal for a beer and the boys were able to catch up. In the evening, we went out for dinner (lovely Thai) with Kenny and his boyfriend Luke, and Lindsay and David, (Lindsay is another cousin of Kenny's) who are here from the UK, and are working in Auckland. A good night was had by all! We ended it in a weird Japanese Karaoke bar - ... read more

Auckland

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland July 15th 2004

Sailing into Auckland

Leebee

There exists a big rivalry between Australia - New Zealand, Auckland and Wellington. In my opinion Australia wins by a country mile and Wellington kicks Aucklands big arse in all respects. What is the nicest thing that i can think of when describing Auckland? Its a dull characterless city, under the impression that it rivals Sydney, No Chance!!. For me its just a 'pass through' destination nothing more. The sweet is'nt as sweet without the sour so as there is so much beauty and stunning scenery in this part of the world i suppose it needs contrasting with dullness in order for people to appreciate the gorgeous places that grace these islands, so in that respect i suppose Auckland has its uses (as well as to provide a home to all the bad-arse boyracers in Nz). ... read more

Me and my good friend Bill Re-fuel for the dance floor.

First Days

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland July 6th 2004

Auckland Cityscape

vikki5678

Hiya folks, I arrived in Auckland around lunchtime and not feeling too tired despite only having an hours sleep between Dubai and Auckland. The journey was in three parts Dubai --- Singapore --- Brisbane --- Auckland. The first two flights were about 7hrs or so. Quite a cool part of the flight was getting to stay on the plane in Singapore while the plane was refueled and passangers got on and off. The cleaners came onboard and gave the plane a not so thorough going over. Quite a serious point was put across the flight intercom as we arrived in Singapore, we were reminded that drug smugglers could be punished using the death penalty, that gave me quite a shiver even although I would never dream of doing that, but you do hear stories of 'innocent' ... read more

Brief history of New Zealand

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year...more history

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