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We arrived in Auckland without any problems, other than the flight being delayed by two hours because the baggage conveyor at Dubai had broken down. My parents got upgraded to business class, because they have flown so many times with Emirates and both have gold cards. Personally, I think it must be because the woman at the check in desk felt sorry for them - what with me being in business class and them being in goat class!
I really like Auckland, from what I have seen of it so far. It is right on the harbour and there is a lot of green country side, parks and great look outs. It really reminds me of being back in the UK, but without the stress and hassle. My cousin Dawn, and her partner Kay, their dog Oscar (see picture) and three cats) live in Pukehoe, which is a market town just about 50 km south of Auckland city. I don't know how they have managed to keep my mum and I out of the shops, but by some miracle, apart from going to the local supermarket, our credit cards have been deprived of seeing the light of day.
On Sunday we did a driving tour around Auckland. First stop was One Tree Hill (see picture). One Tree Hill (or Maungakiekie in Maori) is a 182 metre volcanic peak located and is an important memorial place for both Maori and other New Zealanders. The suburb around the base of the hill is also called One Tree Hill. The hill's scoria cones erupted 20,000 - 30,000 years ago, creating lava flows which covered an area of 20 square kilometres, mostly towards Onehunga, making it the largest (in terms of area covered) of the Auckland area. The summit provides views across the Auckland area, and allows visitors to see both of Auckland's Harbours. One Tree Hill has become No Tree Hill - unfortunately, in around 2000, some Maori activist wanted to reclaim the land back in that area and chopped into the 125 year old pine tree on top of the hill with an axe. Because of fears strong winds could topple the tree, the 125-year-old pine tree on top of the hill was chopped down on October 26, 2000. Another native tree is being planted on the site.
We then went to Devonport, which is a posh part of Auckland where the naval base is situated, had a spot of lunch and then drove to Mount Victoria. Mount Victoria is the highest volcano on Auckland's North Shore but rises to a mere 87 m. It erupted some 20,000 years ago, and its lava flows now line much of Devonport's waterfront. Named after Queen Victoria, the hill provides panoramic views of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour and the inner Hauraki Gulf (see picture). Over the years the peak and upper slopes have housed a signal station for shipping, artillery emplacements and various concrete army bunkers, some from as early as the 1870s. One bunker now serves as the venue for the Devonport Folk Club.
After Mount Victoria, it was on to the Fish Market at the Waterfront. I have never seen such variety of fish at a market before (other than the markets in Hong Kong) and at such cheap prices. We bought a hige bag of green lipped New Zealand mussels for about NZ$6.80 (less than 4 pounds) - it would probably cost that much for one mussel back home. We have eaten a lot of fish, prawns and steak since we have been here. In the cafes here they serve chips, pies and scones and I really feel at home!
Today (Monday) it absolutely poured down and I think the bad weather is supposed to last until Wednesday. Fingers crossed that summer finally comes. We drove down to Waitomo Caves, which is about two and a half hours from Auckland. The Waitomo Caves are a village and cave system forming a major tourist attraction in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. The word Waitomo comes from the Maori, wai meaning water and tomo meaning a doline or sinkhole. It can thus be translated to be water passing through a hole. You can see all the limestone formations and plenty of glow worms, which are in fact fly larvae, which generate some chemical which reacts with their excrement - the result, their bum glows. It is quite impressive as there are thousands of them on the cave ceiling. Unfortunately they would not allow us to take any pictures inside the caves.
For dinner we tried pavlova, which was apparently invented in New Zealand after some Russian ballerina - Anna Pavlova (or if you ask the Aussies, they say that they invented it). It's been years since I have had it, but if was delicious with fluffy egg whites - enough to disguise the thousands of calories which you scoff with every mouthful.
Tomorrow we are off to Rotorua, which is where they have the hot springs and lots of Mauri culture. I am looking forward to seeing the haka. Ka Mate Ka Mate ha ha!
I really like Auckland, from what I have seen of it so far. It is right on the harbour and there is a lot of green country side, parks and great look outs. It really reminds me of being back in the UK, but without the stress and hassle. My cousin Dawn, and her partner Kay, their dog Oscar (see picture) and three cats) live in Pukehoe, which is a market town just about 50 km south of Auckland city. I don't know how they have managed to keep my mum and I out of the shops, but by some miracle, apart from going to the local supermarket, our credit cards have been deprived of seeing the light of day.
On Sunday we did a driving tour around Auckland. First stop was One Tree Hill (see picture). One Tree Hill (or Maungakiekie in Maori) is a 182 metre volcanic peak located and is an important memorial place for both Maori and other New Zealanders. The suburb around the base of the hill is also called One Tree Hill. The hill's scoria cones erupted 20,000 - 30,000 years ago, creating lava flows which covered an area of 20 square kilometres, mostly towards Onehunga, making it the largest (in terms of area covered) of the Auckland area. The summit provides views across the Auckland area, and allows visitors to see both of Auckland's Harbours. One Tree Hill has become No Tree Hill - unfortunately, in around 2000, some Maori activist wanted to reclaim the land back in that area and chopped into the 125 year old pine tree on top of the hill with an axe. Because of fears strong winds could topple the tree, the 125-year-old pine tree on top of the hill was chopped down on October 26, 2000. Another native tree is being planted on the site.
We then went to Devonport, which is a posh part of Auckland where the naval base is situated, had a spot of lunch and then drove to Mount Victoria. Mount Victoria is the highest volcano on Auckland's North Shore but rises to a mere 87 m. It erupted some 20,000 years ago, and its lava flows now line much of Devonport's waterfront. Named after Queen Victoria, the hill provides panoramic views of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour and the inner Hauraki Gulf (see picture). Over the years the peak and upper slopes have housed a signal station for shipping, artillery emplacements and various concrete army bunkers, some from as early as the 1870s. One bunker now serves as the venue for the Devonport Folk Club.
After Mount Victoria, it was on to the Fish Market at the Waterfront. I have never seen such variety of fish at a market before (other than the markets in Hong Kong) and at such cheap prices. We bought a hige bag of green lipped New Zealand mussels for about NZ$6.80 (less than 4 pounds) - it would probably cost that much for one mussel back home. We have eaten a lot of fish, prawns and steak since we have been here. In the cafes here they serve chips, pies and scones and I really feel at home!
Today (Monday) it absolutely poured down and I think the bad weather is supposed to last until Wednesday. Fingers crossed that summer finally comes. We drove down to Waitomo Caves, which is about two and a half hours from Auckland. The Waitomo Caves are a village and cave system forming a major tourist attraction in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. The word Waitomo comes from the Maori, wai meaning water and tomo meaning a doline or sinkhole. It can thus be translated to be water passing through a hole. You can see all the limestone formations and plenty of glow worms, which are in fact fly larvae, which generate some chemical which reacts with their excrement - the result, their bum glows. It is quite impressive as there are thousands of them on the cave ceiling. Unfortunately they would not allow us to take any pictures inside the caves.
For dinner we tried pavlova, which was apparently invented in New Zealand after some Russian ballerina - Anna Pavlova (or if you ask the Aussies, they say that they invented it). It's been years since I have had it, but if was delicious with fluffy egg whites - enough to disguise the thousands of calories which you scoff with every mouthful.
Tomorrow we are off to Rotorua, which is where they have the hot springs and lots of Mauri culture. I am looking forward to seeing the haka. Ka Mate Ka Mate ha ha!
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