All Seasons Remuera Dunkerron Auckland

Apologies for the delay in updating our blog, it's a bit more difficult when on the move!

So after 3 flights overnight (no sleep!) we arrived on the other side of the globe touching down in Auckland. Auckland city itself is pretty dull, over a third of the NZ population lives here and I suspect many have jobs in the numerous towering office blocks here. Not quite the beautiful country you see on photos. In the single day we had, we went to the top of the ...

... anything else to do. We both loved all the Polynesian displays and Maori Wood carvings. We eventually got kicked out at closing time and didn't even make the top floor. We walked back into town to get some supplies from the supermarket that was near the waterfront. We bought a lovely dinner from the deli counter and after the long long trudge back up the hill we sat and listened to Chris Moyles over the internet (got really good ...

... to see and do - just need to get some wheels & get organsied. I keep seeing a Mazda 323 around the city & it brings back happy memories! I so loved that car. By the way, dad - I hope you're looking after the GTI & not doing too many wheel spins to impress your colleagues!

Must get out of this cafe - I'm supposed to be playing cards...

Enjoy the sunshine.

Take it easy,

Kirst.xx

Hey All,


Obvoiusly no news so far!We've been at the airport for about 3 hours now. Had a bite to eat and a coupleof beers while watching the second halfof the canterbury game.

just killing some time before our flight to bangkok via ...

... called the skytower. Everything was really hilly there, and all their cars are more Asian influenced so they're a bit tinier than ours.... ours seem wide and low to the ground compared to theirs. The food in the mall food court was very different as well. Of course they had your typical mcdonalds, or maccas as they say for short, but then there were lots of asian and indian food places. Foods a bit pricier as well ...

So after wot felt like non-stop flying I have actually arrived in Auckland, New Zealand!, the flight over wasn't all that bad to be honest, there was loads of empty seats so plenty of room to spread out, (with some careful maneuvering I was just about able to get comfy, although if I'm gonna do this again I WILL be taking Tai Chi lessons before hand). There seemed to be like a continues stream of food as well, meals, snacks, drinks, everything! Ok, so the view over ...

... to Mercury Bay via Auckland for 1 night then onto Rotorua for 2 nights, famous for it's geo-thermal activity and sulphurous eggy smells which we experienced first hand at the Te Puia Park where we saw geysers, bubbling mud pools and kiwi birds. We had great fun racing around on 'luges' (tabbogons) on steep tracks whilst getting amazing views of the place on a gondola (cable car), great fun with matt overtaking everyone to come first!After Rotorua we ...

... spirals through native bush to a high lookout point on to a fantastic view across Coromandel Harbour and islands. Then across the Coromandel range to Whitianga (conveniently time for a cuppa overlooking the river!) and back down to Whangamata. The following day we braved the ocean and bounced about in the waves for a bit until the chill set in, but it was too windy for lying on the beach. Friday J&J dropped us off at their son's farm where ...

... to remember to reconnect with the amazing maori live wood sculptor that I met at a market near Auckland with Chris. We had a connected on a few levels and his girl was great too! Then there's Nigel (The First New Zealand Rodie- man! he had stories) and his beautiful family. He's created his life's ambition, an amazing outside venue for music concerts and festivals called Mountain Music http://www.musicmountainmatakana.co.nz/ index.html

The ...