A good day in Auckland (took long enough!)

Trip Start Aug 01, 2007

Trip End Jan 11, 2009

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Flag of New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand
Monday, August 6, 2007

Called Steph for a chat this morning before we went on the free Kiwi Experience day tour. This came after wandering the streets for a good 15 mins in the morning, looking for the post office which turned out to be hidden down an alley.

So, the first stop was the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Here, we di the bridge walk, which was maybe close to a 1km walk to the bungy point. The crew demo'd a few bungees for us, but nobody was up for it! We had some pretty cool views, although it was quite windy, which is a bit disconcerting when you are at least 30m above the water on a narrow walkway. Right as we were finishing up the walk, it started lashing rain. We decided to continue on anyhow.

By the time we got to North Head, the rain had (temporarily) cleared

01 Harbour Bridge Walk- city skyline

. We did a cool walk along the mount, some some awesome views, and got a little bit of history re: the military. Basically, it sucks. They have enough ammunition for- get this- 7 minutes of full blown warfare. White flag anyone? We also learning that Kiwis invented the electric fence, and underwater aquariums.

Then it was on to Devonport, where we found a little bakery for lunch. The free tour was enough to convince me to go with Kiwi- I booked a (pretty well) full country tour (except the bottom bit, so I'll fi gure that out when I get own there). The pass I got is "Joint mullets" : http://www.kiwiexperience.com/joint-mullets-bus-pass.aspx
I got a sweet deal: 5% off for doing the day tour, which worked out to about $45, as well a free awesome & top bit pass (which is bay of islans, right up to the top, cape reinga) and a free milford sound pass, totalling $343 of free passes. Pretty sweet deal! So I am heading up to the bay of islands first, starting tomorrow. I have sent out a few emails re: cleaning for accommodation in this area.

Once we got back, I took care of my banking, then headed over to the Skytower with my free pass (since the tour I booked has the East As, meaning East Cape, tour built right in)

02 Photo break! lookout point

. I also got a free $20 phone card which is awesome.

We saw some cool views at the skytower. I attempted to see the sunset, and even spent a whole extra $3 to go to the higher viewing level, to no avail. Sunsets do not happen in auckland, it appears. I went up separately from Kayla and she had other errans to run while I was at the bank, so we met up there, and then chilled in the lounge overlooking the city at night, with some coffee and Pavlova (a really sweet kiwi (literally) dessert). Then we headed back for our free food, an got sidetracked by some shopping, where I bought two shirts. I'm breaking free of my plainclothes mold!

Anyways, dinner was pretty yummy (nachos), I still have leftover pasta and I bought a tomato in Devonport to ice up and throw in there for some extra nutrients. I finally got all my photos uploaded, so now I am ready to go back to the hostel, eat, shower, and pack up for the 7:15am departure!!

XOXO
Shawna

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

03 Bridge views	04 Kayla & I	05 Bridge views	06 North Head lookout
07 Rangitoto	08 When this flowers, it gets Tui birds drunk	09 Ruby!	10 Cave lookout
11 New Zealands largest gun	12 Gorgeous Auckland skyline view	13 In the skytower, harbour bridge in background	14 As close as you'll get to an Auckland sunset
16 a city view	17 closest you'll get to an Auckland sunset!	18 Harbour bridge	19 chillin 60 stories over the city