Three new livers please........

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  Wellington, New Zealand
Sunday, June 24, 2007

My liver is really starting to ache (well something down in that area that must be my liver). Our mission to drink our way around the world is becomming increasingly successful after a heavy night out in Auckland last night.

We woke relatively late after our exploits in Surfer's Paradise the previous two days. First on the agenda was the obligatory sights of Auckland, known as the "City of Sails". The Sky Tower was probably the highlight with its revolving restaurant some 300m up in the air. It's the largest self supported structure in the southern hemisphere (apparently the Patronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur doesn't count in this category?)

Incidentally, as a side issue I suspect that our final flight home next month may have problems with orientation since the three of us will have enough fridge magnets in our bags to sink a bloody battleship!

Anyway, on from there to Auckland Zoo....disappointing....if anyone has watched the League of Gentlemen then my constant references to the "Roundabout Zoo" will be appreciated here. Word of advice - give it a miss. Then onto Parnell, a nice little suburb of the city based on a Victorian town with lots of little quaint bars. On Caroline's recommendation, we promptly checked out "The Bog", an Irish pub with live entertainment. Predictably, several pints of Guiness later we stumbled out and taxid back to the hotel for a quick change. Saturday night in Auckland was banging. Also, to make the atmosphere a little more special, the Kiwis were playing South Africa in the Tri-Nations rugby in the early hours. Some great bars and clubs in the Viaduct Area and America's Cup village, calling in at Auckland's version of the Ice Bar (called "5 Below"). It was actually 6 below according the temperature gauge inside so we togged up in coats and gloves and drank vodka cocktails from our glasses made of ice, sat on seats made of ice, bar made of ice, ice sculptures, blah, blah. All photography was banned inside but it didn't stop us taking a couple of contraband ones whilst the barman wasnt looking. Well worth a visit and the $25 entrance fee.

The evening finished with more drinking (Corona being the drink of choice this week for the record, coupled with Mojitos to mix things up a bit) and plenty of "hands in the air, make some noise Auckland" in the Waterfront Bar. Another late finish (5.00am if i remember rightly) was always gonna give us problems getting out of bed before the alloted check out time. Sure enough, we were threatened with a $75 fine if we didnt leave before 11.00am. Not a good idea then to get up at 10.55am when you need to pack....but we made it....just! Off to the airport and the next city on the tour - Wellington.

We landed here in the south of the North Island mid afternoon. Already the captial city seems lots more relaxed than the sometimes intimidating bigger city in the North Island. A lot cleaner and lots more swish bars and restaurants too. Tommorrow's delights should include Te Papa (National Museum...see we do some culture as well!), cable cars, botanical gardens, whale viewing (hopefully) and inevitably a drinking session of note (assured)! Nice apartment here by the way, Quest on Lambton Quay.

Oh and I lost the bed draw again - I'm having a real bad run of luck at the moment. Chris' got the double bed with a room to his self twice on the trot......

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