Packed up and left the bach mid-morning for the long drive back to Auckland - went a different way this time so we could see another part of the area, and ended up in Withianga for a walk round the marina, a wee play in the playpark for Evelyn and some lunch. Evelyn and I played truth or dare (which is harder than you might think in the back of a car with an eight-year old!) and drew pictures to pass the time, but it was still quite a tiring journey (so hats off to John for driving us what felt like halfway across the country!) Arrived in Auckland at about 5-ish and checked into our hotel after saying our farewells to John and Evelyn.
Very nice recently refurbished room with a cool flat screen TV (you don't realise how much you miss it, even if it's just the news on in the background!) We enjoyed long hot baths/showers then headed out for some dinner. Jacko, who we'd met in Sydney, had recommended a local steakhouse, and we looked it up in the Yellow Pages to find it was just around the corner. Had a fabulous three course dinner - seafood starters and a t-bone for Ivan for mains, while I had skewered chunks of fillet steak with bacon-wrapped scallops and prawns for me, then brandy snaps to finish and a cheese board for Ivan. I had a couple of glasses of a lovely Villa Maria (NZ winery, very close to Auckland airport) pinot noir, lovely. We practically rolled out of the place!
There was an Irish bar close by which was completely jumping, and to be honest we were too tired and too full to try and fight our way in. Walked round the block to St Patrick's Square where there was a big tent set up and live bands on, but it was after 10 by this time and we figured we'd have too much catching up to do to get in the mood properly, so just headed back to the hotel (boring, I know!) Very surprised that Paddy's was quite so popular so far from Ireland - streets were busy and loads of people in green - but I guess I shouldn't be - the Irish are everywhere! More thumbnails ...
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Auckland Hotels
