Farewell NZ

The ex capital and still biggest city in this country. Auckland has one major point, its sky tower which dominates the skyline from everywhere. There's an arty alternative area known as K street, a shortening of Karangahape, there doesn't seem to be a valid reason for this unlike Whakatane pronounced Fah-ka-Tane and so shortened to Whaka. Strangely if we've got the legend right it means make me a man or give me the strength of a man. Some maori woman is supposed to have said this to confer on her the right to touch one of their boats (also known as waka).

False Photo

The whole city is surrounded by old(ish) volcanic mounds (50 in total), Eden, Victoria, Albert, to name a few. As soon as you get any height you can see them and the view is quite impressive. The newest of these mounds is Rangitoto which only came above ground 600 years ago and sits about 3 km off the coast. It's amazing that trees started growing here only 400 years after the eruption, the moss and lichens did some incredible work turning the molten lava into mud.

Kauri tree

Visited a Macadamia farm just outside Auckland where you can just walk through the orchard, pick up anything that has fallen to the ground and ask about the factory. This nut is native to Queensland Australia but just about grows here, apparently they only get a 30% yield but since it's an expensive nut this is worthwhile.

We had the misfortune to watch France lose to New Zealand, the locals couldn't even be bothered to celebrate they expected so much to win it was not even a surprise to them.

Although you can find bone carving all over NZ it's best to buy pieces here since they are only about 50% of the price elsewhere. We don't know if that's due to quality or simple economics of oversupply, they are certainly just as pretty here. Bone carving is something that was done by Maori when a whale was beached, so it was pretty rare and now never occurs with whales since they are all saved. Instead when the British arrived they brought cows, it turns out that beef bones are pretty good for this carving too and there's now a big industry in carving as an art form.

Macadamia Farm

Sky Tower up Close

Town View from Mt Eden

View from Rangitoto

Volcanic View from Mt Eden