Tag Archives: Auckland

Auckland and Mount Eden – Mar 04

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Slept until 6 today, so jetlag must be over now. Breakfast was again at Remedy, where I added a side dish of bacon to my platter. Chatted with a guy who had come out from England, his wife was due to meet him for the rest of March. In the last two weeks he had been touring the island on a motor bike, a long time dream of his.

We then set off to Mount Eden, walking all the way, first walking up Queen’s Street. We walked through different areas, some not so nice. They all though showed one thing, the New Zealanders love to eat out. I can’t say I have ever seen so many restaurants in a city.

We reached Mount Eden and walked to the top. Here there are fabulous views around the summit. Of course, you can see downtown Auckland and the tower. There are views of the islands to the East and in the far distance Coromandel. Looking South there is the airport.

While walking up and down Mount Eden we saw some large birds which were later identified as Tuis. The identification was provided to us by a lady at the bus stop who also named the birds, walking in the verge opposite, as Indian Mynas.

Definity a thirst had set in, so we stopped at the Occidental for a beer. Poor choice Stella. There is not much good on offer beer-wise here. So now on for some lunch at Giapo, a very posh ice cream parlour. Take a look at the creations R and I ate. These were fairly conservative compared to others we saw being eaten.

We continued on to the Britomart which has a number of shops and bars, all built over the Auckland subway station. Now onto the Food Truck, next to the Lord of the Fries for a beer. Improvement, but $19 for two small beers seems rather high.

Tonight, neither of us were hungry, so bought a couple of tarts to have in our room, although R’s appeared to be frozen, so she had to wait for a bit.

Auckland and Devonport – Mar 03

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Slept a little bit better tonight but was still awake at 4 in the morning. Today was going to be a dry day, so the plan was breakfast at Remedy and then to use the Auckland Explorer bus to take us to several of the sites in Auckland, including a ferry trip to Devonport.

This started well, we walked to Remedy, tables were available. We ordered coffee and the breakfast platter. The breakfast platter consists of muesli, yogurt & fruit in a glass, and toasted sour dough bread with refried beans, avocado and sausage. This went down a treat and we decided we would do the same the next day.

We walked across the road and waited for the bus. We waited and waited, other buses came and went. I decided to check the website and saw the news. One half of the service was cancelled for the day and the other half was curtailed because of some event which was occurring on the route.

R and I decided not to wait for the bus instead back walking down to the Ferry terminus where we bought tickets to Devonport. The trip to Devonport is quick and fast. It takes about 10 minutes. Once there we headed towards the North Point, walking along the coast road, admiring some nice houses. R, apparently, fancies a veranda.

At North Head on the road is a Naval Museum on Torpedo Bay with free entry. The bay is named Torpedo because of the torpedos kept there in the 1800s during the Russian expansionism of the period. The museum is definitely worth a visit, and a friendly older volunteer custodian explained to us the history of the location, the fortifications and the torpedo boats which guarded Auckland in the 1840s. The museum also had information about the New Zealand navy during the 1st and 2nd world wars detailing the battles which New Zealanders were involved with.

Our museum custodian saw us again and mentioned Brexit. He just could not understand why we were doing what we were doing. Then he compared Brexit with the referendum on the New Zealand flag saying that the older generation had a nostalgia for the ‘good old days’!

After the museum we headed up North Head hill to see the old guns which protected the channel. The big guns had tunnels underneath which was used to house ammunition and personnel. We were able to walk through these and appear underneath the big gun.

On the paths around the head we came across a White-Faced Heron. This bird like most of the wild birds we have seen in New Zealand was unafraid of us. It only took avoiding action when I was within 2 meters.

Onwards and downwards to Cheltenham Beach, apparently the best kept secret beach of Auckland, as you can see from the pictures, a kite surfing heaven. Back now to the harbour to catch the ferry back, though were tempted by the bar (The Platter) where we had a couple of beers to refresh us.

In the evening we went out for dinner at a Thai restaurant called the Grasshopper.

 

 

Auckland – our arrival and a day of orientation – Mar 02

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Having checked into our hotel, showered, changed and wondered why so much furniture in such a small room (even though we were told it was an upgrade). Was almost impossible to open the cases, and why have the chairs facing the bed and not the huge TV? (47”, I measured it using (one of) Rosemary’s tape measures. (Don’t worry, I shall be quizzing her later (when I have built up some courage) as to why she has one, let alone multiples.) Looking at the fire-exit plan, it seems to us that most of the rooms on our floor can’t have a window, while we have three, so perhaps that’s our upgrade. Rosemary hates the bathroom, while I think it neat. No door into it only a sliding door inside which is shared between the toilet & the shower. She really hates the sink, a basin type installation perched on a shelf with mirrors at odd angles and not one opposite it.

We ate breakfast in the hotel, expensive, but filling. Didn’t eat much else for the rest of the day.  A walk around the city orientating ourselves. Down to the ferry port then back up into town. Much building going on. Stopped for coffee at the Remedy on Wellesley Street, as recommended by my South Island dwelling brother. Strange little café, complete with a book-exchange service, but we decided it would be worthwhile eating breakfast there the next day. While sitting there we watched people jump off the Sky Tower. Non-bungee jumping but some type of free fall. I said “ooow!”, R said “oh”, in a rather dull tone.

We walked up to Albert Park being the nearest bit of green to us. Seemed to be Auckland University orientation week (freshers). There were all the usual stalls advertising societies. No idea why some of the stall-holders bothered to talk to us oldies, but possibly they were wondering why we were looking at them. The park contained some strange trees with huge roots, Google suggests Ficus Tree, and fir-type trees which had parasitic plants growing on them.

Another beer, this time at The Occidental.

We went walking again along the harbour, but this time came across the Volvo Ocean Race. This is an around the world race stopping at various ports (Cardiff in May/June).  The boats had arrived in Auckland a couple of days before. They were all hauled out onto one of the docks & were being worked on. We walked around a tent showing a full-size half section through one of them. The toilet was very small looking more like a sink. Plenty of Volvo cars, trucks and diggers were on display. One Volvo car chap complimented me on my Pink Floyd type t-shirt and reminisced on where he had seen them.

Further along the docks were the really expensive, huge motor boats. Many were being refitted, I have never seen so large fluffy fenders to stop the glossy paintwork being damaged. Cables going on board were placed over taped down cardboard to stop the fresh paint from chaffing. The superstructures were enclosed in shrink wrapped plastic. All the fitters were walking around barefoot, so as not to damage the decks.

Nearby was the silo park which even had a viewing platform. Not sure if all the silos were in use. Would love to be in Auckland next week when an art installation opens nearby, and the platform would come into use.

By the by, the pedestrian crossings squawk and then put-put-put as the walking green man lights up. Could not understand it the first time we encountered it.

There was an exhibition of owls, these large art pieces where scattered through the city. Rather like the cows in Edinburgh a few years ago. One owl by the artist Weilun Ha had the following information.

Kintsukuroi is the name of the art of repairing pottery with gold. It treats breakage and repair as part of the history of the object, rather than something to disguise and be ashamed. Embracing the flaw of imperfections in life itself and coming back stronger in the weaknesses. This is the metaphor for porcelain patters reflecting that life is beautiful and fragile.

Number of homeless on the streets.

I managed a small quiche from a bakery for supper, but R not interested in eating anything.

The day ended early as tiredness crept up on us, and in bed by 8.00pm. Like any city on a Friday night, the revellers were still at it at 4am.