October 27, 2015 Auckland NZ

Catch-up day, slept in!

Finally struggled out the door and across the road to a cafe for a late breakfast and to consider our options, sight-seeing wise.

Finally we settled on the big yellow bus which cruises around the city, gives a running commentary  of the passing scenery and lets you get on and off as it takes your fancy. We fancied getting off at MOTAT, the Museum Of Transport And Technology, and having a poke about the old bits and pieces. I was taken by the old computer bits and pieces, some of which I remember all too well! Needless to say there are steam engines and locomotives and trams, and also a small village. I would have said 'pioneer' village, but it's not a term we've seen used anywhere.

The Ferry Building, and part of the very long, very red fence that  was built in 1911 and once kept the riffraff out of the docks and wharves. Auckland NZ

Just what is a Melbourne tram doing at MOTAT in Auckland?

A cottage in the reproduction early-times village at MOTAT, Auckland

The quay at Auckland NZ

Following that we went for a wander around the waterfront, getting an ice-cream and looking for a suitable place for dinner. As it turns out, we were spoiled for choice so elected to stay in and have room service soup and club sandwich instead.

This place has a great pool and spa and sauna (and gym) on the 11th floor, so it's my choice for an end-of-the-day relaxation spot.


And then, another catch-up day it seems. Struggled out of bed at 830!

Today we went straight for the Harbour cruise. Nice enough float around a small bit of the bay with commentary giving us a tiny bit of history and current usage, and with a 10 minute stop at Rangitoto Island, a small bit of dirt that came up from the seabed about 600 years ago in the form of a volcano. Makes you think: 600 years is not even an eyeblink in geological terms; when doe the next one make its appearance? Right in the middle of the flat bit of reclaimed harbour that they call downtown Auckland....

After the cruise, I needed to visit the Vodafone shop which is near the city-circle-link bus stop so we thought we'd go back up to a place called Parnell that we saw from the bus yesterday. As it turns out we got off outside the Trinity Cathedral which was worth a squiz. It's a bit sterile for our money, but then it's only 40 years old, the first part build in the traditional high valued stone European style, the second half way more contemporary. Of much more interest is St Mary's church right next to it. Apparently it was built in 1886 from local timber as the parish church and it used to be right across the road from where it is now. These clever Kiwis jacked it up in one piece and just rolled it across the street to its present home.

We then walked back down Parnell Rise toward the city until we found something suitable for lunch.

The morning's cruise ticket also came with a complimentary ticket for the ferry to Devonport, right across the water from Auckland proper, so we went over there for a wander about and afternoon tea at the Esplanade Hotel.

That's about it for us and Auckland, tomorrow we get the car and head up north, we just hope it doesn't snow or bucket-down the entire time.