and the end of our visit
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Taking leave of New Plymouth, we were finally off to our last destination in New Zealand. With over a million inhabitants, the country’s largest city, Auckland, would hardly notice she had two more residents during our three night stay. Part of our route was along the coast where lovely, black-sand beaches brought ooh’s and ahh’s:
By the grace of God and with a little luck, we found our B&B in the suburban area called One Tree Hill despite heavy Friday afternoon traffic. The distinctive bald hill called “One Tree” does exist, in fact, though it recently lost its namesake tree. When we later reached the summit of that hill, we had a clear view of our B&B --- along with thousands of other buildings, of course:
More interesting, surely, was the scene to the left where downtown Auckland was easy to spot on the horizon:
Although we would have preferred to walk to a nearby restaurant on our first night, we found none to entice us. So, at the suggestion of our host, we drove to a racetrack not far away, hoping to enjoy the cafe’s evening buffet. Unbeknownst to us it was race night and parking was nowhere to be found. However, dear Patty in her sweetest American way charmed the parking attendant into letting us in and we not only had free parking and a good dinner but watched several races:
Not being race fans by nature, we learned all kinds of practical things. For example, at a New Zealand racetrack, instead of “placing your bet” you “make your investment”. Now, doesn’t that sound much more brilliant!
The races were a blur though --- don’t ask us who won.
The day after our arrival, we ventured into downtown Auckland by bus. We were conveniently dropped off near this building, the Britomart Transport Centre:
Beneath this building, trains arrive and depart from Britomart Station.
Just across the street and on the waterfront is the revitalized Ferry Building, a rare example of the city’s past:
Walking just past it brings into view Princes Wharf, dominated by the Hilton Hotel which looks convincingly like giant pegboard construction:
A little farther along near the National Maritime Museum and raised in the air on a lofty perch is the KZ1. This giant of a yacht was built for the 1988 America’s Cup challenge. Its mast is 154 feet high and the deck 116 feet long. The gorgeous sky behind it makes a fitting backdrop:
Circling around in our ramble, we wound up above the Britomart Train Station. In the next photo at street level is one of several conical skylights for the train station. The conical shape symbolizes New Zealand’s volcanic history. Not sure though why there’s a frisbee --- or could that be a halo? --- on the building behind it:
Off on a harbor cruise, our departure point was near the Ferry Building:
From the water the Auckland Sky Tower, tallest structure in the southern hemisphere, seemed very close:
... and getting closer ...
If you have the money and the daring, you can jump from the tower to the ground guided by wires (barely discernible in this photo on the left side of the tower). We actually witnessed such a jump the next day when we were at the tower’s base. The 630 foot drop is more like a parachute jump than a bungee jump --- but we speak not from personal experience. As we were running low on cash at this point, we decided to forego this ride until next time : )
The harbor cruise allowed close inspection of some gorgeous beauties like this one:
The Auckland Harbour Bridge opened in 1959, charging tolls for both north and south-bound traffic. Later, tolling was made south-bound only before it was finally discontinued altogether in 1984. This was in line with political commitments that tolls would only be charged until the bridge’s construction costs were paid off by them. What a clever approach! We do wonder, though, how bridge maintenance is financed. We figure it must be from taxes.
Auckland’s harbor will never be mistaken for Sydney’s but it’s pretty nonetheless:
Quaint little Devonport, on Auckland’s North Shore peninsula, is a short and popular ferry ride from Auckland. A bit of the town and Mt Victoria are visible behind this passing ferry:
Cruising by the ferry terminal at Devonport which we visited the next day:
This old lighthouse was our captain’s signal to turn about and head for home:
Ships large and small enter Auckland’s harbor:
... and leave, too:
Back on terra firma, we bussed to Albert Park and adjacent Auckland University only to find a celebration winding up:
It didn’t take us long to figure out the reason:
There were colorful decorations everywhere in preparation for a festive evening:
Whatever it was these kids were looking for, it wasn’t the decorations. They couldn’t be missed!
Continuing our walk to the Sky Tower, we noticed there were several from which to choose:
Eventually, we made it to the tallest one and --- feet firmly planted on the ground --- gazed upward in admiration:
On our last day in Auckland, a walkabout in Devonport was made possible by a 12 minute ferry ride:
Instead of walking up Mt Victoria, we chose North Head as our goal and spent considerable time pleasurably watching this paraglider (possibly, with passenger):
What a graceful sport! The paraglider spent most of his flight on this side of North Head, no doubt because of favorable winds. The view was particularly nice on this side, as well. Shortly after this photo was made, he landed softly at a spot just out of sight near his vehicle:
To the right in the photo above, across the channel is Rangitoto Island, one more of Auckland’s numerous volcanic cones:
Rangitoto is another easy ferry ride from Auckland and a common destination for hikers.
North Head is a great public park with 360 degree views, wonderful picnic spots, room for kids to run, space to fly model planes and attractive beaches to enjoy. From the late 1800’s until 1996, it had been primarily used for defense purposes. Although now a park, it remains riddled with fortifications, gun emplacements and numerous tunnels:
We like to remember North Head just the way it’s shown in this photo:
