Arrival in Auckland at almost midnight meant a long night, as the airport is a good way out of town and our hotel was on the front at the harbour. By the time we travelled down there and checked in, unpacked the necessaries it was getting on for two, so bed was a priority.
View from bedroomA slow start the next morning before we headed out to explore and to find ourselves domiciled right nest to the basin that served as the marina for the last two stagings of the America’s Cup. The whole area is a tribute to the success of the New Zealand teams, but also to their national preoccupation with the sport of ocean going yacht racing. Marinas abound and the fabulous creations that occupy them are an absolute delight, well worth a ramble around. Truly the ‘City of Sails’.
Like most cities if you ask around you discover bargains that make some aspect of life in the city easier or cheaper. A simple question alerted us to the existence of a real bargain in Auckland, the Link bus service. This is a bus route that does a figure of eight route around town, covering all of the places that a tourist might want to go. You can choose to take the trip all the way around the route or use it to reach a particular destination. The great beauty about it is that it only costs $1.60 (about 80p) per journey on matter how short or long. This could be the cheapest city tour anywhere in the world.
We interrupted our circuit to visit the Art Gallery, currently open in a building near to the original whilst that is receiving an expensive update and extension. An interesting exhibition covering the history of New Zealand caught our attention as it had exhibits from the early days up to date. It also presented the opportunity to sit and make a few sketches, a neglected discipline since arriving here. Just as we were about to leave, the heavens opened and we retreated to the café to while away the time till the squall passed. It was then a stroll down Queen’s Street and back to the hotel for a brief dizzy spell, this travelling takes it out of one. Only one diversion on the way, a visit to a well stocked wine store with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable proprietor who gave excellent advice, as we were to find out before retiring.
Viaduct Harbour
Our day drew to a close with a walk around the Viaduct Harbour to look at the boats and have a waterside dinner.
THE NEXT DAY
My wife has one failing on holiday and that is her urge to out do the authors of the appropriate Lonely Planet guide to wherever we happen to be. Now yesterday was a relatively quiet day but Sheila decided that the alarm should be set for seven and that we should then embark upon a veritable stamina sapping day before leaving Auckland tomorrow.
Shower and breakfast over we hit the streets at eight and had our first readjustment as the proposed cruise to Rangitoto was maybe not the best idea given the landing conditions on the island. However, the harbour cruise was a good alternative and as it didn’t set off till 10.30 we were left with time on our hands. Sheila came to ‘rescue’, off to the Sky Tower where Michael will ascend and Sheila will remain at ground level. This doesn’t indicate any reluctance on Michael’s part; just he hadn’t mentioned it because Sheila hates heights. The walk up the hill to get there clearly had Sheila thinking about it and in the end she decided to brave it and travel to the top where we both marveled at the panorama opening before us. This was accentuated by the weather system passing through, it was to be a day of sunshine and showers or more accurately passing squalls.
Down the hill in nice time to board the Wanderer for a tour of the harbour, narrated by a superbly well-informed guide who made the whole trip a joy. Free coffee and cake were to provide the only solids we were likely to see till late evening, although the planning hadn’t addressed the feeding issue at all.
One thing that we knew of New Zealand before coming here is the quality of wine that is produced. Yesterday’s recommendations at the local wine store had been good so back there we went, Sheila as is her wont had spotted a way to diminish the cost of wine purchase, buy more and the cost goes down. Out we marched with a half dozen of a very fine Sauvignon Blanc. These were rapidly dropped back at the hotel before setting out on the next stage of Sheila’s marathon touring plan.
Part of the deal when buying tickets for the harbour cruise was that there was also a free return ticket to Devonport. If there is anything guaranteed to motivate Sheila then it is the certainty of taking advantage of any entitlement conferred by people who sell things. There was no choice but that down the hill we would go after completing the Link bus route not leaving any stop unpassed. Onto the ferry for the twelve minute crossing to the lovely Victorian village of Devonport. By this time we were both ready to eat any passing pigeon if we had the energy to capture it and dinner was the mission that we were on. A wander up the street and we spotted a pleasant looking restaurant and in we went. Delightful is the only word to describe it, wonderful seafood and a fine wine. At this point I must make a confession, I arrived in New Zealand with a hit list of wines that I wanted to sample and here on the list was one of these. All I can say without resorting to wine buff verbiage is that it did not disappoint. One up for the Guardian wine critic. A late ferry completed our day as the sun went down and packing for the next stage completed the evening.
View from DevonportAdvice to self: hide the Lonely Planet guide so that Sheila sets a less exhausting itinerary.
...I like Sheila's thinking.Remember the more you drink the more you save....
ReplyDelete