Tag Archives: New Zealand

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.

 

Leaving for New Zealand – Feb 28

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Up early (5.30) to be picked up shortly after 6.00 by a very kind Neil for the trip to Lewknor on the M40 (Rosemary says is it off the M40) to catch the Oxford/Heathrow bus. Bitterly cold when we left, but no snow, although the drive to Lewknor did see a short snow drizzle. Arrived at the bus stop at about 6.40 in plenty of time for the scheduled 7.04 service. As we unloaded the bags, the late running 6.34 service appeared. We hopped on this bus and paid our fares. Good premonition for the holiday. We had not reserved seats because the closing time for booking these is 36 hours before the service runs. Need not have worried about booking, the bus was pretty empty.

The drive to Heathrow should have been quick, but for a couple of accidents, one before High Wycombe, and the other just after the M25 junction. M25 was empty. We were checking in at 8.00 for our flight, four hours before departure, this runs totally counter to my ethos. Now we have hours of boring hours sitting around waiting and drinking coffee from Café Nero. Maybe some harder stuff later.

Nope nothing harder, Qantus is pretty stingy with the wine and beers. Managed Bladerunner 2049 (again), Alien Covenant (rated 3-screamer, the last scream disturbed my fellow passengers) and Kingsman – Golden Circle. (Sorry Ravi, that glamping does not look like Love Fields. LF does not have beefy security guards, it is much more laid back.) There was also a slight incident opening a packet of crisps for Rosemary. (Did not expect to be showered by the contents when I banged open the inflated packet.) Wait in Dubai to re-board the aircraft. The long section to Melbourne is about to start. One hint for those flying Qantus in cattle class: ignore the flight attendants when they come around offering coffee, tea and soft drinks, demand the hard stuff.

Twelve hours later we arrived in Melbourne and had a drink of beer in the bar, before joining a 737 to Auckland.  Arrived in Auckland at 5.00 am. In the interests of eco-security, Rosemary had her walking boots whisked of her feet and soles washed. She was rather mortified by the experience. I merely had to walk over a disinfectant impregnated mat.

Caught the Sky Bus into Auckland city where we checked into the pre-booked Grand Windsor Hotel. Rather too smart for us. They allocated a room for us.  Prince of Wales Feathers everywhere, all to do with Duke & Duchess of Windsor, so a picture of jewellery in our room. I am going to ban excess cushions. We showered and went for breakfast.