Fri 19 Aug day 56 Our last day in New Zealand!

Our last full day in New Zealand and a bit of indigenous culture is on the agenda. We have been amazed at how little "Maori" we have been exposed to - almost as if it is suppressed in some areas - with only the stories and legends to explain geographical features or names of places being really evident. We head to the Auckland Museum and explore the Maori Galleries before watching a rather sterile but still good fun "Maori Cultural Experience" show - some traditional dances, songs, demonstrations of pastimes, explanations of language and most pleasingly the Haka!

The rest of the day was spent with the gorgeous Hannah and James (whom we met in Maqai, Fiji) who meet us at the Museum and whisk us off to show us a piece of "their" Auckland. The girls run at full pelt down the hill and greet them with enormous hugs and open arms. We cross to the North Shore and up the hill in Devonport before wandering along the beach in the sun collecting shells and llittle crabs along the way. The girls were SO excited to see them and we spend our time together talking non stop reminiscing about our experiences since we were last together.

The weather is glorious so after a quick stop to see James' house we drive to Mission Bay for an ice cream, a quick beer, a game of chess and a beautiful sunset. 

Supper is eaten at the mainly Asian Albert Street food court - where there is such a choice of  delicious, cheap and freshly cooked dishes and options we all struggle with what to choose! We say our sad goodbyes, it was a fantastic afternoon with truly lovely people.

We head back to the Jucy Hotel to pack away the cold weather clothes and prepare for the heat of Australia - flip flops here we come!

Thurs 18 Aug day 55 Auckland again!

Another day, another day out in the lovel, sunny  city of Auckland - rapidly becoming our favourite in New Zealand. This time to the Antarctic Centre founded by NZ polar explorer and ecologist Kelly Tarlton. We walk down to Quay Street and board the "subtle" shuttle bus which will transport us the 10 minute drive around the bay to the centre. Two highlights here - the stingray feed complete with a keeper in the tank feeding the 3 truly massive female fish and the snowcat ride (so good we went round twice!)  which took us into the penguin enclosure.

The tank holds 200,000 litres of salt water, is 3 metres deep and filled with 3 tonnes of snow every day. Computer controlled, simulating sunrise and sunset and seasonal climate conditions mimicking that of the natural environment in Antarctica - all essential to maintain breeding moulting cycles. Home to Gentoo and King penguins and complete with chicks, huge, fluffy, brown and flightless - but quite sweet!

   

  We get another amazing vista of the city of sails - boats of some description at every turn - as we leave the Antarctic Centre - the skyline dominated as always by the ever present SkyTower.

Wed 17 Aug day 54 Auckland

A sunny morning! At last! After a lie in (a rare thing for us!) and a bit of a sort out we head off to explore Auckland  strating with the Sky Tower - the tallest building in NZ and the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere. We travel in the lift up 53 floors to the top observation deck and tread gingerly on the glass viewing windows on the floor - actually the girls laid down on them - just the grown ups who were a bit timid!

We are rewarded with amazing views across the city; On a good day it is possible to see for over 80 miles. We are able to identify many key buildings and landmarks including Eden Park where many of the forthcoming rugby world cup games will be played and One Tree Hill and the Harbour bridge. Sadly it  is not possible to walk over the bridge. 

We also catch several adrenalin junkies throwing themselves off the top in a controlled  11 second "freefall" off the top!

The afternoon is spent wandering around the marina marvelling at the Americas Cup and super yachts and exploring the new precinct - Viaduct Basin - built and developed on waste ground in preparation for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup - a complex of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. We are lucky enough to see the new footbridge open and close to allow boats in and out of their moorings close to the shore.

Tues 16 Aug day 53 Tairua Coromandel

Tairua is another pretty seaside town which we get an amazing view after another 20 minute  climb to the peak of  Mt Paka, we can also see the nearby Alderman Islands and Shoe, Slipper, Rabbit and Goat Islands. We drive further north to Hot Water Beach - where one can dig ones own hot pool in the sand, but sadly arrive at the wrong tide time for digging. The girls run on the beach and collect shells, we have a quick coffee and hot chocolate in the beach cafe and continue our journey on Highway 309. This is the only unsealed road we have travelled on in New Zealand and it twists and turns up and up across the Coromandel Peninsular. We are heading for Coromandel Town itself as we have heard it is a hub for arts, crafts and slightly alternative living. As we near the end of the unmade track the car is suddenly surrounded by what we initially recognise as pigs - on closer inspection they are definitely wild boar - although part of a farm and not truly wild. The girls shriek with delight as there are several of the tiniest piglets scampering around and for a while we cant progress any further as we are slightly concerned about running one over. The boar are inquisitive and investigate the car thoroughly squealing and snuffling before trotting back to their rooting around in the mud.

When we get to Coromandel it is raining and a bit of a ghost town. We are all disappointed as we were looking forward to an afternoon exploring. A grey, drizzly afternoon in a sleepy, closed up town is not what we had hoped and so we decide to head down the coast to Thames. By the time we reach the town, the rain is falling heavily and the first backpackers we try is closed, the second is freezing cold and empty and the third has just had all its's carpets ripped out and is undergoing renovation during the off season. With heavy hearts we press on to Auckland and after several phone calls including one answered "What do you want?!" (we avoid this one!) we end up at the Jucy. This is a cross between a hotel and a backpackers - but we have a Jucy rental car and as we will be there for 4 nights (our longest stay ever!) we manage to negotiate a very good deal. It also has the benefit of secure off street parking and is also central.