Happy New Year!
Trip Start
Oct 19, 2009
1
14
23
Trip End
Mar 09, 2010
Where I stayed
Paihia, North Island, New Zealand
Sunday, January 3, 2010
We left Australia and arrived in New Zealand on the 28th December. We were collected in Auckland by Irene, my second cousin and her husband Barry. Irene lived in Dundee but moved out to New Zealand many years ago. We spent a few days with them and they were happy to show us round the Auckland area.
Auckland is a city spread out over a vast area with lots of green spaces. There is water in every direction and bridges connecting all parts of the city. Makes is difficult to get your bearings when there is water on all sides.
We went up to the top of the Auckland Skytower – built as part of a hotel and casino complex. We took the lift up to the Observation Deck which is over 200 metres high – a real birds eye view over the city! We had a lovely lunch while watching some very brave souls skydiving from the outer balcony. We took the lift!!
We were invited to a Hogmanay party at Irene`s neighbours and we had a lovely evening with them. Very friendly and hospitable people. Just before midnight the party moved to a different house which had a large deck with a view of the Skytower where we watched the fireworks at midnight. Runrig playing Loch Lomond on the CD player did make us feel very far from home!
We have spent the last 3 days in an area north of Auckland. The sun has been shining and the temperature very pleasant. The Bay of Islands is just what it says. An enormous bay of blue water dotted with islands of all different sizes.
Yesterday we took a cruise round the bay and were lucky enough to see two pods of dolphins. Each pod contained about 20 dolphins skimming through the water. We watched them for some time and as the boat began to move away they began to chase us and jump up right beside the hull of the boat. A great thing to watch.
Today has been another lovely day and we walked an 8km round walk to see a waterfall. Sadly the waterfall did not justify the distance but the area of mangrove we walked over was fascinating. We then visited the Waitangi Centre – the place where a treaty was signed in 1840 which established the rights of the Maori and non Maori peoples in New Zealand and was an agreement that all people should work together as one nation. An interesting place although not easy to get all the information necessary to really understand what had gone on.
Tomorrow is moving on day and we plan to spend a couple more day exploring what is known as the Northlands. We were disappointed that our timing was not allowing us to visit the South Island but this area has not disappointed.
Comments
Happy New Year Audrey and Andy from a very snowy and sunny Narborough.
Best wishes for more exciting adventures in 2010. Love from June & Stewart
Happy New Year and best wishes for 2010 ..from a cold and snowy Perthshire
All the best to you both for 2010 - it is certainly starting in style! You are missing lots of snow - even in Suffolk amazingly. We had a lovely Christmas with Ella and Graeme here for a few days and of course our first one with baby William. He has taken quite a shine to Graeme - I think the feeling is mutual ! Shame you couldn't make the South Island - Will and Ed spent quite some time there snowboarding - but I don't suppose you would want to take that up! Enjoy the next stage of your travels.