World Cruise--The Land Of The Kiwis

 We arrived as the sun was rising and spreading its warm rays on the stately buildings of Auckland, New Zealand. Before us was the iconic Sky Tower. The cruise pier could not have been more conveniently located and the welcome to Auckland more spectacular as a tug boat sprayed water into the air to celebrate the maiden call for Queen Anne.

Before breakfast, we walked out on the promenade deck and watched our huge ship apply the “brakes” as it backed into the slip and gently moved to the pier. The shadow of the ship crawled up the side of the Hilton Hotel that is on the Princess Wharf. I wondered if those staying in the hotel were going to appreciate looking into the side of the ship for two days. We were due to stay overnight in port.

Our plan, made before the start of our cruise, was to take a ferry to Devonport which sits across the harbor. It is a little town that we had visited once before and since we’d done all the city tours in the past we opted out of pounding the pavement between the buildings.

The ferry docks were close by on the starboard side of our ship and a quick ten minute walk. Our hearts sank as we neared and saw a huge line but it turned out that it was the ferry to Waikeke Island which is almost an hour away but a very popular spot with beaches and other points of interest especially with it being a Saturday. Our ferry ride would only take twelve minutes.

Devonport was a little bigger than I remembered but still kind of quaint. One of the missions for the day was to find a hair salon. We walked several blocks and saw at least three barber shops and Bob suggested I could change my hairstyle. I’ve learned to ignore some of those comments. Around a corner, we found two hair salons and I looked them up on my phone. (We had opted into a day of international service from AT&T.) The prices made me gulp but then I remembered that it was NZ dollars and the US cost was only a little more than half of that and still a great savings over what the ship charges.

Luckily they had room for me in the one shop and I only had to wait a half hour. We grabbed a cup of tea at the café across the street and waited it out. A little more than an hour later I paid for my haircut and asked if I could leave a tip. She smiled sweetly and said, "Oh no. We don't ever accept tips." "But you did such a nice job." I insisted. She shook her head, "But thank you." I was feeling pretty good with a decent haircut and the rest of the day before us.

The information center in the ferry building had maps of the town as well as several choices for self guided walks. We picked up one that listed historical places along the waterfront which is lined with a park and we headed out. The last time we had attempted to walk the waterfront there it had started raining and we had even loaned one of our two umbrellas to another couple from the ship we were on who were unprepared. This time though, the weather could not have been nicer.

It turns out we weren’t really that interested in the history so much as enjoying the sunny day with mild temperatures and a breeze that turned a bit windy later but was oh so refreshing. The information lady had pointed out that at the end of the waterfront walk there was a naval museum and a little restaurant. It was a good long walk and by the time we arrived, we were hungry.

Bob had a great bowl of seafood chowder and I opted for a BLAT, a bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato sandwich. Both servings were huge but we managed to finish it all. Somehow it felt like real food from home. The ship’s food is good but after a while it begins to taste the same.

We meandered a bit through some side streets to get back to the center of town and in doing so passed by two cricket fields. We paused just long enough to watch a couple of hits and try once again to figure the game out. No luck. We moved on.

Back at the ferry dock there was a bit of a delay when one of the scheduled runs was canceled. No panic though. We had all day to get back and as long as we could sit to wait, we were good. When I looked at my phone’s pedometer, I saw we had already walked over five miles.  (It would be closer to seven by the time the day was done.)

Our evening entertainment on the ship was a Maori group who performed many of their traditional practices with sticks and balls on strings and even a love song which seemed a bit out of character for the fierce representation of the warriors. The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, said to be Polynesians who arrived at the island around 1200 AD. They don’t exhibit the soft sweetness of the Polynesian traditions so much in their routines but then they had to be fierce and frightening in order to survive outside attack.

After the show, we went up on one of the top decks to see the city lit up at night. The Sky Tower was a silver silhouette and the Auckland Harbor Bridge was illuminated with multiple colors. A lovely night skyline.

The next morning we started off with what we jokingly refer to as a “laundry excursion.” The free laundry room is always an adventure. It is one of the sore points for many. The ship does not have one on every floor so they are in high demand, especially at the cost of the ship’s laundry. It has been the source of many hard feelings and even some intimidation. People removing laundry from dryers that aren’t done or jumping the line of waiting guests to claim a machine. It was reported by someone that one lady complained to a man who was using more than one washer (there’s supposed to be a limit of one washer/guest). He turned to her and told her he was not someone to mess with, he was dangerous. She reported him to the ship’s security. Don’t know what may have happened then. So far we’ve been okay. Only once found a lady unloading my washer before it was completely done. She never apologized. So, when we showed up at 8AM just as the laundry had opened, I was delighted to see no line out the door and one washer empty. It was a great excursion to begin the day.

By the time we exited the ship to find the Hop On Hop Off bus, it was misting. I hoped the whole day was not going to be like that. The Weatherbug had predicted partly sunny, no rain. When we found the stop for the HOHO, we realized it was the second, not the first, and there was no one there to sell you a ticket. We waited a bit to see if we might buy one on the bus but as we did, I suggested that the real itinerary for the day was the visit to the aquarium. Why not just take an Uber? It was probably cheaper and wouldn’t take as long to get there. We’d seen everything on this route once before.

So that’s what we did. It was about $10USD and a delightful driver who dropped us off at the entrance to the SEALIFE Kelly Tarlton Aquarium. Sometimes it pays to be old. We got senior rates to get in.

The aquarium is very nice and has a lot especially for kids to interact with. The feature attraction, at least for us, was the penguin exhibit just after you first enter. It is the only exhibit I recall of all the aquariums we have visited that has a collection of King Penguins, the really large ones that are harder to reach in Antarctica. They are so much fun to watch. Personalities emerge if you study them for a bit. I’m sure it’s fun for the caretakers.

There were a few other surprises. Several species of jellyfish were displayed that were new to us. I’m always entranced by the grace of the jellyfish as they dance through the water.

We came to a tank that had what appeared to be strange seahorses. They were called sea dragons and looked a bit like the leafy sea dragons we’ve seen but without the “leaves”. There were the usual tanks of colorful marine fish, large groupers, sharks and rays in a walkthrough clear tunnel and one large tank were we sat for a few minutes and watched some large sea turtles swim slowly back and forth. Marine exhibits can be mesmerizing.

After our aquarium visit, we walked along the water to Mission Bay. It has a nice beach area and plenty of beachside restaurants that line the main street. We finally settled on one that had a special on sandwiches and opted to split a club sandwich that was out of this world good.

Another Uber, a short walk to a convenient store for popcorn and nuts (I was craving popcorn. Bob needed cashews) and we were back at the ship. We would sail away at seven but not out of New Zealand. Tomorrow Tauranga!

Through My Lens - Auckland

Wordless Wednesday

World Cruise - Auckland, New Zealand

Our morning started as usual. The alarm went off at 7:30 and we turned on the TV and tuned to the channel that gives the live picture from the front of the ship. There before us was Queen Street, the main street running from the pier into the heart of the city of Auckland and in the distance the top of the Sky Tower, the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand. (Some also boast that it is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere—maybe.)

There would be three days here to explore the city and surrounding area. Many were even planning overnight trips to places farther away. We chose to go shopping our first day. Bob had packed a pair of “good” pants that had seen better days and somehow gotten them past my watchful packing eyes. So off we went to look for a pair of black Dockers. Only one problem. Dockers don’t exist in New Zealand, he found out later online, or Australia for that matter. There was nothing that even came close and when it did, they were in the skinny style pant leg. I tried to talk him into it. You know, update him a bit but, oh well.

Our shopping expedition did get us out into some of the suburbs by way of the train system. It was easy to follow the map and the train schedule (helps when it’s in English) and the ride was smooth. We saw a little countryside and then returned with a few sundries that we picked up to restock our toiletries with. We’d also picked up several brochures to plan our remaining two days.

The next morning, we took off early and purchased tickets for a harbor cruise. The cruise was an hour and a half and included morning tea with a muffin. The start of it was nothing more than piers full of containers from ships. Then off to an old lighthouse that sits on stilts in the middle of the harbor. It’s been around since the 1860s.

As the boat sped up a bit to our next point of interest, we pulled out the jackets that someone had told us we wouldn’t need and donned them. The air was getting a bit cooler and the sky a bit grayer but the dark clouds were so distant that we thought they would miss us. At Rangitoto Island, the boat stopped for a ten minute look if you wanted to see the volcanic island close up. Ten minutes barely got you off the dock and back again but many walked it.

Motoring past Devonport, a suburb of Auckland across from the main city, we passed two more dormant volcanoes and then headed for the Harbour Bridge. It’s not as dramatic as the Sydney Bridge but close. There is also opportunity to climb it and bungee jump from it (we passed on both). The skies were getting darker again but still a distance away.

On the way back to the ferry terminal, we passed the Westhaven Marina. This is the place where they bring in the America’s Cup sailboats when the competition is here. We remembered seeing some of the boats on our very first cruise from Auckland years ago.

Our ticket included a return ticket (we would call it a round-trip) to Devonport so we hopped on the next ferry and rode it over. Devonport reminded me a little of Russell with its Victorian styled buildings. We found a little out of the way café that had pizza and indulged. We never seemed to find it on the ship. By the time we were ready to stroll along the waterfront, those distant dark clouds were upon us and it began to rain. A little spritz at first, then harder. We walked a bit, met a couple who’d forgotten to grab an umbrella and loaned them one of ours. A little damp but happy, we all made it back to the ship in one piece.

The last day in Auckland, we took the Hop On, Hop Off Explorer bus. There were two circles, one red and one blue, each taking about one hour if you didn’t hop off. We bought our pass and caught the first bus by the pier that started us on the red circle. There was commentary at the points of interest and we got a more extensive look at the city of Auckland and some of the outlying areas on the blue line.

The red line met the blue line at the Auckland museum but we were too early to get the blue bus and the museum wasn’t open yet. We opted for the winter gardens that were a short walk from the museum. It was Saturday morning and a beautiful sunny one at that. Hundreds of children could be seen spread out on the many surrounding cricket courts. We paused to watch a bit but we’ve never been able to understand it.

Then we noticed something else unusual. People running around in inflated bubbles like the ones they get in to roll down hills. As we passed a blue van with yellow letters that read BUBBLE SOCCER, we understood. There was a yellow ball they were trying to kick into their respective goals but if they got to close to another person, they were bounced away and often bounced to the ground. The closer we got the more we could hear the giggles and laughter. It looked like a fun time.

A stroll through the winter gardens, a cup of coffee at the garden café outdoors, and we were in time to get on the first blue bus for the day. It took us to Mount Eden, Auckland’s highest point, where if we wanted to, we could have climbed up for a good view of the city. Then it was on to the zoo that was packed with visitors on a sunny Saturday. We stayed on the bus and made it back around to the museum again where we boarded the red bus for the trip back to the city center. It was a nice ride and a good way to see Auckland and had we been more ambitious and had more time, we would have hopped off and on more but we needed some lunch (seems like we’re always eating) and a post office before it closed.

Lunch was had at the base of the Sky Tower. The post office was found just in time before it closed and the rain started. Our poor table waiter was not going to get off the ship again. We kept teasing him that if he took an umbrella he wouldn’t get wet—even offered him one of ours. He just smiled and shook his head like we were crazy. I did hear him say something about being made of sugar and melting—or was that Bob?

Just before dinner and after another muster drill required for world cruisers once a month and for the newbies who had joined this segment of our cruise, the Crystal Serenity set sail to the tune of It’s A Wonderful World. A group of wedding party guests stood on the pier, all dressed in white, and waved as we backed away.

Yes, it’s a wonderful world. Oh yaaaay.

New Zealand Diary - Raglan, Bridal Falls, Auckland Botanical Garden

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Sadly it is raining when we get up and go to breakfast. This B&B only has a continental breakfast so except for coffee, there is nothing warm on what looks like a dismal start to the day. I’m a little down. I want to go home but I’m sad to see this come to an end as well.

Bob pulls the car up into the driveway long enough for us to load our stuff and leave. Wipers sloshing rain, we say goodbye to Waitomo and check our map to see our choices of routes to Auckland. We have until six p.m. to get to the car rental place and our flight to LAX doesn’t leave until 10:45. The slower route would take us near the Tasman Sea one last time so we opt for that and bypass Hamilton.

Not far from Waitomo, as we head north, the sun comes out. I smile and give thanks. A little sun always lifts the spirit.

The sun still shining, we end up in a little town called Raglan. It sits on a harbor that looks out to the Tasman. We walk around a bit and find a nice little place at a cafe where we can sit and enjoy some coffee and tea outdoors.

Around the corner is an Information Center and we enquire about tracks and things to see. She shows us a short track and then tells us about the surfer beaches and a waterfall not far away. Another waterfall? Why not?

We drive in the direction of the surfer beach and stand above it to see if anyone is surfing. One lone soul is trying to paddle out against the waves and making slow if any progress. I wonder how many times he will actually get to ride a wave back in at this rate. We give up on him and go back to the car. As we do, we see a few others donning wet suits for a go at the surf. Their day is just getting started I guess.

Bridal Falls was the other suggested attraction and it is a 13 km drive out of our way but we have all day and plenty of time and nothing else planned. It can’t possibly be any nicer than the waterfall we saw yesterday but who knows. We arrive and park the car. It’s about a ten minute walk all the way down to the falls. Down means up again, I think, and my knees groan at the thought.

Bridal Falls view from the top.

Bridal Falls is spectacular but I decide I liked the Marakopa Falls the best of all. We take our time going back up to the car. I’m glad we separately packed clothes to change into before we get on the plane. I’m feeling a little dusty and dirty already.

We stay on the back roads until Bob decides we may have to pump a little gas to get us to Auckland. He’s trying to leave as little in the tank as possible since we had to pay for a tank of gas at the outset. While we stop for gas, we spy a McDonald’s and decide it will be a quick and easy lunch. Besides, Bob has seen something advertised called The Legend and he wants to try it.

Unfortunately this McDonald’s doesn’t have The Legend but an hour or so later, we stop for coffee again in Drury and find a McD’s that does. It’s really a disappointment. It’s a minced beef pie that tastes more like just thick gravy inside a pastry shell. A couple of weeks ago though we did enjoy what was called Son of Mac. It was a smaller version of the Big Mac—king of like Whopper Jr. is to the Whopper.

We walk around Drury a bit but don’t find anything interesting to do. It’s way too early to go to the rental car place. A cinema might be a possibility but we really don’t want to be cooped up inside. We’ll be inside for the next whole day. I study the map some more and see the Auckland Botanical Garden is not far from the airport and on our way and, it’s free!

We couldn’t have chosen more wisely. There are over 64 acres of gardens here. We wander through those that seem to be blooming the most and those that are just peacefully landscaped. Before long we are walking through a huge area that is nothing but rose bushes all in bloom. There is every kind of color and shade imaginable. One area of the rose garden is dedicated to new hybrids they are testing. Park benches allow us to sit and soak up the sun, the flower scents, and the peacefulness. All too soon it seems we have to be on our way. It’s time.


Lady Garmon gets us to the rental car return and we check in. In the restroom, we change into our clean travel jeans and shirts. This will be a marathon to get home. At the airport, we check bags and go through security and then make our way to the premium lounge. We get special treatment since we won the auction to upgrade our seats.

The premium lounge has a small buffet in it with some salads and a few hot snacks. I sample a little but save my appetite for our plane trip. Since we are flying all night, eating late will help to simulate getting closer in time to what it is back home. Of course spending nine hours in LAX will mess things up. My poor body is not going to know what time it is or what day for that matter until maybe next week. Ah, the joys of travel. But our 26 hours or so of travel will give me plenty of time to reflect on what a wonderful time we had in New Zealand.

New Zealand Diary - Now Arriving in Auckland

Thursday, October 3, 2013

After passing the beagle sniff test at the airport (thankfully vitamins, blood pressure meds, and Lipitor are not on her list of illegals), we grab our ride to the Apex car rental place. It is about 6 a.m. Auckland time. I can’t do the math to figure out what time it is at home but I know that somewhere over the Pacific, we lost October 2 in the blink of an eye or rather, in my case, a jerking nod of the head that woke me again.

Working on little sleep, I wonder how I’m going to survive Bob driving on the left side of the street. Thankfully he got a bit more sleep than I did. While he fills out the papers and kibitzes with the young man I sneak off to the restroom and brush my teeth and splash water in my face. It has been twenty-four hours of travel and we still have several more to go before I sleep, before I sleep. Frost must have felt that when he wrote his poem.

We check out the red Toyota Corolla that has seen some surface abuse, say thanks to the nice young man and promise again not to drive on 90 Mile Beach and plug in our new Garmon that Bob has programmed with all our stops for the next five weeks. Our first destination is just outside of Auckland in Silverdale. There is a couple there we met on our April cruise to Galapagos who have invited us to stop by and visit for a bit. They are travel addicts too and know that we aren’t going to be in great shape but they were eager to meet up with us again.

Morning rush hour traffic is picking up but we manage to make our way through and out of the city limits to find our friends. They live in a spectacular area on top of a hill that overlooks the greenest hills and dales you can imagine. Their yard is filled with semi-tropical plants that are beginning to bloom and refresh as spring is just arriving in this part of the world.

They tell us we are fortunate to have arrived when the rain has finally ended. There were three or four days of it but now the sun is warm on our faces as we sit outside on their patio enjoying the view, great coffee and muffins and conversation. We feel ourselves begin to relax a bit too much and finally excuse ourselves so that we can get back on the road. We have miles to go. . .make that kilometers to go before we sleep.