Finally back in a country where you can flush the toilet paper and drink the water, we took full advantage of staying with H's Dad's cousin Huw, and took over the washing machine, and marvelled at having a bath! It's funny what you come to take for granted at home. When you are on the road, simply having clean clothes and the opportunity to have a bath seem like pure luxury!
We will be using Huw's as a base for the next couple of weeks, so used the opportunity for several day trips into Auckland itslef.
On the Sunday after we arrived we went out for dinner with Katy O, Karen, Susan and Martin for a mini GAP reunion in a Belgian Pub. It was great to meet up with those guys and reminisce about Peru, but to also talk about NZ.
On the Monday we hit the I site and came home with bag fulls of fliers about NZ so we can plan our attack!
Tuesday saw us on a bus tour around the city. We went up Bastion Point for some great views, to two churches (one has fantastic stained glass windows) and then to the Auckland Museum. That night H and I took the ferry across the bay and met up with my Dad's cousin Graham and his wife Jo who took us out for dinner.
Wednesday was a walking day. We walked the 16km of the Coast to Coast walk. This took us across from the sky tower all the way across to Onehunga, taking in the Domain, Mount Eden and One Tree Hill en route. Although the weather wasn't great it was a great hike, and we took an easy pace. That evening we went to a Christmas Party and met all of Huw's neighbours.
Thursday, and we ventured out to Rangitoto Island. An extinct Volcano off the shores of Auckland. We walked up to the summit and around it's base, admiring the Pohutakawa Tree's in blossom (they are known as the NZ Christmas tree as they flower in December), taking in the black lava flow and the little fan tail birds (which I renamed the shuttlecock bird), and more importantly avoiding the school kids.
We chilled for the rest of the week, preparing for our trip to the Bay of Islands next week.
We will be using Huw's as a base for the next couple of weeks, so used the opportunity for several day trips into Auckland itslef.
On the Sunday after we arrived we went out for dinner with Katy O, Karen, Susan and Martin for a mini GAP reunion in a Belgian Pub. It was great to meet up with those guys and reminisce about Peru, but to also talk about NZ.
On the Monday we hit the I site and came home with bag fulls of fliers about NZ so we can plan our attack!
Tuesday saw us on a bus tour around the city. We went up Bastion Point for some great views, to two churches (one has fantastic stained glass windows) and then to the Auckland Museum. That night H and I took the ferry across the bay and met up with my Dad's cousin Graham and his wife Jo who took us out for dinner.
Wednesday was a walking day. We walked the 16km of the Coast to Coast walk. This took us across from the sky tower all the way across to Onehunga, taking in the Domain, Mount Eden and One Tree Hill en route. Although the weather wasn't great it was a great hike, and we took an easy pace. That evening we went to a Christmas Party and met all of Huw's neighbours.
Thursday, and we ventured out to Rangitoto Island. An extinct Volcano off the shores of Auckland. We walked up to the summit and around it's base, admiring the Pohutakawa Tree's in blossom (they are known as the NZ Christmas tree as they flower in December), taking in the black lava flow and the little fan tail birds (which I renamed the shuttlecock bird), and more importantly avoiding the school kids.
We chilled for the rest of the week, preparing for our trip to the Bay of Islands next week.
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