After an uneventful flight (with no screaming tantrums from me, and a little sleep which is amazing in itself we arrived in Auckland and were greeted by the amazing tomokanga (carved gateway) which symbolises a spiritual portal from one realm to another, a journey from the dark (the outside world) into the light (world of the living). The inspiration comes from travel and migration themes which work well in any airport. It's funny how life changes, when I left New Zealand the first time (doing my first overseas trip to Asia) I remember thinking that in comparison to Christchurch airport that Auckland airport was so big...after all there are two terminals (one domestic the other international and you have to walk between the two) After traveling through some of the world's biggest airports I realize how small New Zealand and it's airports actually are (but the beautiful welcome you get compensates for it's size)
The skybus is the best option of getting into the city, costing $16 NZ one way (unfortunately at today's exchange rate $15AU) but we had already booked the supershuttle with our EXPEDIA package, and without too much hassle we were aboard and traveling to our hotel, the Rendezvous in the city center.
I forget how small New Zealand is, because as a kid it seemed so huge to me, and I had also forgotten how pretty it was. Thankfully we had to drop someone off in Onehunga so instead of staying on the highway our journey took us around the picturesque streets, with lovely views of the harbours, (Auckland has harbours on both sides...one side leading to the Tasman Sea, the other to the Pacific Ocean.) and it is totally breathtaking.
One thing I did notice as we were driving into Auckland is how the Sky Tower dominates the
landscape....it is good in a way because our hotel is quite close to it and I don't think I'll ever get lost if I work out the position of the tower in relation to where I am, but it is also a reminder of how long it is since I have been here and how much has changed while still staying the same (it sounds contradictory but that is Auckland for you.)
After a nap, the adventure began, and that trip down memory lane which was pretty much the story of my weekend.
First stop Aotea Square which is a large public paved area used for different events....I guess a little like Melbourne's Federation Square. There are a few government buildings surrounding it and some
beautiful artwork, in the form of the Waharoa by Selwyn Muru which is a modern version of a traditional Maori gateway. It was quiet today, but I can imagine it brimming with life at certain times of the year.
Next stop, Queen St, the street of many childhood memories and long walks, and it's funny how so much has changed but so much remains the same, and I think I drove Bryce crazy by my constant photo taking as if I was imprinting every building back in to my memory.
The biggest one....
the Civic Theatre....brought back many memories, Saturday morning movies with my sister. (As kids we would walk down the road from the coffee shop that the parents ran with our $1 note...sorry Wanda aging us here :). We would get our ticket in the circle seats and still have enough left over for an ice cream and some other tasty treat ....not something you can do today....and we would sit soaking up the stories on that big screen before walking back up the road again to our daily lives)
The walk down Queen Street leads to the wharf and the spectacular sight of Auckland Harbour, and it's funny that it's so close to everywhere else, as a kid Wanda and I didn't venture down that far (it was the movie theatres and back up the road again) Maybe it wasn't as hospitable x many years ago but today it is a pretty, vibrant wharf and harbour. No there is no Opera House (there is the Cloud instead which is an exhibition building),
the Harbour bridge doesn't dominate like Sydney, but I still think it has to be one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. (Of course I have a lot to see to make comparisons to like Rio or Cape Town but from what I have seen so far it holds up).
The Holland America cruise ship, Noordam, was in port (as part of it's world voyage) and dominated the wharf and made me think I really need to go on a cruise some time soon, because it looked amazing and I thought it would be impressive seeing Auckland from top deck of a cruise ship (it's on my to-do list so hopefully one day).
Bryce and I did have a cruise today, no not the first day of some exotic around the world cruise, our cruise consisted of a ferry ($12NZ return which unfortunately with the exchange rate at the moment is the same in AU$)
across the Harbour to the pretty spot of Devonport, which is a pretty seaside town, with beautiful old houses built with wood from the kauri trees
(only recycled wood can be used these days in building so these houses are worth a small fortune and are kept beautifully.) I have fond memories of Devonport with Papa (my grandfather) Wanda and picnics and I had that same warm feeling this time around too.
We walked around North Head (Maungauika) for scenic shots and a walk through the tunnels of the old fort,
and then
on to Mt. Victoria for more photos and yet more breath taking views. Water whatever direction you looked which was absolutely wonderful and made me think about how nice it would be to wake up to these views everyday....although I think only a tattslotto win would give me enough money to afford one of the amazing houses around here.
After a wonderful time wandering around Devonport it was back on the ferry (with a bottle of L&P.
..that is one thing I didn't realise I missed but I had and unless you've tried it you don't know what you are missing...)to the wharf and an early dinner/late lunch, a great Mexican meal with an even better view. I could have spent hours just sitting here, but with so much to do and so little time in Auckland I didn't.
The rest of the evening was spent wandering back to the hotel, (the long way via Karangahape Rd -K Rd) and trying to find the location of the coffee shop that my folks used to run....it's long gone now...I think the Baptist Tabernacle might be around the location that it used to be, (it was only when I was back in Melbourne and talking to my mother that I remembered the ballroom dancing center on the other side of the road and if that had come to me while I was in Auckland I might have been able to pinpoint the position of the Mach 1.)
It's a bit hard to tell as when I was last in NZ and wandered around K Rd it wasn't at night, so not sure how much it has changed....some of the shops still seem the same and the small arcades do too, but it seemed a little seedier than I remembered it...or maybe I was just naive and didn't recognize that seediness when I was younger (but that's not a bad thing)
I am so pleased that my first day back in Auckland lived up (or surpassed) all my childhood memories and I am looking forward to the next couple of days. (I have this feeling I am going to wish I had stayed a little longer but then it is a perfect excuse to come back again one day.) Although there are a few aches and pains (my knee is a bit painful today after all the walking and sliding down the hill) which reminds me I am not as young as I once was I felt like a kid again and it reminded me that even the places you know or have been to before can be enchanting and exciting if you look at them as you would a child, with the eyes of wonder.
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