I see nice old buildings. I see modern new buildings. I see construction of an underground railway.
These lamps are spread at even intervals along the waterfront.
Sky Tower dominates the skyline from many angles.
We walked a little way along Quay Street to catch the hop on hop off bus. There are two routes but we only took one route as we wrongly didn't think we would have time to take both. Here is our ship and the beautiful old Customs House.
Up front in the double decker bus.
War memorial.
$2.16 for a litre of petrol in NZ. For you foreign folk who buy cheap petrol, I think that is about $10 per gallon. Correct me if you will.
We left the bus at the top of the Queen Street shopping area. There's that tower again.
Stupid me. I said to R, is that a marriage proposal on the back of the bus?
There was smoke rising form near the orange barriers. It quickly disappeared.
I expect this underground train construction hoarding was just repainted. There weren't many signatures, but there were many people signing the hoarding.
One way to get around.
Is this Finger Wharf in Sydney's Woolloomooloo? No, in Auckland Harbour.
Is this Sydney's Circular Quay? No, the ferry wharves in Auckland and there is a lot of ferry traffic.
New Zealand imports a large number of second hand cars from Japan. It is very expensive in Japan to have an older car, so people get rid of them after a couple of years. The import of them is not allowed in Australia, but is in New Zealand.
I don't think I have mentioned anything about people we connected with at times on the ship, or shown too many ship photos. It was a long three days at sea back to Melbourne, as the ship sailed north to get around the top of NZ, and then south west to get home. I concluded cruising is not for me if you have more that a couple days at sea. I was bored stiff. More in the final NZ Cruise post.
A place I would now like to visit
ReplyDeleteJohn, you never know what is ahead in your life, as you well know.
DeleteMany people I know tell me how good cruises are but the thought of going on one doesn't do it for me.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, to be honest, I didn't like the cruise, although I did love seeing bits of NZ.
DeleteThe HOHO buses are a great way to see a city when you have limited time. I don't think I am the cruising type of person but lots of friends love that kind of a holiday.
ReplyDeleteMarie, indeed they are and we have taken many of them and became horribly stuck in Kensington in traffic congestion.
DeleteIt looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteCruising has never tempted me. Not on the boredom factor, but because my introverted self would struggle to find places to be alone.
That said, I loved my trip to Antarctica by ship. Colour me hypocritical.
EC, there were plenty of places to be alone on the ship. Many was the times when I felt very alone.
DeleteThanks for the tour. Loved it. Cruising has no appeal for me. Now ferries I adore, even overnighters. Many friends go cruising but it all sounds so regimented and too many people all jolly and forcing the fun factor. Yipes.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
WbW. I did become thoroughly fed up with forced social interaction, but then at times craved it. Go figure.
DeleteNot been to Auckland for a few years now but does not look all that
ReplyDeletechanged but will be in Wellington in a few weeks to visit the grandchildren.
Merle...........
Merle, I liked Wellington. It is not too big.
DeleteIf I were not with Jack I could cruise easily. He gets very restless after a few days and drives me nuts. I'll happily read books on my tablet, write for the blog, meet and talk to almost anyone and go to tea, luncheons, and dinners.
ReplyDeleteI don't always have to do shore excursions to be happy. Jack must be moving along all the time.
Just got a brochure today for Australia and New Zealand from Princess! Would love to go.
Maribeth, I am both with you and with Jack. I was quite restless, but I did get an incredible amount of reading done, which I do enjoy.
DeleteThose lamps really are extraordinary! I remember my people taking a round-the-world cruise; they said that after two or three days the only thing to do was EAT.
ReplyDeleteTwenty plus perhaps Cro of those lamps. There are heaps of things to do on the ship, if you are interested and can be bothered.
DeleteWhere cruising is concerned a lot depends on the person, their expectations and the cruise line.
ReplyDeleteWe walked around Auckland and rode to the top of the tower.
Cathy, I really can't fault Princess Cruises. It is all about me, of course. I like to know what I am seeing when I go up high, and I would not have known in Auckland.
DeleteThe Old Customs House is Victorian, elegant and beautiful. I hope it has heritage protection.
ReplyDeleteHels, I expect it has. It is a very nicely restored building.
DeleteI love those waterfront lamps, I think one of those would look very nice in my garden. Sydney and Auckland share many similarities I see.
ReplyDeleteRiver, you are so right. Auckland felt very like Sydney. I wish I had taken a better photo of the lamps.
DeleteWhat wonderful architecture.
ReplyDelete$10 a gallon for gas? Reeling backward, clutching my heart.
Sandra, probably not so different to what people pay in Europe.
DeleteI really liked Auckland. We stayed in the hotel at the Sky Tower.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get John on a cruise ship like that and I also know that, like you, I would be bored stiff.
Gas is 1.25 a litre here.
Posh travellers Jackie! But I know you would have gotten a good deal. Our petrol price fluctuates a lot and it has been down to that price not so long ago. There was nothing wrong with the cruise. It is all about me and my boredom threshold. I enjoyed my reading of my Kindle with the occasional G&T within reach.
DeleteI was chatting with the butcher at our local IGA today...a very nice fellow. We always have a fun chat...and during out conversation today I discovered he is originally from New Zealand...from New Plymouth, on the west coast of the North Island. He is an Aussie now...being here since 1986.
ReplyDeleteI've never had the yearning to go cruising, but many, many other folk make up for my lack thereof.
Have yourself a very enjoyable Easter weekend, Andrew. :)
Lee, I suppose that many years are enough to rid him of give away Kiwi vowel sounds. Yes, some people just love cruising. I only like it because you are visiting places put don't have pack and unpack, but if at sea, I don't like it. Thanks.
DeleteI've seen those three wheel motorcycles around here, none so large as that, but seems an easy way to get around. What a lovely city, from the looks of your photos.
ReplyDeleteIt is a big one, Strayer. Auckland is a nice city. It is large, multicultural and has some respect for its history.
DeleteEek, that IS expensive gas. Lots of lovely scenery and buildings on this stop, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteJenny, expensive by our standards too, but not such a huge difference as it is for you.
DeleteYikes! I'll never complain about our price of petrol again, that's nuts! Auckland looks roughly about the same size as Perth as a city. Made me laugh when you said you were bored stiff after two days, I thought yup, no buses, trains, trams to explore there 😀😀
ReplyDeleteGrace, Auckland did have a Perth feel to it where individual historic buildings had been kept, flanked by modernity. Even R became a bit bored. I read an awful lot.
DeleteHow many litres are in a gallon?
ReplyDeleteRiver, it used to be my job to know, 4.546 litres to the gallon. Arithmetic was not my job, so please do check.
Delete