More Auckland

Our 2nd day in Auckland was great fun.  Better weather - only a few spritz of rain.  We were out just after 9 looking for breakfast, then walked through the university and on to the huge city park called Auckland Domain.  80 hectares of playing fields, gardens, the Auckland Museum and trails to wander on.  What most impressed us were the trees.  So full of character.

We carried on through the park and down onto Parnell Road.  We didn't realize we had walked out the opposite side of the park until we went into a coffee shop to ask our way back downtown.  We were running short of time for the long walk back so what else could we do but sit down for a good latte, and then ride the city bus back. All 3 of us loved our morning in the park.

We met our group at the hotel at 2pm.  Nine of them came in on a flight from London and they had just arrived at the hotel, late.  The rest of the group - 11 of us and the leader, Dorothy had been in New Zealand at least a few days or like us had come the day before.  All are Brits except us 3 Canadians.  Judy met her roomie, Irene from York. Our afternoon's adventure was a tour around town in the group bus with our kiwi bus driver Steve who drives for many of the hf holidays in New Zealand.  There are 5 of these grand adventures a year.  He is a wealth of knowledge.  We went to the impressive Auckland Museum and War Memorial.

The memorial had a sheet of water constantly running over it, so difficult to photograph the text.  The graphic symbol represents the silver fern, the symbol of New Zealand. The text is very familiar to us: "we shall remember them . . ." as we hear read out every Remebrance Day. 

Up to Bastion Point which overlooks the Hauraki Gulf Islands and Devonport across the harbour including Rangitoto Island where we would visit tomorrow.

Bastion point.

Rangitoto Island - a volcanic island where we're heading tomorrow. 

We have have had some computer issues so are running a day late with our blog.  

See ya later mates!