Besides the odd grunt, growl and moan from the old folks traveling about, we had a full on adventure of main points NZ. Mum, Dad & Aunty S had a behemoth of a list of places/activities needing to be accomplished. Too bad they did not pick up enough duty free on their way through to make us more, let us say, productive.
From what I hear it was a rocky flight from LAX to Auckland, so I was kind enough to let the first-time world travelers refresh in my humble abode (plus I was at the airport to pick 'em up). Straight on to The Mission Bay Cafe to guzzle a cappuccino and food. Thankfully Aunty S loves a solid cappuccino as much as myself, so I was not alone in my coffee addiction (Mum & Dad, I don't know how you can start your day).
The apartment rented has posh (as said by the guy who spends $20/night in hostels downtown). Aunty S took her old lady nap so she was ready to continue our walking trek through the Viaduct Harbour. Bed time was 8.30pm (not really any different than at home, right guys?).
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| Aunty S ZZZZZZZZ-ing |
Right. Now we have that sleeping out of the way, first activity was the 1.5 hour drive up North to Goat Island. Goat Island because somebody named it that a few decades back, thinking goats once inhabited the island (ya know, so if a ship ran aground the sailors had goats to eat). Say cheese, snap and we are done.
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| Aunty S taking a dip in the Pacific @Goat Island |
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| @Goat Island (I now know where brother Aaron inherits his "smiley face" from...Dad) |
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| Trekking about @Goat Island |
Did I mentioned we stopped off at the cutest little village [Matakana] on our way?!
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| Look at that water fall down those stairs |
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| Donald Duck preparing for Northern Hemisphere's Summer |
Yup, let us just say Matakana village was a great place to use a toilet and stretch your legs. After that little jaunt, we simply could not pass up Sheep World. After all, Statistics New Zealand says there are more than 30 million sheep!
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| Spitting Llamas. |
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| Cocks. |
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| Well gosh darn that is pretty darn cute! |
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| Hey mate. |
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| Right. Someone didn't properly teach me what a goat looks like. |
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| I don't know about you, but my mouth is starting to salivate here. |
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| WTF is that?! |
Did you see a sheep in those pictures?! Neither did we! 4 disgruntled tourists leaving a giant tourist trap on our way to golden beaches.
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| Note golden beach. [See Mum and Aunty S?!] |
As if we hadn't done enough driving, the four of us packed in the 2005 Mistubishi Lancer to drive 1.5 hours the other way to Manukau Heads Light House. This is where the big boys used to play, guiding the big boy boats in to the harbour. Of course, every light house was established or altered after a shipwreck. For this one to move location and be upgraded, it took NZ to lose 100-some-odd sailors on the HMS something or other. RIP.
Thankfully Grandpa always told us to take pictures of the plaques and signs so you can keep all your facts straight, even after a few Bacardi diets:
And let's be honest, everyone knows what a harbor view looks like. On the way home we drove up
One Tree Hill [it has a special place in the indigenous Maori peoples culture] and
Mount Eden Domain [really a giant volcano next to downtown]. Click the links for further information mate.
Now this is the best part. We have yet to spend enough time driving so the four of us again got in our 1.5L Lancer to pop on over to Rotorua, NZ [a 3.5hr drive and only a few minor scenic routes taken - there was road construction in Hamilton]. The Highlight on the way down: I got to drive over a real, working dam (Mom has the pictures and can vouch for this too!)The main attraction to Rotorua, for us at least, was the Tamaki Maori Cultural Experience at the Tamaki Maori Village.
We had to
Kia Ora our
Korotiwaka so the
Waka would get us to your
Hangi. Once at the
Tumunui, the
Ngati Tama Hongi'd us so we could experience
Tangata Whenua and our
Hangi. For those who don't speak Maori, here's an English translation:
- Kia Ora: hello, welcome, good-bye, have a safe journey
- Korotiwaka: driver or guide
- Waka: means of travel; ie bus, boat, car, etc
- Tumunui: name of the village
- Ngati Tama: name of tribe
- Hongi: pressing of the noses - a welcome gesture
- Tangata Whenua: people of the land
- Hangi: feast
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| the Powhiri (formal welcome) |
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| Haka |
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| Learning advanced Pick Up Sticks |
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| Cooking |
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| Hangi cooker |
Everyone was merry and our Korotiwaka Dennis the Menace maneuvered his waka home in style and song. (PS ask Aunty Sue how she slept in the ant invested motel in Rotorua.)
Part II of Rotorua was having the most orgasmically delicious eggs benedict at the Fat Dog Cafe with a solid cappuccino. Highly recommended for anyone traveling through! Of course, no visit to Rotorua is complete without a visit to the Rotorua Museum, its gardens and its thermal-ness. Also had to visit the thermal village (with geyser) and Red Wood forests.
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| Rotorua Museum (background) and gardens |
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| Whakarewarewa Thermal Village (say that twice) |
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| Whakarewarewa Thermal Village |
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| Mum & Aunty S at the Geyser |
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| Red Wood Forests. Guess I don't have to travel to Cali anymore. |
Having a long drive back, Aunty S and Dad had to enjoy a few drinks in the backseat (Mum even joined in for one as well!). Of course, since I did so much bloody driving I was thirsty upon our return to Auckland so the fam went out to meet the already drunk workmates. They didn't make much since. I also tried Denny's for the first time here - waste of $11.00 as you only needed to sit on the toilet straight afterwards.
After a fun night out and the elderly folk rising by 7am, we sure seemed to be on the road out West by 8am. Today's agenda featured the Waitakare Ranges based in Western Auckland (finally, not too far to drive!). Unfortunately, this is where the roads become very NZ-like in that they go up, down and all around and you can easily mirror tap the passerby's!
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| Mum walking to the Beach |
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| MADE IT TO THE BLACK SAND BEACH! |
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| Look at that @Black Sand Beach Waitakare Ranges |
Our final day with the car, and thankfully my final day of having to cart around 3 full on tourists was spent at the Auckland Zoo. Mum and Aunty S were able to see the Kiwi bird (Dad got bored and quit).
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| Some days I feel like a hippo |
Nobody wanted to try an "Animal Experience" by entering the cages of a few selected animals to be "up close and personal". I am forever surrounded by a bunch of chickens. Nah, it was all good. Plus I now got to introduce everyone to the local public bus system. Every one know where we are going and how many stages? Don't worry, drivers give change (but really, you only have a 20 for your 1.90 fare?!).
To celebrate Dad turning a half-century + 2, we had a drink across the harbour in what I call the retirement suburb of Devonport (fitting) as well as bused it about to the Mongolian Grill. Also had to hit up the Naval Museum where the tourists tried their first pies and tarts! We go to a museum on ships, and Mum finds a bloody cat:
Do not worry, the Royal New Zealand Navy has had America's back in just about everything. Plus they are part of this treaty and that treaty which nobody can ever remember, keep straight, or remember to enforce.
Of course no visit to NZ is complete without a visit to the Sky Tower. For my fourth time going up, I convinced Dad to go all the way to the top at 220 metres (for those still counting in feet, that's 722). Mum and Aunty Sue only went to 186 metres (or 610 feet). At least they twin chickens still went up. So to reward every one for a job well done, I bought 'em all drinks at the bar which is 182 metres (or 597 feet) up in the air.
The last and final day was spent at the Auckland Museum where we went through a volcano simulation and learned all about NZ history (it's no different than any other history, so I will not bore you with all those same details as we have all passed history class by now [thanks Mr. Hullander!]). To round out an exciting full on adventure we headed back to Mission Bay for our last meals of Fish & Chips for Mum and I and Burger Fuel 1/3lb burgers for Dad and Aunty Sue. Of course the last moments were watching the ocean water and beach adventure. The final last moments were spent in the post apartment lobby staring at the concrete walls with a few tears rolling down our cheeks.
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| Stretching it out for a final night |
Once waving good-bye to every one climbing in to the taxi, I set off in to the sunset to await my ride back home and to prepare for my weekend getaway to Tauranga. Now
my holiday begins :D. Mum and Aunty S now have to start planning their Australian adventure in order to properly celebrate their half-century of kicking & screaming. I hear Nanna may be accompanying them.
Kia Ora everyone
:D
