Auckland, New Zealand

Sun. & Mon. Feb.6 & 7, 2011    73 degrees                           8:00 AM – 5:00 PM



Dock in Auckland, New Zealand

Set between 2 harbours. Beautiful beaches, expansive parks, fascinating Polynesian culture.  We are staying overnight in this sporty city.  The ozone layer is weak above New Zealand, so slap on the sunscreen and resist the temptation to bake.

Auckland’s city center includes the port area, much of it reclaimed from the sea in the latter half of the 19^th C. A dozen “city ambassadors” patrol the city center on weekdays between 8:30 and 5; they can give you directions and field any other questions you might have. They are identified by their yellow and gray uniforms with “ambassador” written on their tops in red. Have map for tour of city.  Auckland’s outsize sprawl mirrors the scope of experience it offers. A vibrant city with a colourful cultural mix, it still retains a relaxed Kiwi attitude. The central city neighbourhoods, with their cafes, bars, and restaurants, quickly give way to bays and marinas. A short drive can take you to breathtaking beaches with pounding surf. Standing on one of the city’s volcanic cones and looking toward the shimmering harbor, you can take your pick.  There are over 70,000 powerboats and 102 beaches in this area.

Cruise ship docked at Princess Wharf on Quay St. – 5 min. to Ferry Bldg. Walk down Princess Wharf to main road (Quay St.) turn left and walk in front of the ship. Large terracotta bldg. with Clock tower is Ferry Bldg. Bus stop just past Ferry Bldg. If ship is berthed at Queen’s Wharf bus stop at the gate.

We took  a shore excursion “Highlights of Auckland”.  We drove across the harbour bridge and past the Westhaven Marina where we viewed thousands of pleasure craft, hence Auckland’s name “City of Sails”.  We drove through historic Parnell Village  to the Auckland Museum, housing an impressive collection of Maori and Pacific Island artifacts.  This museum is located in Auckland’s Domain’s 200 acres of parkland and there were several cricket matches going on.  Next we drove to Mt. Eden, the city’s highest point, for a panoramic view of the city and Hauraki Gulf .

In the afternoon we decided to take the ferry to Devonport across the bay from Auckland.  We met a fellow on the ferry who said to come to his car with him and he would drive us up Mount Victoria.  We had great views of Devonport as well as Auckland across the bay and the Hauraki Gulf.  He then gave us a tour of North Head and parts of Devonport.  After  enjoying a beer with him, he let us off in downtown Devonport where we could enjoy Auckland’s colonial architecture before reboarding the ferry back to Auckland.

  On our second day in Auckland we took the Link Bus back to Parnell where we wanted to visit St. Mary’s Cathedral (Anglican).  The site of this magnificent building took my breath away.  The new cathedral is used for concerts and many other community gatherings in addition to all the church services.  The Old St Mary’s wooden church which was moved to its location adjacent to the new cathedral is used for weddings and special ceremonies.  After visiting the two churches we took the Link bus again on a trip around the city and disembarked downtown at the Sky Tower.  Walked downtown, visited a shopping mall, and an internet cafe and then reboarded the ship.



Old St. Mary's Cathedral





New St. Mary's Cathedral (Anglican)