Safely landed at JFK. We had dinner on the plane Monday night after we took off and had breakfast this Monday night just before we landed. Pizza sounds like a plan for “dinner”! Hope we don’t have too much jet lag this week. Thanks for all your prayers. Everyone played a part in the wonderful month in New Zealand!
This morning we headed out around 9 am to find an outdoor cafe and go up the Sky Tower. Quite the view of Auckland! We got out at floor 51 and then again at 60. I walked over glass flooring and recorded the elevator ride down also through a glass view.
Back to hotel, packed our bags and charged our phones and kindles. Sat in the comfortable lobby for an hour and a half until the Uber came for our last ride in NZ. Met Gertrude at the airport. We got our boarding passes and checked in two bags. Sat in the food area and had our “last supper” with her. What a trip this has been. So many memories to hold on to! Our NZ daughter was the finest host and we love her to pieces! Good bye Zealand you’ve been great!!!
Today we were in the Uber at 9 am on our way to the dock. Gertrude met us there and we got on line for Fuller’s Ferry. Once on the ferry it took about 40 minutes to arrive at Waiheke Island. We then got on a Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus. We hopped off at #2 and went into a store named Shamhala which had crystals, jewelry and art work it. We then went in search of the Whittakers Musical Museum but it wasn’t open so we went to the Community Art Gallery instead. They scenery was awesome everywhere you looks! We hopped back on and it was already time to go to drop off #8 for lunch. Gertrude had made reservations at Ki Maha and we sat outside with a breathtaking view of the beach only to be reveled by the food! After lunch we took a walk on the beach before hopping back on the bus. And Bill enjoyed a little swinging!
Headed back up the island we got off at #9 to see the Museum of Waiheke. A lot of antiques on display and neat little cottages.
Hopping back on we got off at #15. Bill sat in the shade while Gertrude and I ventured up to the gelato place for dessert. We got back just in time to get back on the bus and head for the dock. We almost made it on the ferry waiting there but ended up waiting for the next one. At least it was in the shade. Once on Gertrude and I sat on the second level inside. Bill went up to the top of the boat and was one of a few that stayed there because the wind was strong.
Once we got back, we got an Uber back to the hotel and relaxed. At around 7:30 we headed for a Thai restaurant about 5 minutes away and enjoyed some Pad Thai.
What a fun day it was! I really love this country! Cannot believe we are headed home tomorrow night! We have a late checkout at 2, so we will probably head out to the Sky Tower mid morning.
Today we slept in late (8). We were reading and relaxing and at about 11 we heard snare drums. Next we heard bag pipes! I looked out the window and 18 floors below on the street we saw a Saint Patrick’s Day parade!
At noon we ordered an Uber and he dropped us off at Mt Eden. Gertrude met us there and we walked up and back down Mt Eden. It was a pretty easy walk after some that we’ve accomplished.
Gertrude ordered an Uber and we went to the Art Gallery. We saw Māori artwork. Women have tattoos only on their mouth area but men on their entire face. We also saw an example of weaving.
From there we went to lunch at Amano. What a great farm to table meal we shared. The desserts were scrumptious!
After lunch we took a short walk to see where the ferry was to take our next adventure tomorrow. We ordered our Uber back to the hotel and chilled for a couple hours then took a walk around the neighborhood to check out the different styles of buildings. I found a sign for you here Paula (she’s my hairdresser) if you ever decide to live in NZ!
Another wonderful day in the books! Love you Gertrude!
What an awesome day. At 6:45 we headed out in our Uber to the bus station. At 7 Tony our driver drove up and stood by the bus checking Great Sites tickets for the Hobbiton & Waitomo Experience. Once on the bus it was a 2 1/2 hour narrated ride to Hobbiton.
We arrived at Hobbiton around 9:30. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Once again pictures do it justice.
What I didn’t take was a picture of the buffet lunch. They had something for everyone. We sat at a table with people from France, Canada and Arizona.
Back on the bus we headed to Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Known as one of New Zealand’s best natural attractions. We walked through the cave and the guide sang a Māori song in the cathedral section. Then we took a boat ride in total darkness through the glowworm grotto. It was like looking up at the stars on a clear night. We were only allowed to take pictures at the very end – none inside the cave.
Back on the bus we headed back to Auckland. What a fun day we had!
Today was a sleep in morning and a call from Cindy started it. We ordered an Uber around 10 and headed to Auckland Museum. We ordered a scone and croissant with our teas. We went on all three levels. Our People and Place, Our World and War and Remembrance. No pictures but a lot of information to absorb. What a nice coherent layout.
We Ubered back around 3. Our window looks right out on the Sky Tower. Today we saw people walking around the top tethered to the building and one bungee jumper!!!!
After relaxing we got another Uber and headed to meet Gertrude at the Thai restaurant Bangkok. We had a feast! We discussed where Bill and I will be going tomorrow and timing.
Another wonderful day! Only 4 more days left with our NZ daughter.
This morning we woke up at 7 and headed out for some scones and tea/coffee around 9 at a sweet cafe. We did a little shopping then got back to our hotel room to finish packing up and checked out at noon. We had them hold our luggage because we had somewhere to go before getting to the airport at 5!
With Gertrude joining us, we went to Hell’s Gate – where the center of the earth meets the sky. It is NZ most active geothermal reserve and mud spa. We started with a self guided geothermal walk! It was like being back in Yellowstone. Bubbling water, steam spouts, mud hills!
After our walk we headed to the cafe and each had fish and chips for lunch before heading for the mud spa. It was something I didn’t have any idea was on my bucket list. But that’s checked off now! The water was 96 degrees and the mud went on smooth and silky on your skin. You are only allowed to be in it for 20 minutes. Then you rinse off and can go into a spring water pool 10 degrees cooler or a sulphur pool which is also warm. I opted for the sulphur pool and Bill and Gertrude also went to the colder pool. After all that mud and sulfur, the showers indoors got you feeling really clean. Dressed and ready to leave we needed to hustle because we had to go back to the hotel and immediately to the airport for our last flight in NZ back to where we started in Auckland.
A short flight and Uber ride, we settled into our hotel for our final 5 days here! Cannot believe it! It went by so fast! Hungry we headed for the restaurant right off the lobby. Good vittles. Good day. Good night!
Today was a sleep in day! Once up and out we all went to Fat Dog for a scone and our coffees and teas. From there we walked to the bus stop to get to our next destination, Redwoods Treewalk. There was no zip lining, no free falling just a walk in the trees on a wooden hanging pathways sometimes stairs and walkways made out of metal. To guide you at night there are hanging lights, but so glad we did it during the day.
After our fun time in the Redwoods we headed back for lunch at CBK Craft Beer and Kitchen.
Fortified we headed to the Gardens and lakeside.
We headed back to the hotel and relaxed before walking to dinner at Atticus Finch. Out of his comfort zone, Bill had Chipotle & Maple rubbed Pumpkins . Roasted Red onions . Spinach . Cashew Crème . Tomato & lentil Ragu . Pumpkin Seed Salsa. Gertrude had a beet salad and also the Mac and cheese with broccolini as a side the same as I did. We talked about tomorrow’s plans and walked back to the hotel. Another day in the books.
Last night we packed our bags and set out clothes for this morning. First on our list today was go to Starbucks – first one we’ve seen here! I got my coffee mug saying New Zealand and we had banana bread and a coffee and tea right out on the walk way.
From there we walked to Te Papa Museum. Te Papa joined forces with Weta Workshop to create an exhibition like no other. This exhibition tells the story of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. The scale of the bodies were 3 to 1. That, plus knowing how they were made (we saw an example yesterday at Weta) and the story of each individual was just amazing!
The skies opened up while we were in the museum so we got an Uber back to the hotel and gathered our bags and headed down to check out. Another Uber arrived to take us to the airport. Gertrude met us there a little later and we enjoyed some lunch before boarding our flight to Rotarua. After we landed we had a taxi ride to the Pullman Hotel.
We settled in and at 5:30 met Gertrude downstairs for our Uber ride to Geothermal Valley, the village of: Te Whakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao. I kid you not. There we had a buffet from soup to desserts. After dinner we enjoyed a Māori cultural performance. The performers were very expressive in the song and chants. Everything was explained and very entertaining. After the performance we walked to the sulfur smelling valley with geysers. Some of the Māori were swimming in the pools but they were not the hot ones. The stones surrounding the area were warm to sit on.
After a very enjoyable evening we headed back on a bus that dropped us off at the front door of our hotel. We learned a lot today!
We started the day texting with Penny. She took a picture of Nate and her up in a tower in Maryland! ❤️❤️❤️
At 8:45 Gertrude picked us up and drove us to a Weta workshop tour. Hollywood of the South Pacific. No pictures could be taken during the tour until the end. But the outside and inside front room it was okay. What a fun tour. They created lots of costumes for actors, props, and swords. They worked on lots of movies including The Lord of the Rings and Avatar. A lovely woman was working on making creatures out of aluminum foil. I got the bird she made as an example at how easy it is to create things out of foil.
When the tour was over we headed to Maranui cafe and surf life club. The view was so pretty! I had a bagel with cream cheese and lox’s and a chai tea. Gertrude and Bill had a real breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage, avocado toast and coffees.
After brunch we were dropped off at Zealandia. 2 hours later our host picked us up once again.
A quick stop at her studio just to see where Gertrude lives. And again, great views!
Back in the car for one more tour stop before heading back to the hotel.
After a couple hours of relaxing we “dressed up” and headed out for a dinner at Logan Brown’s. Bill is having fun trying something new to eat each night. Tonight it was black pudding! We had such a lovely time – we never seem to run out of things to talk about!
Another full day done!
Nancy Lee Carlson