Auckland, New Zealand (Day 1)
Today is Monday, January 29th. We arrived early this morning in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city with a population of about 1,570,000 (out of a total national population of 4,750,000). There are 232 different ethnicities represented in Auckland. The city covers an area that is both urban and rural. Today is Anniversary Day here, a public holiday celebrating the anniversary of the arrival of William Hobson, later the first British Governor of New Zealand, in the Bay of Islands in 1840.
When we opened the curtains this morning, we saw this skyline as tugs were maneuvering the ship to its docking position in the port. The downtown area is adjacent to the port itself, making it easily accessible and very convenient.
After breakfast we headed out by bus on an excursion titled "Kiwi Countryside." After a quick spin around the harbor area, we traveled west to the countryside. The city is sprawling and housing extends in all directions for miles. Our first stop was Haumoana Farm, a 200-acre farm with rolling hills featuring gardens, cattle, sheep and deer. The owners of the farm host catering events and garden visits. Here are illustrative photos. (Most of today's photos were taken by Janis.)
From there we drove to Muriwai Beach and adjacent Otakamiro Point, an absolutely gorgeous area. In addition to tourists, there were lots of New Zealanders there who were enjoying this holiday at the beach. One of the things this location is noted for is the presence of a colony of Gannets, large Australian coastal seabirds. These photos represent the wildlife and activities in the area.
As we drove back into the city proper, its dramatic skyline came into view.
As quiet as the port area was when we began our excursion early this morning, by the time we returned it was teeming with people who were clearly enjoining a festive holiday portside.
While I walked around the area and did a few errands, Janis went to the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the largest art institution in New Zealand. It houses a broad collection of art, with a particular emphasis on the cultural heritage and history of New Zealand. Take a look.
Tonight, on the pool deck, we were treated to an authentic Maori cultural folkloric show by a group called Te Puawai. Here are some shots of the show.
Tomorrow we do another excursion, this one titled "New Zealand's City of Sails," following which we will do something on our own for the afternoon. At 5:30 we will sailaway towards Tauranga (Rotorua), 154 nautical miles south.
When we opened the curtains this morning, we saw this skyline as tugs were maneuvering the ship to its docking position in the port. The downtown area is adjacent to the port itself, making it easily accessible and very convenient.
After breakfast we headed out by bus on an excursion titled "Kiwi Countryside." After a quick spin around the harbor area, we traveled west to the countryside. The city is sprawling and housing extends in all directions for miles. Our first stop was Haumoana Farm, a 200-acre farm with rolling hills featuring gardens, cattle, sheep and deer. The owners of the farm host catering events and garden visits. Here are illustrative photos. (Most of today's photos were taken by Janis.)
From there we drove to Muriwai Beach and adjacent Otakamiro Point, an absolutely gorgeous area. In addition to tourists, there were lots of New Zealanders there who were enjoying this holiday at the beach. One of the things this location is noted for is the presence of a colony of Gannets, large Australian coastal seabirds. These photos represent the wildlife and activities in the area.
As we drove back into the city proper, its dramatic skyline came into view.
As quiet as the port area was when we began our excursion early this morning, by the time we returned it was teeming with people who were clearly enjoining a festive holiday portside.
While I walked around the area and did a few errands, Janis went to the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the largest art institution in New Zealand. It houses a broad collection of art, with a particular emphasis on the cultural heritage and history of New Zealand. Take a look.
Tonight, on the pool deck, we were treated to an authentic Maori cultural folkloric show by a group called Te Puawai. Here are some shots of the show.
Tomorrow we do another excursion, this one titled "New Zealand's City of Sails," following which we will do something on our own for the afternoon. At 5:30 we will sailaway towards Tauranga (Rotorua), 154 nautical miles south.
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