Auckland New Zealand Day 2

Today was turn around day on the ship.  We had an early morning tour and when we went out to the bus there was all the luggage piled for the people leaving to come and collect.  It is such a sad sight we were thrilled it wasn’t our time to Say Goodbye yet!  Although I can’t believe that we have started our 3^rd segment already.  We have traveled so far from Miami to Auckland 10,629 Nautical Miles or 12,224 land miles.  I really wish I was getting mileage for this

Our tour today was West Wilderness Eco Experience.  We traveled to the Arataki Center the gateway to the Waitakere Range Mountain.  The views were breathtaking of the landscape extending from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean.  We were suppose to go to the beach first but it looked like rain so instead we headed first to the waterfall.  It was a ½ hour walk in and up the mountain and then ½ hour back down.  What a difference a year makes.  I not only did this I kept up with almost everyone. 2 people were in a rush and passed me but we beat them down!  When we returned to the bottom our guides had out cookies and juice for us.  Hey we hadn’t eaten in at least 2 hours HA HA.

We then headed to wild and rugged black sand beach where the signs says

Strong Currents, Large Waves, Unstable Cliffs.  There is a lifeguard and you must swim between the flags.  Not much room.  We were talking to him and he had to go tell some of the surfers to come in.

It was a great tour but a much tougher work out then I get with LeeAnne my personal trainer.  I was ready for a nap.  Not to be though we came back on board and had our lunch and then Bill decided we should walk the other way than we did yesterday so out we went for another walk.  I have burned up calories I haven’t even eaten yet!  Came back and showered and got ready for dinner.  We had some time so we played a few backgammon games.  I am ahead and it is driving him crazy.  Another great day in beautiful Auckland.  If I was to move out of the US this is where I would want to go.  New Zealand is so pretty and the people are super friendly.  We will be here 1 more day and then we head to Tauranga for an overnight and the 1^st of 2 shoreside events for full world cruisers.  Hobbiton the original movie set for The Hobbit movies and Lord of the Rings.  I am ashamed to say I have never seen these movies or read the books.  I know my brother loved the Hobbit and he would be anxious to hear all about it.

We will be in New Zealand for almost a week.  After Auckland we go to Tauranga, then Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.  We have been to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch before the others are all new ports as was Bay of Islands. So looking forward to each and every one of these ports. 

Tomorrow will be our last day in Auckland we are headed to the Sky Tower (where you can bungee jump) we will go up and see the view thank you very much and then try to update and sync our IPADS with ICloud.  If not there is always Melbourne where they have a huge Apple Store!!!!

As we travel the world I am reminded of what Crystal plays every time we leave a port.  Louis Armstrong singing “It’s a Wonderful World” and it truly is and we are truly blessed to be able to see these places that when I was growing up and reading about I never in my wildest dreams thought I would  one day be traveling the world and seeing these places for myself!

This was 1/2 hour up the mountain but I did it!

Stump of a tree

Lifeguard telling surfers to get in closer  water very rough