Auckland, New Zealand...Part 1

After a long trip we have arrived in Auckland, New Zealand which is our first stop of this trip. We flew from Toronto to Hong Kong, 15 hours and then on to Auckland which was another 10 hours. We thought we would be jet lagged but have managed very well considering the flight and the time difference of 18 hours. 

Hong Kong airport is very clean and orderly...

Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand and is the largest in the country with a population of approximately 1.5million, though it doesn’t feel like a big city to us. 

Lots of expensive shops along Queen Street, the main thoroughfare...

And many public squares and places for people to gather...

We are staying for a week in the very Center of the city in a small apartment which allows us great access to all the city has to offer....

This is our building...

The architecture of the city is quite modern with a few older buildings and there is lots of construction especially downtown where they are building a new train system...

The skyline is dominated by the Sky Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere...

The defining feature of Auckland is the ocean as it is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate bodies of water. On one side of the isthmus is the Pacific Ocean and on the other side is the Tasman Sea.

It is also a cruise ship port.

There is a large ferry terminal right in the Center of the city with ferries coming and going constantly...

Looking back to the Ferry building which was built in 1909...

One of our first days here we took a ferry to Devonport, a suburb of the city and only a 10 minute ferry ride away. It is a quaint little village and a nice day trip...

Lots of restored buildings...

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We hiked up Mount Victoria which is a dormant volcano for a good workout and great views...

On the way up looking over the gulf back to Auckland...

At the top with views to the other side...

A better view of Auckland...

Devonport also has beautiful homes and gardens...

Another walk along the sea wall revealed lovely, sandy beaches...

A penny for your thoughts...

A little girl playing in the sand...



A great place to sit and enjoy the day...

Speaking about the day, we are loving the temperatures here which are in the low to mid 20s with warm evenings. It is the beginning of summer and everywhere we go people are out enjoying nature. We have already noticed the many walking tracks, hiking trails and beautiful parks all over the city...

The Auckland War Museum sits atop the Auckland Domain which is the largest park in the city and walking to it goes straight uphill! 

That day my Fitbit showed 20,000 steps as we walked from the harbour through the Domain right to the top of Mount Eden and back down again! 

Lots of steps!

Mount Eden also sits atop a volcano cone and is the highest point in Auckland...

Our photo taken by a German tourist who was very particular about the shot.

Views all around and such a green city...

Of course there were stops for brunch on the way up...

And beer on the way down...

Another nice area in Auckland is the Viaduct, a former commercial area on the waterfront that is now home to upscale developments, again a great walking area...

Live in your condo and park your boat outside...

Lots of restaurants...

Checking out what time to come back for Happy Hour! 

Lots of seafood here... this is trevallay, a local New Zealand species...

We are planning to come back to this area for a nice meal before we leave Auckland, still so much to see and do with day trips planned to some of the islands and the Northland. We are already feeling the relaxed vibe of New Zealand and are looking forward to our six weeks here.