That could almost be the name of a song, couldn’t it? We arrived at Sydney Airport mid morning, and went through security, that was certainly an eye opener. Both of us were directed to the body scanner, stand there and hold our arms up. Nope, that wasn’t right, and a female guard was called in to pat me down – oh dear. The trouble seemed to be the passport and money I had in a holder around my neck, that had to be removed, put through the bag scan, and I went through the body scanner one more time. Robin was getting the once over as well. And all the while people are looking on, wondering what these people had been getting up to! After waiting, and waiting at the correct terminal gate, we were finally boarded. Oh look, Air NZ knows our names!
Refreshing hot towels arrived, followed by a glass of bubbly, gotta love this service! The meal was served, and very nice it was too – it was a much shorter trip this time, just under 3 hours. Hopping aboard the Sky Bus we drove through the rain as it got progressively darker, luckily the driver told us when to get off, as we didn’t really know where we were in the dark. Booked in at reception, where we were upgraded from a Queen to a King room, thanks very much. It was a bit of a wrestling match to peel those extra tight airline socks off, and then we could relax.
Our room for the next few nights
I was a bit foxed by these plugs by the desk, and plaintively told Robin there was nowhere to plug my lap top into. But I was wrong, seems that these strange things were universal power connectors, my 3 pin plug had to be turned upside down, and then it would fit. How was I meant to know that?
What do I do here?
Up to the 13th floor we went the next morning for breakfast, and what a lovely view. The rain had eased and the weather was clearing.
View from the 13th floor
The breakfast buffet was amazing, so much choice, and all beautifully presented. Robin was in Honey Heaven when he found this delightful honey comb – liquid honey was ready and waiting to be poured into a dinky little dish and spread on his breakfast toast!
Honey Heaven
What shall we do in the big city, we wondered. So we went to Britomart Station, which was only a short walk away. There we organised a tap on, tap off AT Hop Card, and we were good to go. The cost to Kiwis was $10.00 for the card, $1 to load on it, and for Seniors, all our travel would be free after 9.00am, trains, buses and most ferries. Pretty good value, don’t you think.
Britomart Station
So we took a train ride to Sylvia Park, just because we had never been there before, had a look around, then stayed for lunch. Like all malls, it was a very busy place. Robin remembers when the Post Office Stores were at Sylvia Park many years ago, and not much else.
Sylvia Park
The next morning we took the ferry across to Devonport, using our cards. This was just a short trip across the harbour, about 10-15 minutes.
The ferry to Devonport
Devonport is a historic seaside village, with interesting Victorian architecture. Maori settlement is believed to date back to the mid 14th century, the time of the great ocean going canoes in which Polynesians migrated to New Zealand. The suburb of Devonport was settled in the 1840s by European merchants and was originally called Flagstaff, because of the flagstaff raised on nearby Mt Victoria.
Village of Devonport
After a wander around, and a coffee in a very attractive wharf side café, it was time to board the ferry back to the Auckland. Auckland is also known as the City of Sails because of the numerous yacht marinas and sailboats anchoring offshore.
Heading back to the big city
Once back on land we passed a huge hole in the ground near by Britomart Station. Work is being done on the Auckland City Rail Link (CRL), a 3.4 km double-track underground rail line running beneath the central business district from Britomart to the Western (North Auckland) Line near the existing Mount Eden Station, with two underground stations in the CBD. With several years to completion, it may well be up and running by the next time we are back in Auckland.
Auckland City Rail Link
What better way to celebrate our last night in Auckland with a live show. We had tickets to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical School of Rock at the beautiful Civic Theatre.
Civic Theatre Queen Street
This tells the story of Dewey Finn, a washed up former band member who poses as a teacher at a prestigious prep school purely to earn some money for his long overdue rent. The only teaching he is interested in is rock music, and he turns a class of straight-A pupils into a mind-blowing rock band. Their aim is to qualify for Battle of the Bands. The children in the show are amazing, singing, dancing and playing their own instruments like professional rock musicians. Well worth seeing if this show comes to a town near you.
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