Auckland, New Zealand – temperature is in the 70s and partly cloudy. We left soon after breakfast for our tour which took us to an Aquarium and an Antarctic exploration adventure. It was well worth the tour – all kinds of fish including shark, manta rays and lion fish. You went through the place in an under water glass tunnel. The Antarctic adventure included a snocat ride past their penguin sanctuary where they breed and raise penguins in as real an environment as they can create.
We then went to a museum that focused on local culture including the indigenous Maori people and culture who inhabited New Zealand before settlers from Europe arrived. They were a very developed culture but war like and protected themselves very well – better than the aborigines of Australia. As a result they worked to negotiate better rights and compensation from the government as well as having their culture preserved. One of the animals that is extinct in New Zealand is the Moa bird, that was 8 feet tall but couldn’t fly. The Maori apparently hunted them for food and decorations. I took a picture of one that was preserved in the museum.
After that we went to Mt. Eden the highest point on the North Island and finished up our tour going across the harbor bridge. Chris and I had lunch on the pier across from the ship, the sea food was the best we’ve had on the trip so far. Back on the ship we did laundry and went to dinner and had a new couple join us – Irene and Gustav – they live on Sydney and flew into Auckland for the 9 day journey back home. Dessert was an apple tart with a scoop of mocha ice cream.
The entertainment was the best so far – a classical guitarist who played with a percussionist and a bass player – he played a great variety of music including jazz, Spanish and popular arrangements. He’s only going to be on till Melbourne, but I’ll look forward to hearing him again.
Well on to Napier.
We then went to a museum that focused on local culture including the indigenous Maori people and culture who inhabited New Zealand before settlers from Europe arrived. They were a very developed culture but war like and protected themselves very well – better than the aborigines of Australia. As a result they worked to negotiate better rights and compensation from the government as well as having their culture preserved. One of the animals that is extinct in New Zealand is the Moa bird, that was 8 feet tall but couldn’t fly. The Maori apparently hunted them for food and decorations. I took a picture of one that was preserved in the museum.
After that we went to Mt. Eden the highest point on the North Island and finished up our tour going across the harbor bridge. Chris and I had lunch on the pier across from the ship, the sea food was the best we’ve had on the trip so far. Back on the ship we did laundry and went to dinner and had a new couple join us – Irene and Gustav – they live on Sydney and flew into Auckland for the 9 day journey back home. Dessert was an apple tart with a scoop of mocha ice cream.
The entertainment was the best so far – a classical guitarist who played with a percussionist and a bass player – he played a great variety of music including jazz, Spanish and popular arrangements. He’s only going to be on till Melbourne, but I’ll look forward to hearing him again.
Well on to Napier.
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