Author: Chris BJ

As mentioned in my first post, our cruise on the Bay of Island as cancelled (to the surprise of no one except our stupid guide and driver and driver who were assuring people the cruise was going ahead, even when the weather on the bay looked like this:

Continue reading “When cyclones attack, trains, lions, etc [photos]”

We’re in Wellington, last day of the pretty uninspiring North Island (with a few exceptions) and of the noisy, boring driver (yay!). I have no interest in the city and so have opted to skip the city tour to give myself an entirely free day in peace and quiet.

But here are some photos of Auckland from our two separate visits there: Continue reading “Auckland photos”

I’m typing this in the tiny town of Paihia which is still being lashed by cyclone Lusi. The rainfall here hasn’t been torrential by Brisbane standards but the wind is pretty nasty, whipping up waves which are crashing over the seafront. We are supposed to be leaving on an overnight cruise this afternoon, god help us. This is the weather here:

Auckland was pretty ordinary. We were right on the harbour in a hotel I would not choose for us, and would not recommend. But the harbour is pretty, particularly in the sun, at sunset and in the dawn. We did a bay cruise and had a (diappointingly brief) visit at the volcanic island of Rangitoto. It was a perfect day for it and it’s probably the best Auckland ever looks. It’s not particularly charming though.

We had two nights in Auckland, and on the third day, departed north (too early!) for the Bay of Islands, on the way, stopping at the Kauri Museum for lunch and Whangerei (pronounced Fongarye) for icecream, and the Waitangi Treaty grounds here in Paihia before going to the much much nicer Scenic hotel in time for the cyclone.

On the way we drove through dull countryside which was a monument to poor land management and horrendous clearing of the once magnificent kauri forest, all the while being tortured by inane, sexist, “humorous” commentary from our driver and occasionally the tour leader. Honestly, I craved silence by lunchtime so we skipped the museum talk just to get away from them. Lunch was homecooking and lovely so I felt better in the afternoon, but am still sick of these guys after one day 🙁

The treaty grounds were the first real taste of NZ scenery and wild life, so I hope things improve from now on. Unfortunately we have another day in Auckland tomorrow staying in the same lousy hotel before we head to Rotorua.

I’m waiting to have fun. The cyclone has been the best entertainment so fair, other than the lovely Maori lady at the treaty grounds who sang us a love song a capella (beautiful) and gave us an insight in the history and beliefs of the Maorid here in New Zealand.

Hopefully a more cheerful post next time 🙂

ETA: Cruise Cancelled. Still blowing a gale here. Tour leader acting very disconcerted by the fact a cyclone the entire country has known about for two days, actually happened. Back at Scenic hotel but in less nice room 🙁 Organisation of this tour not the best. Oy.