Lower levels:
Mums pre-amble
Auckland
Glow Worms
North Central
Wellington
Bay of Islands
The remainder

Navigation:

Pam writes:

We Hire a car and head for the city of Auckland.   Jason zooms in on the Skyline Hotel, like a small city in itself.  The porter takes us up to the room – it looks seedy and pongs terribly – phones desk , its a mistake, it has not been cleaned after the last occupant.  Sent to another room, this one is still occupied – Jason and I are convulsed.  Finally get a nice, double aspect, room.  Reservations in the Skyline Restaurant get us free entry to the observation deck.  Great views but too many Japs taking exactly the same picture. 

Restaurant wonderful.  It is still light as we have our pre dinner drinks.  Boats all around the city in countless marinas, then the light fades and the city lights up.  Dinner up to scratch and very cheap.  The best bit is the restaurant itself which revolves full circle about every half an hour.

Next day we get an Auckland Explorer bus ticket but don’t use it much because we board a boat going to the island of Rangitoto and spend most of the day there.  I manage to climb to the very top of the peak.   The peak is reached by  steps and landings in wooden decking so although it is steep it is not difficult.  I let the others pound their way up and take my time, pretending – actually enjoying - the view from each landing.  I arrive at the top fairly fresh, some of the others are gasping and grey – pride wouldn’t let them pause on the way up.  Sometimes it is okay being older.   Back down to go round the island on a little train, complete with running commentary. 

Back at the Skyline we had intended to go out to dinner but it rains and we can’t be bothered so we decide to try another eatery in this great ocean liner of a hotel.  It is called Equilibrium or something and quite oriental in style, it had a limited menu but we were quite happy to try it.  We ordered and the restaurant got busier.  There were some exotic wafers and breads in a basket on the table so we weren’t ravenous but the food was taking its time, when a waiter appeared with some delightful seafood morsels “compliments of the chef”  because he was so busy.  Not long after, Jason and I shared our first course of Sushi, Sashimi and Nori rolls etc.  This was the first time I had tried these dishes in a proper restaurant and really nice it was too.  We shared a bottle of wine and chatted.

The next course too was a little tardy but the waiter pops up again and “compliments of the chef” serves up a small toffee cup filled with rose petal ice cream.  How delightful, we rather hoped he would “get busier”.  The remainder of the meal was very good and we retired, very pleased with the evening.

Navigation: