Auckland airport, heading to the Netherlands via Hong Kong.

At the airport now, waiting for the check-in desk to open.

We didn't have a great night. The motel room was so hot and there were no fans.  Also there was too much light coming through the thin curtains from either the night security lights or when daylight appeared.  We couldn't win!  Hope we can get some sleep on the flight.

Flying to Hong Kong from Auckland

Time to get moving.  The check-in desk is open!

Leisurely drive up to Auckland and waterfall pool swim

Today's route

With heavy hearts we took a slow drive to Auckland, visiting 3 waterfalls on the way.

One waterfall towards Port Waikato was nothing spectacular - blink and you could have missed it.  We stopped at the outskirts of Port Waikato and wandered around a public garden (Cobourne Garden Reserve).  The area had landscaped garden terraces which led from the road down to the waters edge.  It is a lovely place to relax and have a picnic.

Hunua Falls

From Port Waikato we made our way to Waitangi Falls.  It looked nice but the pool underneath it was quite small and there were already a few people there.  So, if we had joined in for a dip it would have been crowded.

The next waterfall (Hunua Falls) was situated in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park and had a big natural pool below.  The water looked tempting and being a hot day we took the opportunity to have a dip - no questions asked! The water was not too cold. Some young people were climbing the rocks near the waterfall and jumping in.  It was nice.

In the water - cool but very refreshing.

We arrived at Airport Manor Inn - a motel near the airport and checked in.  After that we took a drive to the airport to drop the car off.  Whilst there, Paul took the opportunity to see if he could get some help with online check-in but unfortunately there was no airline representative.  So we will wait until tomorrow and Paul can check in then - but we will see if we can have our seats together.

Getting back to the motel was a bit of an issue.  No taxi drivers were prepared to take us to the motel and advised us to catch the bus - but there was very little information about busses.  We decided to walk back to the motel even though it was quite a distance but just as we were heading out of the airport we flagged down a taxi.  The chap stopped and we explained our situation.  He admitted that he was not allowed to stop to pick up passengers - he could only do so from the designated zone; but on hearing our story - kindly broke the rules and gave us a lift.  Apparently the other drivers were reluctant to take us to our motel because the distance was considered short (but a half hour walk for us) and they wouldn't get much money if they did so.  When we were dropped off at the motel Paul gave the driver a tip - over and above the minimal fare shown on the meter.  We were grateful that he had given us a ride despite his working rules.

Unfortunately I don't know what has happened to the pictures from the Cobourne Garden Reserve or Waitangi Falls so this blog is lacking the usual pictures that I try to upload.

Tomorrow we fly to the Netherlands if all goes well.

Auckland, New Zealand - An extra day in Auckland

The dye doing its magic while I wait

Yesterday the Maasdam was supposed to have had a day of scenic cruising toward and around White Island before heading on to Auckland. With the bad weather forecast, the Captain decided it would be best to miss out on White Island and arrive in Auckland a day early - to be safe rather than sorry.

I had hoped for a bit of a lie-in in the morning but got a call at 8am to help Shore Excursions with brochure folding but it didn't matter.  It was nice to help out and make myself useful and more so because didn't want to go outside of the ship - it was pretty cold and miserable.

Paul's dyed head of hair - grape-colour

Last night we dinner with Barry (Piano Bar Entertainer) and Christina (from the shops).  We were all pretty full after the delicious meal.  Paul and I were going to relax for the rest of the evening but we decided to see Barry's last show at the piano bar.  It made for a lovely and lively evening.

Today it has been raining and pretty miserable outside.  The ship has been lashed to the pier with extra ropes.  Despite the rain, I joined Christina and Barry when they went out for coffee to Starbucks.  Barry had to then get back to get ready to leave the ship - heading on to his next assignment.  We wish him all the very best!

Christina's toes getting pampered

Just after lunch I was one of Bowen's guinea pigs for an acupuncture demonstration. Being a turn around day there were visitors arriving on board so it was nice for them to see what the spa area had to offer in the way of treatments and relaxation.  I nearly fell asleep during my acupuncture session.

Soon afterwards Paul and I went to the salon and our hair cut and dyed by Predrag.  Predrag did a good job and we had a good laugh throughout the session - seeing the hair changing colours from a purple paste to the end result.  Christina, in the meantime, treated herself to a pedicure and having her toenails polished.  I hope what visitors saw will draw in potential clients to the spa.

Paul and I had to pack - we are leaving the shop tomorrow.  After that Christina joined us for dinner in the cabin and we later watched a couple of episodes of  a t.v. programme 'Bizarre ER that Paul had taped onto a hard drive.

Heading to Tauranga

Time is marching on it's time to head to bed.  The Maasdam is starting her voyage to Australia with our next port being Tauranga tomorrow.  And tomorrow we will say farewell to the crew as Paul starts his holidays.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Time to wash the dye out

From iron grey to a different colour - all is being revealed!

Predrag giving my hair a trim

The end result but a day or two later

Auckland, New Zealand. Excursion: Wonderful Waiheke.

Views from a hill on Waiheke Island

The sun is out at last - it has made a wonderful change to the gloomy weather we have had over the past few days. 

After the Maasdam docked in Auckland it was good to set foot on terra firma again.  Being a partial turn-around day, almost half of the ship's guests said their goodbyes and headed for home.  Others who were staying on until Sydney either did a tour or went out to explore the town.

I met up with the excursion group I was assigned to and we headed out onto the pier.  We got stuck on the gangway, though, meeting up with the tail-end of the guests disembarking.  Some had their suitcases with them, others were going to meet up with their already offloaded suitcases.  We eventually managed to get past the crowd and passed by security who had brought their sniffer dog with them.  The young dog was a very eager chap, dutifully sniffing our bags and wagging his tail as we filtered slowly past.  I wondered if he would pass out on smelling my rucksack - I'm sure it stank of perspiration!  Nope, it passed the sniff test and the dog didn't pass out.  I wonder if any body was caught out for bringing food off the ship, but at least those with me were sensible.

Looking back towards Auckland whilst on the ferry to Waiheke

A tour guide met up with us and walked us around the docks to the ferry that was to take us to Waiheke Island.  I'm glad she took us there otherwise we would have no doubt got lost or caught the wrong ferry.  She left us at the entrance to the ferry and promised that someone would be waiting for us at the ferry terminal on Waiheke.  I was a bit nervous and hoped that would be the case.

View over Little Palm Beach/Nudie Beach

The guests disappeared amongst the crowds on the ferry.  Some went and sat out on the top open deck, catching a high speed breeze through their hair and having their faces realigned; others sat in the closed areas of the lower and middle decks.  Unfortunately I found myself sitting right under an air-conditioning unit.  There were no other seats available and I was just about frozen solid by the time we arrived at Waiheke.  I managed to doze for about 20 minutes during the half hour crossing, hugging my fleece jersey tightly.

Our lovely guide and driver, Kate, was very punctual and was waiting at the ferry terminal for us.  She made us feel welcome and her sunny personality soon had us under her spell.  Our tour consisted of a nice drive around the beautiful island with photographic stops now and then, including at a viewpoint over Little Palm Beach - also called 'nudie beach' - for the obvious reason.  There was a footpath down to the beach but there was no time to have a wander down.

Onetangi Beach

Trigg Hill - team building competition on segways

We stopped at Onetangi beach and had tea and scones at a cafe (called Charlie Farley) just across the road from the beach.  The scones were savoury with herbs in them with what looked like melted cheese on top.  They were huge but delicious, served with butter and jam.  I barely managed half a scone.  A few sparrows joined us, looking for a tiny morsel, and went for the crumbs that had dropped down near our feet.  One cheeky chap flew onto the table and helped himself to a few crumbs from a guest's empty plate.  The serving table on which the tea and scones had been placed became a magnate for sparrows and 2 starlings.  The remaining 2 scones on the plate had not been covered up and the starlings dug their beaks into the scones, grabbing a beak-full.  It was quite funny.  Eventually a waitress noticed something was up and shoo'd  the starlings away and covered the, by now, holey scones.  Fortunately nobody wanted any more scones!

Back on the minibus again, Kate took us up Trigg Hill for a photo stop.  There was the start-point of a zip line but we weren't booked to go on it, which was a pity.  Nearby was a group of people on segways.  It seemed to be a team-building day out and there was some form of competition going on using the segways - i.e. obstacle course, picking things up from the floor as the segways went past, etc.  It looked like people were having oodles of fun.

Stoneyridge Vineyard

Our next stop was the Stoneyridge Vineyard for a bit of wine tasting.  Kate dropped us off and left us in the capable hands of a young Frenchman who took us through the olive groves and cork trees on the property which overlooked the vineyards.  It was very pleasant listening to our young vineyard guide as we tasted some wines whilst under the cover of the trees.  We also had the opportunity to taste some olive oil with bread.  The olive oil production is a fairly new venture for Stoneyridge.  The olive trees had been on the property for quite some time to provide shade but another staff member, in recent times, suggested they harvest the olives to make olive oil.  There is a press on the island and no matter how small a crop of olives someone has, the processing plant will press the olives. 

Batch Winery - wine vats

After about 45 minutes, Kate rounded us up and we were soon on our way to Batch Winery, another boutique winery.  There we tasted some more wines and a winery staff member talked about the wine-making process and showed us the brewing vats.  Afterwards we were free to walk around the property which was situated on a hill.  The views were beautiful. 

It was soon time to head back to catch our ferry.  Kate dropped us off at the ferry terminal and we made our way onto the ferry for the crossing back to Auckland.  I spent a few minutes on the top deck but once the ferry got going, I got quite cold from the wind so I headed downstairs to the middle enclosed deck.  Fortunately I found a seat next to a window and basked in the sun, dozing off until the crew announced our impending arrival over the loudspeakers.

The Maasdam's route to Waitangi - our next destination

I made my way back to the ship but most guests headed into town for another hour or so before the 'all aboard' time for the Maasdam's departure.

It has been a very pleasant day overall.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Views from above Little Palm Beach 

  
 

Onetangi Beach

 

Trigg Hill - views and segways

 

 

Stoneyridge Vineyard

 

 Batch Winery