Saturday 5th February

Well we are one day nearer to Christmas!

We lost a day when we crossed the date line and because we are returning home via Hong Kong we will never catch it up again!

The flight from San Francisco to Auckland with Air New Zealand was great.  The seats in Premium were not as good as Virgin Atlantic but the food was incredible.  Champagne when we boarded.  Then a choice of wine and the red wine was not cold!  The food came on beautiful trays with tray cloths, beautiful crockery, proper napkins and metal cutlery.  A starter of five spiced chicken with cucumber spaghetti, daikon, papaya salsa and sesame ginger dressing. Yummy!  Main course was a choice of New Zealand lamb loin with shank ravioli, roast potatoes, ratatouille and sweet pea butter (Linda’s choice); Tomato, ginger and lemongrass braised cod with baby potatoes and cherry tomatoes; or Confit of duck leg with red coconut curry sauce, steamed basmati rice, bok choy and red pepper (Ian’s choice).  The lamb was cooked to perfection, still pink inside and so tender.  The duck was also beautifully cooked.  Dessert was a caramelised pineapple carrot cake with cinnamon mascarpone cream.  This was followed by a lovely plate of grapes, dried apricots, camembert cheese and crackers.  English airlines could learn a thing or two about catering.  Passengers were served their choice of main course after they had eaten their starter and not given to them all at the same time.

Not a particularly good night’s sleep for Linda, Ian fared a little better but we were still tired when the lights came on and breakfast was served.  A choice of Orange Juice or Strawberry Smoothie was followed by a lovely bowl of fresh fruit and yoghurt, then a choice of cereals, followed by a croissant and boisenberry jam or marmalade.  (Linda thought that the Air Steward said “poison berry”)  After that we were given a choice of three cheese and chive omelette with chicken coriander sausage and spiced tomato chutney or Belgian Waffles, strawberries, manuka honey apple syrup and freshly whipped banana cream.

After all that we probably shouldn’t eat again all day.

We came off the plane and were second at passport control, then very quickly through baggage collection and on to customs.  All went smoothly and Linda was not attacked by the fruit sniffing dog as she was in Toronto.

The AAT King Tour operator was surprised to see us through formalities so quickly.

Our bags were wheeled out to the concourse and we were picked up by a courtesy shuttle bus for the two of us to the hotel.  We were in the hotel just after 6am.  We hadn’t requested an early check in but the duty clerk found us a room and we were in bed by 6.30am.

Slept until 10.30am and then showered, dressed and all electrical items charged up before going out into Auckland at noon.  We had a stroll down to the water front and then we were off to the Sky Tower.

It is not as high as the Toronto Tower but it still affords a great view of the city.  There are over a million inhabitants of Auckland which is just over a quarter of the total number of inhabitants of New Zealand.  Once at the top many photos were taken, including some through kaleidoscopic lenses.  Then we went for coffee and sticky cake (well it would have been rude not to!). 

On the way down Linda videoed the workings of the lift through the glass floor!  Getting very brave.

We watched and photoed some brave folk throwing themselves off or taking a sky walk round the tower.

Leaving the Sky Tower we went back to the waterfront to take a photo of a giant rubber duck we had spotted from the tower!

Then back to the room to have a cup of tea, look at the photos and write the blog.

We are meeting with the tour rep at 6pm, then dinner and we are back to the Sky Tower to look at Auckland at night.  Apparently the Tower will be illuminated in red and gold lights to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The reception was just a drink and a little chat from the Rep.  No problems about extra bags so we can relax about our luggage.  While we were in the bar a couple came into dinner and we realised that it was Mervyn and Jeannie who we Square Dance with in Morecombe and Llandudno.  Small world!!

They were going into the restaurant for a farewell dinner with some of their fellow passengers but will be with us for the next two days in the Bay of Islands, travelling back to Auckland with us before flying home.

We went back to the hotel and went to a Chinese Restaurant in the tower and then watched the Chinese Lion dance and a demonstration of Chinese Drumming.

Then we went up the tower again to take pictures of Auckland by night.  Not many of the huge office blocks were lit up which is obviously good for the environment, perhaps England could learn a little form the New Zealanders. 

Back to the hotel and attempted to publish the blog!!!