Auckland - Our final New Zealand stop

First day in the big city after dropping the van off, feel totally lost without her. Check in at our hotel which is very central (opposite the Sky Tower). We have a cup of tea and some lunch and then since it is a clear day head up the tower. What a view - amazing, take some snaps and then have a pleasant coffee in the restaurant watching the crazy bungy jumpers flying past the window !

We are collected in the evening by Byron's mate and go to Dalewool Brass Band for a rehearsal, they don't have a horn so By gets to play but I don't - not impressed at all, at least they have some beer afterwards. Some nice guys in the band - infact half the band is made up of poms, mainly from up north.

Second day was supposed to be the museum but feeling lazy so don't do a great deal. We went shopping for a few pressies, why are parents so hard to buy for ? (You might get something eventually Mum). Anyway, we're getting there the bags are getting fuller....in the evening we take the bus to The Domain (big park) to meet By's mate and his family. There is a dress rehearsal for a big concert in the park (think Proms in the Park)...so we watch the music and sip wine before heading home when it turns cold. I great evening, lots of people there but for the real gig tomorrow will be thousands and thousands.

Third day and we finally make the museum - it's huge and takes us over 4 hours to do all of it, plenty of hands on stuff plus some unpleasant creepy crawlies to look at. Learn a fair bit, getting a bit too cultured now I think with all these museums....then for the evening we take the ferry to Devonport on the North Shore and have a fantastic South American meal. Potter back on the ferry as the sun is setting behind the harbour bridge.

Today - been packing and then checking out. now killing time before the airport, so updating this and drinking Starbuck's etc. Off to Hawaii later on the last stages of our travels :-(