DAY 14 – AUKLAND
We decided to spend the day on the hop-on, hop-off city tour. With spring in full swing, the route had been expanded to take in even more of Auckland’s landmarks—museums, parks, waterfront neighborhoods, and of course the most recognizable tower on the skyline. We’ve done these tours in a number of cities, and they’ve become our favorite way to get a feel for the main attractions, with the option to jump off and explore whenever something catches your eye.
After breakfast downstairs in the hotel, we gathered our things and walked to Stop 2, near the Sky Tower. A small group had already formed, and before long our guide appeared to lead us across the street to where our bus would arrive. The route carried us past the elegant civic buildings downtown, the Auckland War Memorial Museum anchored in the middle of sprawling Auckland Domain, leafy university streets, the harborfront with its busy ferry terminal, and the charming older neighborhoods perched on the city’s hills. We decided to stay aboard for the entire loop, letting the city unfold in front of us rather than hopping off.
By the time we completed the circuit, my phone battery was nearly gone, so we made a quick return to the hotel. Once recharged, we ventured out in search of a liquor store to take advantage of our private balcony for a quiet afternoon drink. Predictably, GPS had its own ideas and sent us the long way around, but the detour turned out to be a blessing—Stephen managed to get both a beard trim and a haircut on the same block where we finally found the liquor store.
Dinner was simple: we ate at the hotel restaurant and called it an early night. Our tour tickets were valid until noon the next day, so we agreed we might hop back on to reach a particular stop or neighborhood. That flexibility is one of the real joys of traveling with good companions—plans can stay loose, and the best moments often arrive unplanned.
NEW ZEALAND TOUR DAY 15
Anthony's Travel Adventures 