Auckland
is New Zealand's largest city and offers a wealth of stunning
tourist sites that capture the unique beauty of both natural
and urban landscapes. One of the city's most famous landmarks
is the Sky Tower, standing 328 meters high, where visitors can
enjoy panoramic views of the city's skyline. For the
adventurous, the tower offers a bungee jump! For nature
enthusiasts, the Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park,
hosts the stunning Auckland War Memorial and provides scenic
walking trails. Wilheke Island (which we visited prior to the
tour)nis a popular escape with its beautiful beaches,
vineyards, and charming art galleries. Rangitoto Island, an
iconic volcanic cone, offers an adventurous hike with
breathtaking views across the Haurake Gulf. Aukland's
waterfront area, Viaduct Harbor, is perfect for dining with a
view, featuring a wide array of restaurants, bars, and shops.
For "Culture Vultures" there is the Auckland Art Gallery. With
its blend of cultural attractions, vibrant neighborhoods, and
stunning natural beauty, Auckland provides an unforgettable
experience for every type of traveler.| Auckland
Views (Click to Enlarge) |
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| Sky Tower |
Auckland Domain |
Auckland War
Memorial Museum |
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| Wilheke Island | Rangitoto Island | Auckland Skyline |
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| Haurake Gulf | Auckland Art Gallery |
Viaduct Harbor |
Unfortunately time and weather conspired
against us in our attempts to sightsee. By the time we checked
in, it was early afternoon and the weather was blustery. Our
sightseeing was confined to the nearby Viaduct Harbor Area. It
included coffee shops, restaurants, marinas, and even a
museum. It was crowded, even on a blustery weekday.
The fable hotel was just several
blocks above the Viaduct Harbor Area. It is inconspicuous
from its modest street entrance, a small sign between the
shops on the street, but it was a truly fabulous hotel. On
the ground floor was a lobby and bar area, with dining
room seating behind them. The rooms were beautifully
appointed. As much as we were looking forward to the trip,
we would have enjoyed lingering a bit longer at the Fable
Hotel.
Another perk of being in
Auckland was the chance to catch up with former ISKL
colleague, Jeff Moorhead. Dale and Jeff shared adjoining
classrooms when they were both in Kuala Lumpur. Geoff is
always the person to talk to about hi-fi and wine. They
met at the Queens Rooftoop Bar and had a chance to catch
up, as well as an opportunity for Dale to get Geoff's
picks for New Zealand wine. After a late afternoon bit of
fellowship, Dale rejoined Tracy at the Fable for our
introductory dinner. 
Early evening we went to
the Fable's bar area to meet our tour guide, Emily, along
with the sixteen other guests who would be with us for the
next twelve day. Our group hailed from Australia, the US,
and the UK. We enjoyed drinks as Emily laid out the
schedule for the next day. After drinks, we had a communal
get-together just as we did on the Indian Pacific
trip. We enjoyed the first of many well prepared
meals, in this case a steak medium rare. After that it was
time to get some rest for our leave taking early the next
morning. 
