Auckland’s tag line is “City of Sails” and last Saturday every one of them was out on the water. We rode the ferry across the harbor to the commuter town of Devonport – a little Carmel, a little like the ferry commuter cities near Seattle. Better weather and prices, fewer crowds. Nice walking tour, including a stop on Mt. Victoria, from which R snapped this view of downtown.
Auckland is 8 minutes and a NZ$8.40 round-trip ticket away (discounts for commuters).
Mt Victoria is one of dozens of dormant volcanos in the region; the walking tour goes by some old lava flows exposed at low tide.
Any day that starts with a boat ride is bound to be good, and the ferry system is convenient and well organized. Some of R’s colleagues lived in Devonport for their first 6 months in NZ while they were looking for a house. Buying there is out of the question for a first home-buying couple, but not nearly as expensive as in the US for comparable water views.
Shops, galleries, restaurants, a delightful way to wander about on a Saturday. Green-lipped mussels at Devonport Central are worth the trouble, although we had better ones at a Belgian bistro in the fashion district the night before.
This family eventually launched the sailboat with the green cover, on the left. Auckland is in the background – people kayak across the shipping channel, often for the sunset.
Boats must be the theme for this week, because last night we went to see “Master and Commander.” Both of us are huge fans of the 20 book series, and Russell Crowe did not disappoint as the lead character. I don’t think Jack Aubrey ever landed in NZ in those 20 books, but he did make it to Australia.
First run movies take a while to get here – “Master & Commander” only opened on January 1. Not so with “The Return of the King” which premiered in Wellington and opened here last December. Great movie, and great to have been to some of the places near where it was filmed. You can take tours now that go to the sites, although most of the sets are gone. Not that much digital magic was required for the scenery in that film. The LOTR series has launched a digital effects industry in “Wellywood” – some of the FX for “Master and Commander” were done at Peter Jackson’s shop, Weta Workshop.
Time is feeling short and we are packing things as fast as we can. Not going to make it to the South Island again this trip, even though everything I hear about Nelson makes me want to buy a ticket for a day trip at least. We leave on Saturday for the Great Barrier Reef, where there will be boat trips everyday, if all goes as planned.
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Looks like you guys are having an awesome time!!!!
I got the package…thank you soooo much!!!
Click on my name if you want, I think I figured out the link thingie.
Miss you!
I forgot to mention…
I bought Danny a world map and put a little pin where you guys are.
You are being educational!
What a wonderful way to spend these months! Taking pictures and visiting all parts of the country. We recieved your post card and are very excited to have you back home, selfishly I must admit. Enjoy the moment and know we think of you often.
Love, Sharon