Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

After spending several days on our own (and not taking many photos!), we finished our trip in Auckland. We stayed with Anne Grassham's parents, Peter and Janet in a home that backs up to the bay, just across the bridge. At the end of their street you can catch the ferry to downtown Auckland, which is actually a popular way to avoid traffice and get to work. Auckland is not a large city by world standards, but it is by New Zealand standards. Quite cosmopolitan, it is full of tourists, especially since there were America's Cup activities going on when we were there. This is a view from One Tree Hill.

Views from the house. The photo on the left is a Rimu tree. It is used in homes for flooring, etc., and is a beautiful golden color. It is also the wood used in one of my souvenir spindles. All of these trees were planted by Peter in their 50 years of living perched on the cliff overlooking the bay.

Peter and Janet outside the house.

We did a few tourist things and this was one of them: Kelly Tarlton's Antartic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland. They are a research facility and one of the top tourist attractions in the country. Built in an old municiple waterworks, Kelly Tarlton's is completely underground. As you can see in the top photo, you are entirely surrounded by fish as you ride thru the tunnel/tank.    back dddddddd home page dddddddd next