I arrive into Auckland (North Island) around 2.30/3pm to sunny skies and a lovely warmth.

I am booked for dinner at the Sky Tower at 5pm, so a bit of a quick turnaround. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere which hosts a revolving restaurant with panoramic views. As I get into the taxi to go the short journey to the restaurant the skies open and the rain drops are huge and heavy. The taxi driver parks under a street umbrella and I make a dash for it!

A little about Auckland first, it was the capital from 1842 to 1865 when Wellington (in the South Island) took over, it has a population of around 1.55 million people which is approx a quarter of NZ’s population. It is built on approx 50 dormant volcanoes, it is between the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea, you can walk across the isthmus from one sea to the other in one hike, which is very unique.

City of Sails:- Due to its abundant harbours and high boat ownership, Auckland has earned this nickname-name and hosts the Worlds largest single day regatta.

Māori Name: Tamaki-Makau-rau, means “Tamaki of a hundred lovers,” O’er matron! Actually referencing its desirability as a settlement!

Māori Words: Kia ora – hello or thanks, haere ra – farewell, aroha – love/compassion/sympathy, Iwi – tribe, Marae – sacred communal meeting grounds, mana – prestige/power, whanau – family, Taonga – treasured possessions, Haka – ceremonial dance/challenge. These are the fundamental words for daily understanding of Māori culture and way of life.

Sky Tower Restaurant – I would recommend you go here for a meal if only for the views they are spectacular, mine was a bit grey, however, I am sure if the weather had of been clear and fine they would have been so much better, food was of a good quality and my service was excellent, by a lovely chap called Run.

I meet my travel companions at 3pm the next day and so I am up early, I am staying at The Oaks, a very central hotel, it was a short walk to Stop 1, Central Auckland, hop on hop off bus tour and I decide to get off at 2 stops due to my limited time – 2 quite different choices.

Stop 5, The Auckland War Memorial Museum; The Ground Floor is: Te Tapuae Nuku ie Our People & Place which covers stories of Auckland & Sharks; Level One is: Te Ao Turoa ie Our World; Volcanoes, Māori Natural History, Ancient Worlds & applied arts, Arts of Asia & decorative arts, Origins, Weird & Wonderful, Imaginarium & Learning Labs. Level Two is: War & Rememberence; which covers New Zealand at War, WWI and earlier, WW1 Hall of Memories, War Memorial Discovery Centre, Spitfire, Zero, WWII Hall of Memories & Mana: Protest in Print – I thoroughly enjoyed this museum as there was something for everyone depending on your interests, and so a highly recommend for me and it’s situation and views were stunning over Auckland.

Stop 13, Auckland Zoo; The Zoo is broken into 5 sections (i) Te Wao Nui – Aotearoa New Zealand broadly birds and reptiles native to NZ (ii) African Safari Track (iii) South East Asia Jungle Track (iv) Autstralia Bush Track (v) South America Rain Forest Track. I enjoyed the Zoo, however, it couldn’t and didn’t compare to the Torongo Zoo that I went to in Sydney with Andrea, missed your company Andrea!

Back on the bus and when I eventually got back to the hotel I had about 30 mins to spare, my room buddy had already arrived, I so hope whoever it is, is a good sleeper and that I not disturb them too much with my night time antics! I look forward to meeting my new travel companions – there will be 16 in total and 1 CEO so it should be interesting getting to know all the personalities.