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Auckland, Devonport, Sky Tower
We set off for town this morning minded to take one of the explorer/sightseeing bus trips, but instead ended up persuaded by a different fish: a package comprising a return ferry ticket to the North Shore with a local (minibus) tour when we got there - with splendid views across the Hauraki back to the CBD. The inner harbour ferry is fast and efficient, taking a shade over ten minutes to cross, but somehow I feel much more satisfied - we've seen and done a bit more of greater Auckland than we would have!
Devonport has a very distinct history, being the home of a Naval post - in amidst the practically incessant chatter of the commentary there were some nuggets. Since the Harbour Bridge opened in 1959 it is "only" 25 or 30km by road from downtown, but given what motorway traffic is like it's easy to see that the ferry remains attractive for linking the North Shore peninsula with anywhere reachable from the Britomart transport exchange (err, so that's limited, given how widely the place sprawls). Apropos of nothing much else, we saw a strange tree there.
After the tour we went to the viewing decks on the Sky Tower - the tallest building south of the equator at over 1000'. Many photos were taken. The tower also offers a base jump and an outside walk; I had been considering doing the skywalk, but you're not allowed cameras or other loose articles, and I don't seem to have contracted the Kiwi thrill-seeking bug (yet???) so I decided not to. There's always a next time...
C just went to bed and I shall soon... Can't help wondering whether we've overdone it a bit today, but we didn't really think that we were pushing it at the time. Some recalibration may be required. Tomorrow we pick up the hire car, and may well do that bus tour by way of taking it easy. It's been pretty humid today and looks the same tomorrow though - hope it's air-conditioned...
We set off for town this morning minded to take one of the explorer/sightseeing bus trips, but instead ended up persuaded by a different fish: a package comprising a return ferry ticket to the North Shore with a local (minibus) tour when we got there - with splendid views across the Hauraki back to the CBD. The inner harbour ferry is fast and efficient, taking a shade over ten minutes to cross, but somehow I feel much more satisfied - we've seen and done a bit more of greater Auckland than we would have!
Devonport has a very distinct history, being the home of a Naval post - in amidst the practically incessant chatter of the commentary there were some nuggets. Since the Harbour Bridge opened in 1959 it is "only" 25 or 30km by road from downtown, but given what motorway traffic is like it's easy to see that the ferry remains attractive for linking the North Shore peninsula with anywhere reachable from the Britomart transport exchange (err, so that's limited, given how widely the place sprawls). Apropos of nothing much else, we saw a strange tree there.
After the tour we went to the viewing decks on the Sky Tower - the tallest building south of the equator at over 1000'. Many photos were taken. The tower also offers a base jump and an outside walk; I had been considering doing the skywalk, but you're not allowed cameras or other loose articles, and I don't seem to have contracted the Kiwi thrill-seeking bug (yet???) so I decided not to. There's always a next time...
C just went to bed and I shall soon... Can't help wondering whether we've overdone it a bit today, but we didn't really think that we were pushing it at the time. Some recalibration may be required. Tomorrow we pick up the hire car, and may well do that bus tour by way of taking it easy. It's been pretty humid today and looks the same tomorrow though - hope it's air-conditioned...