Leaving a ship is always sad, but somehow it doesn’t seem too terrible this morning. We say our goodbyes to Cruise Director Robert, Hotel Director Marcus and Captain Redev, and simultaneously say hello to incoming Cruise Director Jan with whom we’ve sailed a few times before.
Then it’s just a matter of picking up our bags, leaving the terminal and heading to our hotel. As it’s only 1/4 mile, 400m we don’t flag a taxi and simply cross two roads to get to the Fable Auckland Mc Gallery, a lovely bijou hotel right on the central shopping street, Queen St.
We’re too early to get a room, so we drop our bags and go wandering, as we wait for our friends to meet us. The marina in Auckland is fascinating and huge, so we start making our way round checking out the mega yachts, traning vessels and various other craft.
Before long we turn back to Odyssey so Sue & Ross can stop off to collect us. It’s been six months since we last saw them so we have a lot to talk about, as we head across the harbour bridge and out to North Head. Here is one of the many small volcanoes that are littered around the region, this one particularly well placed for views back over the city in the distance and Devonport nearer by.
The Head is a former barracks and gun placement and there are buildings, tunnels and various gun batteries – there was a clever disappearing design at one stage, but they were replaced during WWI.
Afterwards we grab lunch in Devonport, and bump into some friends who are returning to Odyssey later.
Next we drive well out of the city towards the East, to visit the Tasman sea coast. Here is the site of a recent cyclone which pulled many houses off the cliff-side. The sand is rich in titanium and other ores and is mined commercially in some parts. Despite the furious cold wind, it is really hot to the touch.
Sue and Ross drop us back at the hotel to check in and then we head down to wave Odyssey off – now we’re sad to say goodbye.
For our last dinner we head up to the 52nd floor of the SkyTower, where a rotating restaurant offers spectacular views of the city. The food is not bad either although the service is spectacularly appalling!! Thank goodness the company is fabulous.
