Auckland, New Zealand – Feb 10

Auckland, New Zealand – Feb 10

We had a very laid-back day here. We’ve been here 4 times and decided to check out Devonport which is on the North side of Auckland. It’s faster to take a ferry than to go by vehicle. If interested in our past visits, here are the photo links. Of course, there are blog entries on my blogs 1 & 2 for all repeat ports. I know some people like to use my info to decide what they want to do and perhaps even use the same guides. 

2013 https://photos.app.goo.gl/tZmmZU4QNx6nqbTaA

2017 https://photos.app.goo.gl/zxkM1Vb34M8CjzB2A

         https://photos.app.goo.gl/JJdbKLsF2yjoPfTN6

2019 https://photos.app.goo.gl/za8piPhSRC4iUvWw8

We didn't rush off the ship today but still got off early. It's a short walk to the ferry terminal and we were on our way to Devonport. If you can; find a seat on the back of the boat to watch the Auckland skyline views. We had a beautiful day, so the views were nice. The Coral Princess & Island Princess are sister ships, and both were in port today.

Ferry Terminal

After we docked at the Devonport Wharf, we walked along the waterfront on King Edward Parade, walking beside the Devonport Beach. Many lovely homes overlooking the water. The elegant Edwardian hotel, the Esplanade (1901) is an outstanding landmark as you enter city center or head to the shore path. The Esplanade Hotel is modelled after the United Kingdom, Bristol Esplanade Hotel.

Esplanade Hotel

Opposite the Esplanade Hotel is the Windsor Reserve dominated by a majestic Moreton Bay fig tree. 

Common Myna

On the left two identical and linked villa style buildings Elizabeth House, built 1911 will come into view. The Navy originally used these as accommodation for the Women’s Royal NZ Naval Service. In 1944, the Ventnor Private Hotel was taken over under wartime legislation by the RNZN and made into the Accommodation for the WRNZNS based in Auckland working at HMNZS Philomel. 

Elizabeth House & Wren Accomodation

Devonport Yacht Club was founded in 1905

Clock Tower

The Tainui Memorial was erected in 1959 and is the memorial of the Tainui canoe of the great Maori migration about 1350. Maori visited and settled in the Devonport area in the mid 14th century, approximately three centuries before the Europeans. Devonport was seen as an ideal location for settlement due to the surrounding water of the Waitemata and Manukau Harbour, which was used both for fishing and as an access point for waka (Maori canoe).

Tainui Memorial 

White-fronted Tern

Now a park, North Head features the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum whose focus is the Royal New Zealand Navy, remaining military barracks and replica artillery. 

There are sweeping views of the harbor, ferry traffic, boats and Auckland city skyline. Opposite the Naval Museum is Bastion Point and the hills of Auckland. 

We continued our route toward North Head, an old military base. Formerly known as Fort Cautley, the New Zealand army and navy occupied the hill from the 1870’s until 1996 to protect Auckland from a harbor attack.

Eastern Rosella

views along the hike

The biggest North Head attraction is the "Disappearing Gun", housed in the side of the hill and built to recoil below ground level after being fired. 

Disappearing Gun North Battery

on top of Mt Victoria from our trail

After our two hikes we stopped at the Naval Museum Café where we had a fudgy gooey brownie and some diet Cokes. 

We then headed back along the water to get to the main streets for lunch and a wander. 

We decided on a place and got a couple of pies. I got the steak & cheese and Greg got the chicken & mushroom. Both were quite yummy.

lunch

chicken & mushroom pie

steak & cheese pie

we at their barrels

We continued our wander down Victoria & High Streets.

Feeling refreshed after lunch we then did the hike up to Mount Victoria for some phenomenal views across the Auckland North Shore and the Hauraki Gulf, as well as epic views of the Auckland city skyline. There are also remnants of the Kawerau tribe fortifications.

signal house with tall antenna mast for shipping navigation

The mushrooms look like they are waiting for fairies or gnomes, but really are vents for a water-pumping station beneath the surface of the mountain.

taking a break

not any wind, but he's trying to fly a kite

Fort Victoria - 1885 - Disappearing Gun North Head

Song Thrush

walking back down

After that we went in search of gelato taking in the rest of Victoria Street and tried Yaza which was quite good. I got the chocolate and one that was snickers. Greg got chocolate and orange. Both were very true to flavor.

Chocolate & Snickers

Moreton Bay fig tree

library cat statue

We walked back to the shore and walked in the other direction until we came to the Navy base where it came to an end.

Devonport Naval Base

We walked back to the street behind the main street and picked up some chocolates at Devonport Chocolates.

Devonport Chocolates

kitchen

chocolates for sale

We walked back to the ferry terminal for the short ride back to city center. 

in the ferry terminal

We jumped on the next ferry back to Auckland city and since we have wandered the local area many times we got back on the ship. We had planned to eat at the buffet, but the dinner menu looked good, we spiffed up and ate there. Another couple joined us, and they said they had been at that table 3 times. We said it was our regular table and it must have been when we were at a specialty restaurant or the buffet. They acted like we were crazy and continued to tell us all about the staff. They knew everything about everything and no one else at the table knew anything. Another couple joined and we tried to strike up a conversation with them. They were from Canada and as soon as the "know it all couple" found out they were near Niagara Falls the conversation was stopped so they could tell a story about a little-known park they went to there all the time. So, never did get to talk to that couple. (and didn’t care to talk to the know-it-alls) They knew our old tablemate and continued to tell us that he couldn’t have been our tablemate since he has been at the same table since day 5. Uh, no. No matter, you gotta just laugh it off.

 Before going to dinner, I emailed my group to make sure everyone knew the meet time. At dinner it sounded like an announcement was going to come on, but one never came. Before going to the show which was a Johnny Cash tribute, I checked emails and Heather asked with our shortened port time maybe the guide could have a boxed lunch we could eat in the vehicle, but I was probably on top of it.

Well, I heard no such announcement, so I was thankful for her email. We went down to the desk and asked about the new port times. The guy said there was no change in the schedule. We said we heard there was, and he repeated there was no change and if there was of course there would have been an announcement. We said someone said they heard an announcement and could he go check with someone else. He did and confirmed that instead of our 6:15a to 7:45p port time, it was now 8:15 to 5:00. Yikes! 

Tauranga is one of the ports that the ToursByLocals guides wigged out on me and canceled the tour causing me to scramble and find another guide. John at Kiwi Dundee Home - Kiwi Dundee came to my rescue and said we could do both Hobbiton and Te Puia as long as we could meet him at 7:15 SHARP. With our early get in time, it seemed quite doable. 

So, I emailed to let him know of the change and asked what we could salvage of our day in Tauranga. Between emails to him and the tour-mates it was comical. We went to the early show and tried to work it from there. We decided to scrap it and left before it started to come back and finish emails. Greg went down just to hear what the cruise director said about the change. Our sister ship the Coral Princess was also in port and they got our early slot and we got bumped later. The earlier get back on was due to the typhoon and we were going to cut and run. My friends are all well-traveled and easy going and understand “ship happens” so that made me feel much better and knew they would all go with the flow. Believe me, I do appreciate having such wonderful friends to travel with.

Greg went down about 4 times to see if Cole had something different to say, but not really. We decided to catch the late show and went down and got seats. Too amped and hoping to hear back from our guide, we left the show again and never saw it. 

It was well past the time I wanted to be in bed, but with no word from the guide, we went to bed hoping to hear back from the guide in the morning. The group agreed to meet around 7:45 in case we got off early and to line up to be first off when the ship did clear.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

For larger photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4LBsmLYHmvG1xPCN7