So yesterday I touched down in Auckland, New Zealand after a pretty short flight from Sydney. I spent my last few days in Sydney relaxing, having a wonder around and meeting a friend I used to work with who is living in Sydney. We walked up from Manly Beach to a great lookout of the city. Well worth the trek! I also discovered a Paddle Pop ice lolly. So good! This was my first flight with Air New Zealand. They were quite good actually. Not as good as Singapore airlines or Virgin but I didn't really expect that. Upon arriving in Auckland, I took a bus to the city centre. On the way I saw what New Zealand was about. Hills and mountains. Lots of them. The scenery here is beautiful. Auckland is a city but with hilly landscapes, sea and islands surrounding it, making it slightly unique I guess. I hopped off the bus and found my hostel almost straight away. It was at this point I noticed it to be very quiet... Maybe it's just this street I thought...
So my hostel messed up my room. But, they upgraded me to a 4 bed dorm instead of the 8 I booked. Even better, I was by myself last night and had the room to myself. Ensuite too! Not bad for £15 a night! I got myself sorted and went for a wander. I walked down Queen's street, which is one of the main roads in the city center. Being a sunday night, everything was obviously shut... But what surprised me, was that it was dead. I mean, there was almost no one walking about... A handful of cars were on the roads. It was like a ghost town! Not what I was expecting at all! It was very quiet and tranquil. Such a change from my previous destinations. I walked to the Viaduct and had a pizza from a pretty decent Italian restaurant. Although they were playing Andre Rieu on the TV whilst I was eating. I thought I'd left that guy behind at HMV. Clearly not :(
This morning I got up and out quickly, and headed straight to the ferry terminal to go to Devonport. It takes about 10 minutes on the ferry. Devonport is a small town/village away from Auckland. It doesn't have huge attractions but I really loved the feel of the place. It was very pretty and again, was quiet and peaceful. I trekked up Mount Victoria which used to hold a huge canon during the war. The views were breathtaking. Pictures won't do justice to what I saw, honestly. I'm so glad I climbed the hill and didn't leave it like I was going to, because I was feeling lazy! I looked across the a huge mountainous island and was almost a little sad I wouldn't have time to go and visit. I could see residential towns for miles and miles, all with green scenery surrounding them. It was rare to look out and see an area which was just concrete and buildings. Everywhere had hills, mountains, grass, trees right by it. Then this afternoon, I parted $75 to go Jet Boating by the Auckland bridge. I wasn't sure if it would be worth the money, but I took the gamble. Oh my god. It was incredible and one of the most exciting, adrenaline fueled things I have ever done! Anyone who knows me well, knows I like that sort of thing! It was worth every single penny! I also managed to get hold of a coupon meaning I got 2 free pictures :)
Firstly, you put on a poncho which is more like a dress. It was nearly touching the ground. At first I was thinking this must be XXXXL size or something. I later realised just how soaked you get. You get a pair of sunglasses to wear. Again, I thought that was strange. I have my own, why are they insisting I wear these... You empty your pockets and they store your bags away. Unfortunately cameras and phone's were not aloud on the boat. They attach a life jacket to you and explain the safety procedures incase the boat capsizes. Filling me with confidence. Whilst queueing a man said he heard a man had recently broken his back on a jet boat with a different company. I was wondering what the hell this thing was going to do?! Were we doing jumps or something?! They sat us down in our seats, telling us the back is the more extreme place to sit. So I sat there. Well, the 2nd from back row... The driver told us to whack out seat beats on, before joking they're weren't any. He then briefed us on what his hand movements would mean. A circular motion would mean 'Spin' and a point forward would mean braking hard and then putting the boat in reverse gear making an almighty splash. I can't remember the name for that trick. Yes, that's right they were doing tricks on the boat. I never realised this would happen but I was suddenly even more excited. We headed out at a fairly quick pace and the driver stopped the boat. He said he had just left the slow zone and now we could pick up pace! We zoomed off and seriously, it was so so fun. He did the tricks and I got absolutely soaked! Not, log flume at a theme park soaked... I mean dripping! Thank god for the poncho cape. We must have been doing about 50mph on the water. I can't describe how exhilarating it was. I loved every second. This was more adrenaline than any roller coaster I have ever been on.. And god do I love roller coasters! The 'spin' trick meant exactly that. He would spin the steering wheel and the boat would fly round 360c with water going everywhere! I won't ever forget how good it was. I collected my free picture at the end of me standing by the boat and then headed off. To buy a towel. No, seriously I left mine in Australia.
Without barking on too much. I love Auckland. I can't even put my finger on why I do exactly, but I do. Possibly more than Sydney. I'm starting to think New Zealand has so so much to offer. The islands and places around here look amazing. I wish I could have had the time and money to go and see them. It's somewhere I have to come back. Auckland is a strange city. For me, it looks a little dated in it's architecture in places, which I like. It's old fashioned but still a modern city. It was a bit busier today, but nothing compared to London/Sydney or Hong Kong (which hosts all 7 billion people in the world it seems like...). It's like the place is too vast for itself. So strange. The roads are so quiet. Again, they are built wide and long to hold masses of traffic, but there is hardly any cars on the road! Also, it is so so quiet considering it is a city. I have never been somewhere so vast, but so peaceful. There is no trouble here. No kids hanging about. No wonder it is the safest place in the world officially. Even more so than Singapore. Not what I was expecting whatsoever, but it's a good surprise. The local people are lovely and I have to say, nicer and friendlier than the Australians I met. I know I said they were all happy and positive, but that was almost annoying sometimes. Upon walking into a shop, the guy said Hello, how you doing instantly. I said I was Ok, but a little wet from jet boating. He said he wondered why I looked so wet. 'I thought, is it raining or does that guy sweat like a beast' was his words. I laughed and he told me to let him know if he could help. Whilst waiting for the jet boat, an old lady waiting for her normal ferry said: 'Don't let me get on the wrong ferry love. I'll have a bloody heart attack on that thing' (pointing to the jet boat!) The people have a sense of humour out here, clearly!
I have fallen in love with it here within a day. This is like no other city I have ever been too. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but for me it is totally unique. I don't want to leave New Zealand wednesday. There is clearly so much to see.
p.s I couldn't upload all the photos I wanted due to poor internet. More to follow!
