Landed In Auckland - Like Being At Home
I left Sydney after 4 and a half months of work and flew in Auckland, New Zealand. Coming into land I noticed just how green everything was compared to Australia, it reminded me very much of home.
I spent the first afternoon having a well earned power nap after getting up early in Sydney. I had checked into "The City Garden Lodge" just outside the centre of Auckland in one of the suburbs. I wasn't up for hanging out with the Kiwi-Experience crowd in the centre of Auckland. Where I am staying is pretty small and quiet, pretty much perfect for my short stop-over in Auckland.
After getting a good nights sleep I got up early to go sight seeing. One thing that concerned me reading the guidebook was that one of the highlights of Auckland was listed as "The Museum".
Auckland seemed unremarkable at best, Subway, McDonald's, Burger King, road works and drizzle. It felt very much like home. I wandered to the town hall which was pretty unimpressive and on to K'Road. K'Road according to the guide book was a seedy but trendy road and definitely a "must see". Walking down the street in question I wondered if I had actually made a wrong turning and had in fact walked the length of a different street. Aside from the odd strip joint and tattoo parlour K'Street was pretty tame and the complete opposite to what the guide book said, not worth a visit.
Disappointed by Auckland thus far I walked to the Sky Tower.
I think it would have been a better idea to venture up the tower first as it gives an idea of the area, including some volcano's scattered around Auckland.
After chilling out at the top of the Sky Tower (25 NZ Dollars for the viewing platform plus 3 NZ Dollars to go to the highest viewing platform) watching people throw themselves off, I decided to give the museum a go.
The museum was pretty impressive, well designed and well worth the recommended donation of 5 NZ Dollars. It gave me better understand of New Zealand as well as some unknown WW1 and WW2 information.
Auckland certainly hadn't blown me away, but then again I hadn't come all the way to New Zealand to look at cities. Hopefully the country's dramatic scenery will deliver.
