After a great week on the North Island with Kelly, I'm on my own on the South Island...well kinda...I met two Americans on the flight from MEL to CHC and have been their best buddy since ;) Upon my return to Christchurch, Katy, Ryan and I hired a car for two days and used it to travel to Akaroa, Lyttleton and Arthur's Pass National Park.
After recovering from a fantastic New Year's Eve celebration, our first stop...Mt Eden, Auckland's highest natural point, for a birds-eye view of Auckland. I saw the Sky Tower, One Tree Hill (no not the television show) and Rangitoto. Look Mom!!! I'm on top of a volcano!!!From Mt. Eden we moved on to the Sky Tower for another birds-eye view, but from 328-meters in the sky! Views of TVNZ, the Harbour Bridge, the marina, Rangitoto and Eden Park were all stunning!My last and most favourite part of touring Auckland...the Auckland Harbour Cruise! As we left the harbour, I saw this really impressive building and was waiting for the guide to tell me...then I realized it was a hotel?? Really?? But really!! The Hilton is quite grand and with it's two wings perfectly set aside the Sky Tower, makes for a wonderful harbour picture. We cruised along harbour and saw other sights, such as the shipping cranes, the Harbour Bridge (actually cruised right under it), naval ships, the Maritime Museum, Devonport, Mt Victoria, North Head and of course my favourite "The Big Baby", Rangitoto!! Rangitoto is the youngest of the islands in the Hauraki Gulf, popping up about 700 years ago. The island's ground was like black rock/slate...you'll have to look at the photos to see what I'm trying to describe.Last sight but not least...Devonport/Mt Victoria. Just across the harbour and another view, but from a different perspective. The climb up was definitely worth the spectacular view and the silly selfies of Kelly and I!To end this spectacular day, Kelly treated me to a true Kiwi style dinner...Fish&Chips! With a bottle of L&P and Jelly-tip ice cream!!
