Auckland, Pre Cruise

Auckland, even though the world is in the mist of coronavirus, New Zealand at that point seemed to

Sky Tower from waterfront, Auckland

be business as usual. Kim and Laura had arranged for us to have 2 sets of 2 bedroom apartments in “downtown” Auckland (in fact, across the street from Sky Tower). We are now 4 couples with the addition of Betty and Greg from Clarendon Hills, IL.  The area where the apartments were located seemed a little sketchy (looked like old time Time Square with some XXX dance lounges, and dive food diners), but it turned out to be a good location.

So in the evening, we headed toward the wharf and marina where there were loads of restaurants. Plus the site of the 2021 American Cup Marina, where there was one of the winning catamarans from the 2017 American Cup race. Plus there were a few beautiful catamarans like the one below left at the marina. Kiwi’s love their sailing.

 

On Sunday March 8, before we boarded Azamara Journey on Monday, Kim and I spent the day exploring Auckland on the On and Off bus, but since it was NZ marathon day part of the route was

closed so we headed for the Auckland Museum where “there’s a wonderful Maori collection and a cultural show”. The cultural show was spectacular, and so were the Polynesian exhibits and history. A special exhibit on the two guides from Tahiti, who accompanied Captain Cook on his 1st voyage and were able to speak the language in the islands and in New Zealand. The war memorial section of the museum was amazing. And it seems in every town we visited there is a war memorial. After the museum, we spent part of the afternoon at a concert in the park. We finished the afternoon back on the bus taking in the sites we missed because of the marathon. In the evening it was back to the waterfront for a delicious meal. Auckland seems to be a very livable vibrant city.