Auckland
Fri 9th Jan
I had plenty of time to get to the airport. I heard that Palace provided free breakfast, so I went to the main house and helped myself to cereal, toast and coffee. I checked out by 10:00.
I wandered slowly and lingered over a chai. I made my way to the café opposite the bus hub and had another chai. I caught the 4W bus to the airport; it took a bit longer than I expected because it went through residential areas.
Small airport, but lots of planes criss crossing NZ. Checking in was very quick…no security or metal detectors because just a small domestic flight. The incoming flight was delayed so we were over 30 minutes late leaving on the 1 hour 25 minute flight.
Apart from 1 extinct volcano, there was nothing to see until we reached the Auckland Bay area. I collected my rucksack off the belt and went out to the bus/taxi rank. I knew roughly where to go as Mel in Nelson had explained the layout.
I waited about 25 minutes for the City bus.
I paid my 20nzd; we left the airport at 17:10 for Sky City; about half an hour to cover the 17kms.
From the bus stop/stand I walked around the corner to Attic backpackers but they only accepted online bookings. A bit further down the road was Choice backpackers who were the same, but there was a machine in reception to enable me to ‘ book online ‘.
I paid the 90nzd ( £40 ) for a room with a bunk bed, but I had the room to myself. The bathroom facilities were shared. As it was getting ‘late’ I walked up the road to Father Ted’s …the Irish pub…for a couple of pints !!
Earlier I had found a supermarket and bought some salami and doritos to snack on in my room. So, quite a long day, but action packed.
Sat 10th Jan.
I went downstairs around 09:15 to book another night but was told the place was fully booked. So, back upstairs to pack and vacate. Just 10 minutes away was Frienz backpackers, but they only offered dorm rooms. I had a chai just around the corner.
Then I started over 2 hours of searching for a bed for the night. Gamma Htl, nice location but full. Jo&Joe had dorms only. I arrived back at Frienz and settled for the 4th floor top bunk 6 bed dorm.
Nearby is Albert Park on a little hill, where I relaxed in the sun. Back to Frienze for a shower. I went to Woolworths to get some provisions for the evening…packet of ham slices, a packet of chicken noodles, bottle of red wine.
I went just up the road to Fiddler Pub and had 2 happy hour pints at 10Nzd each…4.50Gbp. Downstairs was freezing with the a/c, but there was a balcony upstairs overlooking the street and nice warmth from the sun. There were lots of very loud Maoris around; there was a concert in town that evening by a well known Maori artist.
Back at Frieze I boiled up two packets of noodles to have with my slices of ham. I found some herbs/spices to put on my noodles. Whilst eating I got talking to Ian. We ended up going to Father Ted’s for a pint.
Very strange, half way through his pint he went outside for a smoke, but he never returned. After 20+ minutes I went to look for him but he was nowhere to be seen. I asked the bar lady to keep his drink behind the bar in case he returned.
I went back to the hostel to sip on some wine, then went up to my room. I got organised with ear plugs and eyes mask, then settled down for the night.
Sun 11th Jan
Actually I had a good sleep; the bed was comfortable enough. Only that I don’t like the bunk set up…especially the top bunk. I had a cold shower; I was told it had been fixed. I paid for another night.
I found some coffee packets in the kitchen. Ian apologised for disappearing suddenly, apparently he is prone to doing that. I went to look for the bus stand/station, but for something that should’ve been easy…I failed.
I hand washed my ‘new’ blue shirt and took it to Albert Park to dry in the hot sun while I sunbathed. And back to the hostel for a shower; there was some warmth to the water this time.
I saw Ian in reception, and after a quick chat he accompanied me to Choices where I paid in advance for Mon & Tues night in a single room. Cost 150Nzd or 68Gbp…34Gbp per night…happy with that.
We then went to Fiddlers where I bought him a drink and we sat upstairs on the balcony.
We just had one beer because we wanted to go on to Father Ted’s. Then Ian behaved strangely again. I suggested he wait outside Woolworths while I bought sausages and wine for dinner. When I came out he was nowhere to be seen. I waited a bit then went to the pub thinking he would show his face. Well, I never saw him again…weird.
I cooked half a dozen sausages, of which I ate 4. Plus just one packet of noodles. Enjoyed a good chat with French/Americans before going up to my dorm bed.
Mon 12th Jan
I definitely made the right decision to move out. From about 4am the guy in the bottom bunk had the loudest snore ever. Luckily I’d already had a good 5 hours sleep. That was the only down side to the room…oh, and being in the top bunk. I collected my bits and at 08:00 I sneaked out and packed in the communal area; I didn’t want to cause a disturbance. !!!
I ate 2 more sausages with a coffee. I chatted with Phil. I checked out at 09:45 and went to Sierra for a chai. I lingered and updated my blog. I walked the short distance to Choice, confirmed I would be staying, showed my ID , and put my rucksack in a luggage storage room.
My right flip flop broke, so I tied a thick string around it an went walkabout to look for a replacement. I tried everywhere for over an hour until a guy at Foot Locker said to try Wharehouse. That’s the same shop in Wanaka where I bought the current pair and it was just around the corner.
They were down to one pair of men’s in my size, or alternatively a ladies equivalent. They cost 7Nzd which was fine. I sat on a bench in the street to unravel the string and throw the old flip-flops away.
I went to Woolworths for dinner sausages and a bottle of wine. At Fiddlers I used their toilet to fill my little plastic water bottle with wine then had a pint. I wasn’t sure how strict the Choice rules were in terms of taking in alcohol.
I went to Father Ted’s for one, then to Choice to cook my sausages and noodles. I had an initial problem working the electric cooker. I drank half a bottle of wine in the reception area then went up to my room. Lots of walking around on what was a cloudy/overcast day.
Tues 13th Jan.
I had a much better night’s sleep, but the room was really cold; I wonder if they have the a/c on. The shower was really good. I sat on a sofa in the sun on my 8th floor. I needed warming up.
I replied to Sally-Anne’s (Ashdown Court) request to call her. It was about cutting ties with our current Management co. and creating our own set up to carry out tasks around the flats. I agreed to join the group.
Right around 10:00, before going for my chai I thought I’d phone Tom, but he beat me to it. He came to pick me up around 10:30 and we went off in the direction of Mission Bay and St Heliers Beach. We stopped at Kohi café and sat on a bench outside in the sun and had a good chat.
Next we drove back through the city, over the bridge and north to meet Tom’s son Henry. We went to Mairangi and we sat facing the ocean until Henry arrived with a beer for each of us.
Tom drove us a little further up the coast to Browns Bay. We went into a restaurant on the beachfront road where for over an hour we enjoyed dark beers and a very tasty pizza. It’s been a long time since I ate any pizza.
We dropped Henry off at his car then drove over the bridge and back into the city. I was dropped off near the waterfront and only had to walk straight up Albert Road to the area I’m getting to know quite well.
I made it just in time for happy hour at Fiddlers for one beer. I called in on Woolworths for a wine; I had everything else I needed for dinner.
Then en route to the hostel I stopped at Father Ted’s for one… Zac from Frienz was passing by and joined me for a drink, and we had a good chat. Back at Choice I included a spare onion with my dish of noodles and sausages.
I took a cup down to the reception area to drink a half bottle of wine. Then it was up to my room to munch on doritos, play on my phone, and go to sleep. A nice day weather wise…slightly cloudy.
Wed 14th Jan
A good night’s sleep. I could hear the guy next door snoring in the early hours; it shows how thin the walls are. I went to Sierra after 10:00 for my chai and to speak to Phil.
Then back to Choice to wash my blue shirt and take it to Albert Park to dry in the sun a little bit. I was only there for 30 mins before it clouded over, but the shirt was mainly dry.
I showered then went a few metres away to Remedy coffee for another chai. An aimless walkabout after that…I drew out 100Nzd from an ATM in case up north it’s more difficult to use a card.
I ended up having another chai somewhere. Then I went to Woolworths and bought some chicken breast..for a change..to have with a small packet of Vietnamese noodles.
As it neared 4pm I arrived at Father Ted’s. I ordered my pint and bang on 4pm Zak arrived. A pleasant hour and a half spent chatting over 2.5 pints. Good 70s & 80s music was being played.
Back to Choice and to the kitchen to cook my chicken. The sauce packet for the noodles and the soy sauce I added to the chicken, made for a very tasty dinner. I arranged where to meet Tom to get my lift to Whangaroa. I noticed that in the lift it says top 3 floors private rooms, so there are quite a few of them. Good place to come again; but the rooms are surprisingly cold in the morning.