Ya know, everybody always RAVES about how wonderful New Zealand is, so since we were in the area I thought I'd try to arrange for our trip back to the US to go through New Zealand. This wasn't a big problem, but it landed us in Auckland since international flights back to the US leave from there. That's fine and all, but the REALLY pretty part as everyone now says, is the SOUTH island, not the NORTH one where Auckland is located. Well, it was still darned pretty and gave us a place to rest before getting on a plane for a really long time again, so here's Auckland and surrounding areas. Sections - Waiheke Wineries | Wineries and FERNS! | Auckland Museum IMG_8795 Leaving the Auckland Downtown Ferry Terminal for Devonport, a nearby picturesque suburb IMG_8800 IMG_8801 Auckland Sky Tower IMG_8804 Sail NZ takes people out on America's Cup class vessels, such as this NZL-40 which started life as FRA-40/Challenge France but never raced IMG_8812 Lovely seaside views from Devonport, only a 12 minute ferry ride from Auckland IMG_8815 Old military defenses, we didn't walk all the way over there since by this time Daniel's feet had enough (he made the classic mistake of buying new shoes while on a walking-intensive trip) IMG_8821 IMG_8824 Very fancy/stylish houses IMG_8825 IMG_8829 A funny fountain closer to the ferry/town center IMG_8838 Back to Auckland, time to walk some more now to Albert Park IMG_8841 Clocktower of a nearby university I believe IMG_8846 IMG_8848 Pigeons in the park enjoying worms/etc from recently disturbed soil IMG_8852 IMG_8856 I didn't try it, but after trips to Brazil anything with the word Gateau makes me think it must be good IMG_8870_pano The Auckland Sky Tower seems much less exciting/more commercial especially when it's next to a big casino IMG_8878 IMG_8879 Dunno what this stands for, but it is pleasant IMG_8883 Again departing by ferry - this time for a tour of Waiheke Island IMG_8893 IMG_8896 The island is home to 8,000 residents including New Zealand's richest man (I bet the richest woman lives somewhere else) and the ferry shuttles more than 1 million people to the island each year (not unique people I'd guess). It is a nice high speed ferry that can really get going (we were on the top of the ferry but went inside since it was too windy with a combination of wind and mostly how fast the boat was going). IMG_8898 The Mer (sea) is that way...vines at a Stonyridge Winery IMG_8903 IMG_8904 New Zealand and Waiheke are well known for good olive oil - here is an electronic rake used in the harvesting process which was ongoing while we were visiting IMG_8912 Horses nearby IMG_8916 IMG_8919 Next stop was where those olives are pressed, at Rangihoua Estate - here is their fancy olive pressing machine from Italy IMG_8920 IMG_8923 There is olive oil coming out of the tap IMG_8925 Straining the oil, it has won several key awards including the gold medal several times at the LA County Fair IMG_8930 Pretty lilly pads in a nearby pond IMG_8933 IMG_8936 Best of Class 2008 award for EVOO at LA International Competition IMG_8937 How appropriate that the New Zealand Olive Oil Association's president's name is Pitts IMG_8939 Olives on the tree IMG_8941 A laundry line in the background of an olive tree IMG_8942 Daniel plays with harvested olives IMG_8943 Some dandelion-like plant IMG_8946 There's an airfield (with no fuel) on the island called the Waiheke Aerodrome, plus paintball down the road! Sections - Waiheke Wineries | Wineries and FERNS! | Auckland Museum Return to Features