The Norwegian Jewel, a sleek and modern
cruise ship, finally docked in the bustling port of Auckland, New Zealand. As
we disembarked, the city's vibrant energy was immediately apparent. The
waterfront was a hive of activity, with ferries, sailboats, and yachts bobbing
in the harbor. Auckland's eclectic mix of cultures and stunning natural beauty
was evident from the moment we stepped ashore
Norwegian
Jewel New Zealand Cruise First Port, Auckland
We had
two and a half days of blissful sea days before arriving at our first
destination, Auckland.
It’s
not Sydney. It’s not Rio. The approach by sea to the port of Auckland is
scenically unremarkable and the cruise terminal is a converted 1980s cargo
shed. The infrastructure, in fact, is so barely adequate that some modern
megaships are obliged to anchor offshore and bring passengers in by tender. All
of that said, the port of Auckland is located smack-dab in the middle of
downtown and it’s right next to road, rail and touring connections. There is
plenty to see: once a relative dullsville, Auckland has emerged in the past
decade as a vibrant Pacific city with visit-worthy cultural attractions and a
cosmopolitan dining scene that rivals those of Sydney or Melbourne. There are
also attractive destinations in the hinterland
Situated off Tamaki
Drive near Mission Bay, The Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park is set amongst
49 hectares of land with impressive panoramic views overlooking Waitemata
harbour and Rangitoto Island.
The tall obelisk,
sunken pool and landscaped gardens is a memorial to New Zealand's first Labour
Prime Minister (1872 - 1940) and also the founder of the Welfare State.
In 1860, 1879 and
1880 Ngati Whatua leaders Tuhaere and Te Kawau assembled many North Island
chiefs to the Kohimaramara Conference to establish a Maori Parliament. They
sought to redress on land issues and equality under the law. In the 1930's the
Maori sought remedy through Michael Savage, the serving Prime Minister of the
Labour Government. With Maori support Labour had entered Parliament for the
first time, beginning a long-standing relationship.
All
sightseeing considerations in Auckland are governed by; how long your ship is
in port, and the city’s diabolic traffic. If you are in town for a day or
overnight, keep your plans modest. If your stay is longer, consider a trip to
out-of-town destinations such as the Lord of the Rings’ Hobbiton Movie Set in
the Waikato region, or the Waitomo Caves. Both are a bit of a hike for a day
trip but doable.
The Auckland War
Memorial Museum Tāmaki
Paenga Hira (or simply the Auckland Museum is one of New Zealand's most
important museums and war
memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history (and especially
the history of the Auckland Region), natural history, and military history.
We
ended up picking the Auckland Sights and Leisure trip. After departing from the
pier we soon arrived at Bastion Point lookout, where we paused to admire the
sweeping view of Waltemata Harbour and Auckland in the distance. This vantage
point serves as an exceptional visual introduction to the city. We then
continued through the Auckland Domain, which consists of nearly 200 acres of
parkland in the heart of the city, which encompasses ponds, statuaries,
tropical glass houses, and a wide variety of tress.
Rich with
collections, the gallery shares New Zealanders’ experiences of WWI from
multiple perspectives, and presents the key events of the war through an
illustrated multimedia timeline, enhanced with objects and immersive
interactive experiences.
Pou Kanohi New Zealand at War
Auckland Museum
protects and cares for an outstanding and significant collection of Māori treasures (taonga).
Over 1000 taonga are
displayed in the main Māori
galleries, He Taonga Māori (Māori Court) and Te Ao Tūroa (Māori
Natural History Gallery) and many more are held in storage. These taonga are
the ancestral representations of all the major tribes of Aotearoa.
Nestled within this idyllic
retreat we found the Auckland Museum, which houses an impressive collection of
Marori and Pacific artifacts that include a carved meeting house and impressive
5 foot-long war canoe made of a single log.
A vibrant beachside
destination with a city rhythm, Takapuna encompasses the best of everything – a
relaxed beach atmosphere, designer shopping, a thriving hospitality scene with
a huge variety of cafés,restaurants and bars with simply stunning views out
across the Hauraki Gulf to the iconic Rangitoto Island.
Tip: Walk the historic
‘lava’ trail along the beach foreshore, paddle board or kayak at the beach or
choose to relax by Lake Pupuke, Auckland’s only fresh water lake. Stroll the
Sunday markets, take in a live show, enjoy the hospitality and stay close by.
Takapuna has it all, so come along and join us, you will be most welcome.
From
the museum we traveled to Aucklands North Shore Harbour Bridge, passing
beautiful Shoal Bay to Takapuna. Takapuna is home to a vibrant town center that
has definite beach vibe and offered around 300 retail outlets which we
explored. Takapuna also offers breathtaking and sweeping views of the Harauki
Gulf and the beautiful young volcanic Rangitoto Island. On the return to the
pier we viewed the America’s Cup Yachting Village, a tribute to Aucklands
sailing history.
For
the last half an hour of sunlight, we relaxed at the bar on deck 12 with a
couple of beverages in hand. The open deck at the back of the ship is the best
place to be to see the sunset.
Tip:Auckland, New
Zealand: New Zealand's most populous urban center is a proper maritime city,
with many yachts in the harbor. Visitors will find super museums and galleries,
great shopping and cuisine, and wonderful wines. Away from the city center,
tours head out to the wine-growing district, the glowworm caves or coastal
sites like the raucous Gannet colony at Muriwai.
Tip: You don't need
a visa: New Zealand has a visa waiver system, which means that people from a
long list of countries visiting for three months or less don't need a visa to
enter the country. Countries on the list include Australia, most European
nations and the United States, but if you're a British passport holder and can
prove your right to reside in the United Kingdom, you can stay up to six months.
Sure,
the sun may have set, but the show is not over with colourful displays cast
across the sky. The pink and orange hues on the water look absolutely stunning.
We have a hard time getting back inside when we have this beautiful sight
before us. But we were egger for the night time entertainment.
Check out our video out-an-about in Auckland:
Night
time entertainment was:
Rock
You Tonight
Rock
You Tonight brings together the high-energy Jewel Production Cast and the
rocking sound of the Norwegian Jewel Showband for a kick-out-the-stops tribute
to music icon like Carol King James Taylor, Queen, Journey and The Who.
Neil
Diamond Tribute with Spoke Two
Powerhouse
South African duo, Spoken Two, salute one of the greatest songwriters and solo
performers of the 20th century, Neil Diamond.
Battle
of the Sexes
We
joined cruise staff for this hilarious all-out battle of wisdom and utter
brilliance where ladies battled out with the gents.
70’s Disco
Party with Prism
Prism
serenades everyone with the timeless music of the era.
Tip: New Zealand is best
enjoyed during the peak summer months of December, January and February,
although the cruise season officially kicks off in early October, with most of
the major activity winding down toward the end of April. Between May and
September, only a handful of ships visit, with no activity at all in July, the
first month of winter.
Tony And Kim are Travelers, Adventurers, and Bloggers from Brisbane. Tony & Kim + Shari Outdoor Adventures has something for everyone to enjoy including what adventures you can have in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and Overseas. One thing’s for sure: once you start browsing our blog, you’ll be booking annual leave before you can say “bucket and spade”.
While we don’t identify ourselves as writers, We've always been travelers. From a young age, we both were given the opportunity to travel and spend countless hours on family road trips & vacations to what seemed, at the time, distant places.We got our first taste of traveling as a couple in Palm Cove, Queensland on our Honeymoon and learned about each others same passion.We are not writers, so why blog? It’s a commitment to ourselves that holds us accountable. It’s the home for our Adventure Stories. We want this blog to inspire you, to inform you and to add fuel to your Wanderlust. We hope you’ll join us on this adventure!
Exploring New Zealand on the P&O Pacific Explorer 2024 Embarking on our second cruise to New Zealand, this time aboard the Pacific Enc...
Blog Disclaimer
This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Tony&KimOutdoorAdventures with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
No comments:
Post a Comment