Day 5: January 5, SYD-AKL

It was not much of a day for photos or adventure experiences, as most of the hours were taken with travel from Newcastle to Auckland.  Will was kind enough to taxi me to Sydney airport from his home 2 hours north, and it was rush hour and pouring rain, so we both had a bit of anxiety about getting to there on time!  In the end it worked out fine (as it most often does), and while I navigated the crowds at the international terminal, poor Will had a 2 hour drive back!  (Thank you Will!)

The airport was jammed with people — either the beginning or end of holidays for families from around the globe all headed to seemingly exotic places like Bali, and Singapore and Los Angeles.  The flight itself benefited from good tailwinds, so the flight over “the ditch” (Tasman Sea to non-Aussies), was quick and uneventful. There’s a two hour time difference so I lost a couple of hours, but I’m fairly tired, so don’t think I will suffer any sleeplessness.

I’m staying at a hotel right at the Sky Center, which is the tall needle looking edifice that’s been an icon of Auckland since it opened in 1997, originally as a casino for Harrah’s.  It is the tallest man made structure in the Southern Hemisphere at 1,076 feet and there’s an observation deck at the top permitting vistas as far as 50 miles away.  I hope to have time to go up tomorrow.  I found an interesting place for dinner nearby — sorta like a food court I guess, but much nicer.  A common room with different restaurants all serving — order and pay at whichever type of food interests you — Japanese, Crepes, Mexican, Indian, Italian — give them a table number and your meal appears. I then walked around a bit and found a bungy jump chair right along a main road.  Can’t imagine wanting to bungy along Victoria Street, but then again I can’t imagine wanting to bungy jump anywhere!

A walk down to Albert Park brought me close to the university and the Clock Tower there.  The park itself had the most amazing and enormous trees — some were ginkgo I think — couldn’t identify others.  And of course a statue of Queen Victoria. I felt right at home as a rat crossed my path on my way out!

Everyday is an adventure, some big, some small.