Travel to: Auckland

Queenstown is such a beautiful place, isn’t it? There’s a certain perspective you get when you’re flying above it – not only do you appreciate the natural wonder of it, but you also you realize that its personality has become part of you. You never really leave Queenstown.

But I did. For a few days, anyway. In 2009, when I last visited New Zealand, we only passed through Auckland’s airport on our way to the South Island.  I had never properly explored the city, and with a handful of consecutive days to myself, it made sense to hop a quick flight and go. Wheeeeeee!

Auckland is often referred to as the City of Sails, and it doesn’t take long to understand why:

The marinas and piers are such a big part of the city’s daily life, and it’s gorgeous. I suppose that living on the water for the last 11 years indicates a certain affinity for coastal cities, but I was surprised by how lovely Auckland’s water-heart is. Even though the weather was a little rainy, it would be hard not to fall at least a little bit in love with the symbiosis between city and water.

Auckland’s Sky Tower is also a dominant feature. You literally can go nowhere in the city without seeing this concrete-monster towering over you. The views from the observation deck are stunning:

Again, the weather wasn’t totally cooperative, but you do get a sense of how sprawling the city is. On a good day, you can apparently see for 80km in every direction! And if you can spot the vertical wires in a couple of those snapshots, that’s the SkyJump – you can jump off of the building (!!) while connected to those two vertical wires (so, moderately safer?) and land 220 meters on the ground below. Not for me, thanks, but we did see a couple of jumpers. This was the bravest thing I could muster while up on the deck:

Despite the multiple signs reassuring me that the glass is as strong as the concrete I was standing on, I couldn’t get myself to walk across it. I could barely take this picture without hyperventilating!

Back on solid ground, the Auckland Museum was a fascinating way to spend a few hours.

Doubling as the Auckland War Memorial, the exhibits here cover the city’s Maori roots, Polynesian weaponry, natural habitats and native creatures, the birth of New Zealand and its earthquake foundation, and some pretty moving remembrances from World Wars 1 and 2. The grounds themselves are pretty striking as well, and you get a real sense of the kiwi personality by spending time here. And, of course, you can spot the Sky Tower from all the way out here:

There is an unusual art museum in the city as well. Photos were forbidden, unfortunately, and there was a special exhibit that occupied a big portion of the space. But I did sneak a pic of this installation:

Pretty cool, huh? I probably should have noted the artist, too, but hey – at least I got the art.

I found that I could wander the city without much difficulty or planning, and there was plenty to see. Maybe I was being a good tourist? Or maybe the city is just that unique and interesting that everything seemed quaint and photo-worthy. I was lucky enough to stay in a hotel near the University, which has its own personality and higlights.

I think my approach this time was different than it has been in other cities. Probably because I know that I’ll be back in Auckland soon enough, I didn’t keep the usual frantic pace of sightseeing that I normally do. I feel like I have a good sense of the city now, but I know that there’s more to learn. And I have plenty of time to explore.

Bye for now!

And welcome back to Queestown. (Kudos to the pilots who navigate between the mountains to land us safely every time. It’s freakishly close.)