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Kia Ora from New Zealand! In lazy, British fashion, it's the only Mauri word I've learnt so far, so don't be too impressed. I've only been here a few days and I'm already realising the majesty of this country's natural environment. Auckland city region is covering in 2 things - boats (known as the 'City of Sails', Auckland has more boats per population head than any other city in the world) and volcanoes. Stretching out to sea are little volcanic clumps everywhere. Naturally, I felt I had to climb a couple, both on Devonport, a quaint little island north of Auckland Bay. Up top, I got an awesome view of the harbour, surround islands and the Auckland skyline, which looks similar to Toronto's - being on the coast and having its own version of the CN Tower. On descending back down, I treated myself to some traditional New Zealand cuisine to take away, and ate my fish and chips watching the sunset over the harbour.

Kia Ora from Kiwi-land

Simon Wadsworth
2006-09-04 18:46:06

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Kia Ora from New Zealand! In lazy, British fashion, it's the only Mauri word I've learnt so far, so don't be too impressed. I've only been here a few days and I'm already realising the majesty of this country's natural environment. Auckland city region is covering in 2 things - boats (known as the 'City of Sails', Auckland has more boats per population head than any other city in the world) and volcanoes. Stretching out to sea are little volcanic clumps everywhere. Naturally, I felt I had to climb a couple, both on Devonport, a quaint little island north of Auckland Bay. Up top, I got an awesome view of the harbour, surround islands and the Auckland skyline, which looks similar to Toronto's - being on the coast and having its own version of the CN Tower. On descending back down, I treated myself to some traditional New Zealand cuisine to take away, and ate my fish and chips watching the sunset over the harbour.

Ok, so that's a slightly romanticised view of Auckland, but it is set in a beautiful coastal setting despite housing a quarter of New Zealand's population. The journey over consisted of a 3-hour flight, 1 hour rush, 3 hour flight, 6hour wait (that passed quickly because of an awesome phonecall, you know who you are), 8 hour flight, 1 hour wait and finally a 6-hour flight. So it's safe to say I was a little tired by the end and running on adrenaline. But a guy called Jay kindly picked me up from the airport, and I couchsurfed round his for a couple of days.

For those that don't know, couchsurfing is the latest travelling phenomenon, whereby people offer their couch, spare bed or even just a floor, for backpackers to sleep on, for free. In return, these scroungers then return home and do the same for other travellers, and so it grows and continues. It's a cool system, and Jay showed me some places I wouldn't otherwise have seen, like a black sandy beach made entirely of iron ...