Early dinner at Amano

I'm very hungry

Me and my saddleback friends

Lighthouse and DOC housing

Honey eater feeder

Tui is locked out, but the native birds do prefer flowers when in season (until about 3 weeks ago). Lots of loud singing in the glade

Old poutu tree

Start of the long tour

Wednesday January 31 arriving at Tiritiri

Day trip to Tiritiri Matangi

Bird tour 80 minute fast ferry from downtown. Splendid day.

The mission at Mission Bay

A C19th Anglican mission for the local melanesians. Now a restaurant. Distinctive lava rock Tudor building

Zum zum zum

Pohutukawa blossoms here and there

Tamaki drive by foot

It made no sense financially to rent an e-bike to ride this flat route. Instead I walked the sea wall, reading historical information signage, taking pictures of the sparkling harbor, and stopping for lunch in Mission Beach.

Avocado toast at Amaro in Auckland

An exceptionally nice way to start my first full day of visiting Auckland.

Excellent early dinner at Hello Beasty

Imaginative, tasty and expensive. But a good start to banishing jet lag. I made a reservation to go to Tiritiriranga island in the hauraki gulf on Wednesday, for hiking, bird watching and a swim. A splendid suggestion from the grandmother, mum and toddler on the bus into the city centre.

Good for a laugh

Pohutukawa New Zealand Christmas tree

Very popular with the bees on Auckland's waterfront.

From a pamphlet rack at an Auckland Transport station (Newmarket)

My initial plan was to do the Central Auckland City to Bays ride. Now that I'm here there's more choice.

Before I unpack it at Imagine Beach hotel

In Auckland after circuitous route on buses and train from AKL. There's train track work and today is public holiday. Par for the course of an independent traveler.

12 hour flight comfort plus window seat

I remember this

Tempting tempting

Nope it's land of the long white cloud for me.

Atmospheric river goodbye

33 days’ worth

It's a major trip. Domestic to LAX then international to AKL. I've decided to go "old school" and keep a notebook. I won't risk accidentally wiping out my trip notes, like I did for Morocco. Lessons learned.

Sea tac SEA to LAX Saturday 3pm

Troll at national Nordic museum

Spin on a wonderful warm Tuesday

High today of balmy 35?,

Brrr icy

Character builder ride to meet a friend

Dry out, back cold and wet. Brrrr

Recap

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