Auckland to Whangarei, Monday - January 20, 2014

MONDAY – JANUARY 20, 2014

BOTTOM LINE:

Drive from Auckland north to Whangarie

BACK STORY:

Our bus pickup this morning was at 6:45am…a very early rise to the pitter- patter of pouring rain. Bruce had checked the weather report and we were well aware of a cyclone moving into the north Island of New Zealand.  Having had experience with hurricanes in Florida we knew that the “category 1” would amount to a tropical storm with wind gusts.  Luckily our backpacks had rain guards to drape over them so with our rain coats on we made our way to stand outside at the bus stop covered.

Our exit out of Auckland crossed the Harbor Bridge and gave us a farewell view of the city and Waitemata Harbor.  We will have two days to explore the city on our return trip from the countries northern tip on January 30^th.

Locals consider Auckland the City of Sails.  It is estimated that one out of four families in the city own boats…most of which are sailing craft.  They are serious about their sailing and are already working on trying to get the America’s Cup back from the US in the near future!  Funny with all of the boasting of their awesome country, when it comes to the topic of the final sail race in San Francisco in September of this year, the conversation ceases!

The Northland of New Zealand is a favorite holiday destination of the country.  It is filled with Maori history and culture.  Wanting to take in the entire peninsula to the north we hopped off our bus in the town of Whangarei.  (“wh” is pronounced as an “f” so phonetically the city is pronounced fawn-ga-ray).

Bruce had made arrangements to stay at the Bunkhouse Lodge for two nights.  Peter and Noel have owned the place for 25 years and gladly picked us up at our drop off spot.  The hostel was different from others in that it was a 1903 house made of solid kauri.  It was charming from the outside but well used and dated on the inside.  We were comfortable and the owners were helpful with ideas of how to fill our time in the rain.

Rather than sit around, we headed out for a walk to town.  We had read about the town basin area and a clock museum. 

Our walk turned out to be lengthier than we estimated by the map scale. Half way to the Basin it started to rain. Luckily the area had shop overhangs, which shielded us nicely.

The Towne Basin is home to a number of shops, galleries and the Clapham’s Clock Museum.  Since my Grandfather was a watch and clock repairman in Santa Cruz, CA (cared for the town clock tower) I was more than excited to take a peek in the museum.

Mr. Clapham had a curiosity with clock working mechanisms and began collecting them and building some of his own.  Since he passed away the timepiece collection has grown to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.  Every style and design imaginable are in the collection…from antique Victorian cuckoo clocks to fun children’s clock with moving surprise pieces.

  

 

Walking back to the hostel in the wind and rain was exhausting, so I was more than happy to snuggle up in a comfy chair to finish reading the book that I brought, Proof of Heaven by Neurosurgeon Eben Alexander.