The Nutters Trip to Auckland

 We left Gisborne on Thursday 25th March and with a strong tail wind were there in 50minutes which is considerably less time that it took us to get to the hotel. We had a lovely apartment with cooking facilities so we could get our own breakfasts. Its so much easier when you have a table and chairs.

Through a travesty of town planning these huge office blocks - many floors deserted at present - block the view. This narrow view was always busy with the ferries coming and going.

Looking towards the port

Over the viaduct to the Harbour Bridge. 

We went on a bit of an orientation walk so that we could update our HOP cards. So lovely getting free transport, but the system is in absolute chaos if you dont know your way around - the Britomart is undergoing renovations. Any way we got the Inner Link to Parnell Rise for dinner that night. A cheap and cheerful Italian Place. ( I'm choosing the next venue)

Trying to find out what's on in Auckland is quite difficult - the handy booklet is no longer produced and the websites are fragmented. So I decided to indulge Duncan's desire to visit the zoo. The lady at the cashier asked us when we had last been and Duncan said 50 years ago. However when I regaled her with stories of Polar Bears, Elephant rides and chimpanzees tea party - all of which are now banned, she realised  it had been a while. The first large enclosure was the Savannah with giraffes and zebras, but we hurried past them to get to The Elephant Compound.

Burma and Anjalee are Asian elephants, they are generally herd animals, and unless more of these animals can be bought to the zoo they will have to leave as having one on its own would be cruel.

Tuatara posing very regally

The Golden Lion Tamarins and the topknot tamarins were very beautiful and playful

But some of the other primates like this orangutan were taking it easy today. 

A Galapagos Tortoise - very large and slow.

There were some very pretty settings - the gardens were well worth a look too.

But the real highlight for me was the capybara because it is something I didn't know about. It is the largest rodent in the world! It looks like a rat said one small schoolgirl who I chatted to in lieu of my own granddaughter. No, said a small boy, It looks like a giant guinea pig.

It was about the size of a staffy dog, solid with it. They can weigh up to 70kg! They seem to like to swim  as well, and apparently have a lovely nature. The otters were great fun to watch, but very quick under the water, so no clear photos of them.

We managed the trip back on the buses much better than trying to find a bus going out.

Just time for a nap before I took Duncan out for a birthday treat - a degustation meal at The Grove.

Watch for the foodie pictures in the next BLOG.