Auckland

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF AUCKLAND

January 29, 2025

Auckland, the cultural capital of New Zealand’s North Island, is known as the “City of Sails” for its residents’ love of boating and specifically, sailing! This city has hosted three America’s Cup challenges and its marinas are brimming with world-class yachts.  Our tour guide today pointed out that women, for the most part, operate the large loading cranes on the docks because their fingers are very nimble and they can move these cranes very quickly for loading and unloading the ships. 

We then began with a narrated trip passing modern skyscrapers standing beside restored Victorian-era buildings and quaint colonial-styleshops.  We drove through tree-lined Albert Park, beautifully manicured flower beds and towering palms on the way to Bastion Point with a cast-iron central fountain.  

The views of the harbor from this vantage point were spectacular.

The grounds of Auckland Domain, the city’s largest park, houses the Auckland Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Maori and Polynesian artifacts including an 82-foot long Maori canoe called a “waka” carved from a single tree!!! 

There is also an interactive exhibit explaining the geological formation of New Zealand.  One floor is dedicated to New Zealanders and specifically Aucklanders who served in both World Wars, more recent conflicts and wars as far back as the Boer Wars in So. Africa. 

The architecture of the museum is quite spectacular.

Before returning to the ship, we caught up with our fellow shipmates, Joe and Julie, at The Intercontinental Hotel – Queens Roof Top Bar -- to toast our neighbors back home in The Villages, FL.

As the Viking Sky was sailing out of the harbor late in the afternoon, many many sailboats appeared sporting colorful jibs showing us the way out of the harbor!!!!!