Day Two - Auckland

We started the day at...some time but between time zones, daylight savings, automatic updates, aeroplane mode, analogue watches and block out blinds we don't really know what time exactly.

Anyway, by the time we walked to Sky Tower it was open so we jumped in the lift and went to level 51 again. It was overcast but we still got great views of the city and even spied our hotel room (we think). We then took another lift to the 60th floor which is the highest you can go. This observation deck was nice and quiet with even better views although a much narrower walkway.

After returning to the ground floor we headed straight to Denny's for breakfast. Pancakes and hash browns for me while Dad went with the Crack-a-Jack which was basically everything! We returned to the hotel and jumped in the car, heading for Mt Eden, an extinct volcano. We walked to the summit which is on the edge of its crater and is quite a sight, unfortunately the clouds had descended blocking our view of Sky Tower.

Mt Eden's impressive crater

Due to the spitting rain and overcast sky we decided to head to Kelly Tarlton's Sealife Aquarium. After a slight detour through Auckland Domain, a lovely park not unlike Centennial Park in Sydney, we took Quay Street around to Kelly Tarlton's. It was just as wonderful as I remembered and we spent time checking out the King and Gentoo Penguins, Jellies, Octopus, Lobsters, Spiny Sea Dragons and of course the Giant Squid!!! We saw some divers in the Shark Tunnel and all the fish were following them. It reminded me of when Pinocchio has all the sea creatures trailing along after him when searching for Monstro the Whale. We then found out that they were about to feed them so stayed and watched. They mainly fed the bigger fish including the sharks who swim right up and take the fish from their hands with their razor-sharp teeth! The little rays kept wanting to swim between the diver’s legs which was quite funny and cute.

After this we drove back to the hotel and parked the car then headed to Countdown for some supplies. Had a late light lunch after our late huge breakfast left us not feeling overly hungry.

Next, we found ourselves drawn back to Sky Tower where we watched a couple of people do the Sky Jump which is exactly what it sounds like; jumping off the 51st level! We also decided this wasn't for us and then went for a walk around town ending up at Denny's of course and having an early tea (to complement our late brekky and lunch). While we were enjoying our pizza and surf and turf it started raining so we made the dash back to the hotel taking refuge under shop awnings and scaffolding (I suppose the construction zone that seems to have consumed half the city had to be good for something)!

Will get an early night ready for our early start tomorrow when we head to Northland!

Lil Sis

Everything at Kelly Tarlton's seems to be larger than life!!!

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