Day 36, Auckland, New Zealand (Updated with some extra pictures)

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Today we stopped in New Zealand's biggest city with 1.5 million People.




We watched our docking as we were enjoying our breakfast on the balcony.



Downtown Auckland


Our sister ship, the Coral Princess, was right behind us. She is on a 14 day cruise out of Sydney, Austrailia.



Sunrise over the Coral Princess




Our tour today was one of the Princess Local Connections excursions are designed for Princess and where you get to go to a local family business. Today it was with the owner of The Vineyard Cottages.



Welcome to Auckland


On the Bus

Soon out of the city and into the country


They like their traffic circles


Roses at the end of a row of grapevines because the bugs attack the roses before the grapevines and they can save the vines. Their canary in the coal mine. 


Other plants were covered


American BBQ in New Zealand


The police officer taking it easy on this driver and was holding the mailbox up!




Stopped for Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate and snacks. They didn't have those mass produced teabags from the store and Toni said it was strong! Ginger Crisps were good.




Then we were back on the bus and on our way to the Maukatia Takapu (Gannet) Refuge



A beautiful overlook on both directions from the overlook







There were thousands of gannets









One of the tour guides pointing out things to Toni as one of the gannets fly by




One of our tour guides pointing out things to Toni


A selfie and a shot that one of our fellow passengers took for us


After the gannet refuge, our tour guide/host Elle Armon-Jones, owner of The Vineyard Cottages, took us to her place for a feast.  First, we had cheeses and fresh baked breads with some wine. Then a meal that included Salmon, Lamb, Potatoes (White and Sweet), and salad with some wine.  Then we had Apricots and Brownies... with some wine. Hey, it was a vineyard!!
















Besides the bigger venue that we were at (that they have weddings, retreats and other events), they have about nine cottages.  



They had a lot of "antique farming equipment in their yard.



 When we got back to the city, Elle pointed out a place called Holey Moley. If you have seen the TV show, you might have an idea of the type of putt putt that this would be. It was themed with a lot of TV shows and movies.




Generations cartoon battle: Flintstones versus the Simpsons



Toni doesn't like my driving even in Fred's car



ET


Based on the Game: Operation



Jaws

NintendoTetris


Meatloaf iconic album



The Auckland Sky Needle



Downtown ferry building


Future dinners being loaded onboard







Sailaway drinks


New Zealand Flag flying on the Island Princess




The Coral Princess was prepping to pull out right behind us and both of us heading to our next stop of Tauranga


New Zealand Navy


We left port just as the sailboat races were going on.



On the way to Tauranga


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