Auckland - where there really is plenty to do!

It’s not only the small towns that are known for something distinctive. NZ cities also have their unique claim to fame. Auckland is known as 'The City of Sails' for the huge number of boats often seen on the harbour. Auckland has a large, sheltered harbour with small islands dotted around. There are passenger and car ferries which take you to most of the islands. Or you could find yourself on someone’s private boat island hopping and getting up close to the action during events on the harbour.

Mum and Dad have a boat so we went out with them quite a few times. We lost the anchor the first time we went out fishing. Which meant we had to go back the next day to dive and look for it. 

Out with mum and dad on their boat

No luck with our search and recovery (that day or the next), but we did see loads of nudibranchs (colourful sea slugs) we hadn’t seen before. And they were enormous! None of this looking for 3mm long nudi’s like we were in Thailand! We had 1 metre long kingfish circling us and plenty of scorpionfish to watch out for too. Good to be back in NZ waters although a tad colder than the tropical waters I’ve become accustomed to!

And the evening sunsets are stunning on the water

The last Monday in January is Auckland Anniversary Day. Every year, they have a regatta on the harbour with all sorts of races, events and old sailing ships to watch. 

We started off the day with a trek up Rangitoto, a dormant volcano in the middle of the harbour. It last erupted about 250 years ago and has been pretty quiet since then (thank goodness!) I thought I was along for a gentle stroll to the top. But with Mike (my brother) leading the way, it was more like a military march up! The view is well worth the hike up (only about 40 minutes from the ferry wharf or about 75 mins from Islington Bay). Native birds hop around your feet, there are bunkers from WW2 set into the cliff to explore and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view. 

Another stunning view of Auckland from the top of Rangitoto

Native waxeyes aren't scared to get close

Mike, me, Kris and Uncle Brian at the top

Then it was back to the boat and off to see the old ships racing. They really are spectacular to watch and with a good, stiff breeze blowing, they were getting along very nicely. Unfortunately we missed the tug boats racing - which I think would have been pretty funny to see!

A cruisy day for this old timer

But a bit more action on board here

Our final activity of the day was a spot of waterskiing. Mike set the standard getting up on his first go. I followed suit, even managing a short stint on one ski. Then it was Kris’ turn (who had never skied before). After a few sideways splats and a bit of help from Mike, he managed to stand on his skis and make a few laps of the bay.

Mike setting the standard

I've still got it!

Kris' first attempt

We've all been there!

Got the feel for it now

About 1.5 hours drive north of Auckland is Goat Island, the site of NZ’s first marine reserve. It became a reserve in 1975 and since then, fish populations (and fish sizes) have increased dramatically in the area. In summer, Goat Island is incredibly popular with people turning up to snorkel, dive or watch the fish from the surface in a glass bottom boat. 

Goat Island is packed already, and only about 1030am

Kris, Mike and I decided to do a dive there one hot, summer day. Even though it was shallow (max depth about 12 m), we saw more than enough to keep us all interested. About 8 eagle rays (you’d be lucky to see 1 in Thailand), enormous stingrays (3m from wingtip to wingtip), plenty of nudibranchs, huge snapper hanging just above our heads, crayfish, kina (sea urchins), parore, kelpfish and plenty of other NZ species Kris has never seen. It really highlighted how a marine reserve does help fish populations recover and increase the overall biomass of the area. 

Lunch after a dive

Not so good was how many fish hung around waiting to be fed. In the past, people would bring frozen peas and bread to feed the fish. It’s not encouraged any more although it is taking time for the message to get through - to people and the fish!

If you’re more of an indoor person but would still like to see some of the underwater world, Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World is worth a visit. Kelly Tarlton was an explorer, a creator and a treasure hunter exploring several shipwrecks and recovering their treasure. He developed the first dome aquarium where you walk through a tunnel under the fish. Sadly, Kelly Tarlton died just 7 weeks after his dream aquarium opened in 1985.

Under the original aquarium dome

Kelly Tarlton's display mainly local species of marine life in the aquarium. It's lucky both Kris and I enjoy the marine life as we spent hours here watching fish swimming back and forth and reading just about every sign we came to!

Translucent jellyfish floating around

Stingray - about the same size as the ones we saw diving

NZ Kelp fish

Just a hermit crab saying hello

Native long-fin freshwater eel

Rare NZ Spiny Sea Dragons

Alongside the local species there are several species of brightly coloured, tropical fish that bring smiles of delight to kids (young and old). 

A mandarin fish - I'd love to see one of these in the wild

Anemone fish - super cute in huge schools

Kelly Tarlton's also has an Antarctic section. Beginning with a walk through Scott’s Hut, a replica of explorer Captain Robert Scott's hut in Antarctica, you then come to the penguins. 

Complete with old tins of food, radios, scientific equipment and a piano!

I worked here for 2 years and it was delightful to see the birds that I grew to love again. The larger king penguins were sitting on eggs, while the smaller gentoos looked miserable going through their annual moult. They still moved with the same grace underwater and stumbling waddle on land and had me reminiscing about my time there.

An old friend coming to say hello perhaps?

Miserable gentoos moulting

King penguin sitting on an egg with her mate beside

So as you can see, 2 blog posts worth of 'nothing to do in Auckland'. And this really is only a small selection of all that the largest city in NZ offers you. I really did enjoy living in Auckland and it was fun to be back as a tourist again. Happy sightseeing and hope you enjoy it too!