Monday 7th
After a full but mostly comfortable flight – babies and all, we reached Sydney where we had to change planes. Some people had fallen ill on the plane, so we had to wait for the health inspectors to give us the all clear after landing. This coupled with the late departure meant we did not have a whole lot of time. Luckily the inspection did not take that long and we were able to disembark. The international transfer security however felt like it took forever to get through, but we arrived at the gate with enough time – would our bags?
The plane to Auckland was a nicer plane with a better entertainment system, so I managed to catch a couple of films. We arrived in Auckland at 8.30pm and went through customs. We had brought coffee and we had been for a hike in South Africa, and had to declare it on the immigration card. The immigration were really friendly and asked us about our travels – the only items that needed attention were the walking boots which they sprayed.
Leaving the airport we got the pre-aranged transport (super shuttle) which took us to our rented accommodation – 30 Dunkerron Ave, Epson, where following the instructions of the estate agents we got the keys and got in the house. We were greeted to classical music playing on the radio as we stepped in and after a well deserved cup of tea and sort out we went to bed.
Tuesday 8th
We managed to wake up quite early, even with the time difference here. After getting up and ready and having a look around our accommodation in the light we, headed out the house to walk to the estate agents down the road to pay the bond. Well the estate agents had forgotten they were on a training day, so after asking advice on what was around the area, we headed up Manukau Road towards the city, where we reached Newmarket and changed a little money at the post office. There was a cafe there which advertised free wifi, and since we had yet to eat breakfast we obliged, where we catched up on whats app and emails.
Heading back up Manukau Road and stopping in the Warehouse to buy a towel, we eventually got to “The Domain”, which is where the Auckland Museum is, where Bhavni did her photo thing as we had for the first time a view of the city scape and the harbor areas. Using our little maps we thought we may as well continue to the CBD and made our way there stopping for a rest in Albert Park. It had really got cloudy by now so we carried on and reached Queen Street, and walked to the waterfront to the HSBC building to get some more cash (since our cards were not working). It was getting a little drizzley and after shopping for some essentials at a supermarket there we caught the bus getting us most of the way home. But we had to walk in pouring rain for a good 15 minutes with our bags. It was so nice to be dry. For dinner Bhavni made her Dal & Rice – which went down a treat.
Wednesday 9th
It was a dull looking day. In the morning we went to the estate agents and sorted our bond for the property before a wonder again in New Market and our dose of WIFI at the cafe. I managed to sort out a 2 Degrees chip for the IPhone at the store here. In the Westfields here we discovered a large Countdown and bought a whole lot of essentials. Going back to the house we had a good sort out.
Thursday 10th
Bhavni had her interview for the MCNZ, which was in Greenbank Drive, St Johns, for which we caught a bus on Remuera Rd. We arrived in plenty of time and since the day was markedly better we had a little wonder, but there was not much to see as it was all residential. After the meeting we caught a bus all the way to downtown – the CBD as Bhavni thought she had a meeting with North there, but it was actually in the Green Lane Medical Center – never mind we still had plenty of time and we managed to go to the premier lounge of the HSBC building, which had a really nice view of the harbor. Catching the bus back we got to the North offices and Bhavni had her meeting. After Bhavni got a new mobile chip from Vodafone and signed up to broadband for the house, before rushing back to the CBD on a bus to get Bhavni’s IRD number to avoid us running around on Friday. The IRD number is handled actually by the AA and we just managed to put the application in 10 minutes before they were to close.
Friday 11th
The day looked quite good, so we decided to go to Cornwall Park, which was just a little walk away. Its a lovely park and quite large, and really easy to get to, especially crossing the rugby pitches. Getting our tourist guide of the park at the tourist information we walked up to One Tree Hill, for some brilliant views of the city (and some rainbows). Climbing down we went to Acacia Cottage which was the home to Sir John Logan Campbell, before sitting overlooking the Memorial steps. After at Newmarket we went to the local ASB bank to ask about opening an account, and gathering as much information as possible. The clerk had moved from India to Auckland over 9 years ago and gave us advice not just on banking but also on the Indian shopping area – Sandrigham is the place.
In the evening for a treat we went out for dinner at the Mae Glong Thai Restaurant on Manukau Road. Bhavni loved the Tofu Satay and we both were full and satisfied.
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