Two Full Days in Auckland

The view towards the city on our hike up to the crater at Mt. Eden.

Scott did a special photo to take in the whole crater.

We stayed 3 nights and really made use of our two full days. Breakfast our first morning was rather special - we were up early and the closest breakfast place open was right next to our hotel. Cooke's is a fabled place and rather ritzy but served a very good breakfast. We then tried to get the 9 AM ferry over to Waiheke Island but it filled up before we got to the end of the huge line. In the afternoon we had reservations for a sail out on the harbor at 3:15 so we wisely went to plan B - Mt Eden. This is one of 48 volcanic domes in the city In 2014 after many years of litigation 14 of them were finally returned to their Maori owners. Mt Eden (Maungawhau) was the site of a Maori Pi, a large settlement built on terraces around the mountain. But the inside of the crater is never entered, being sacred. 

Looking back at the stairs and walkway around part of the crater.

It is now a park as are most of the other volcanic cones. There is a small museum and coffee shop at the parking lot and then you have a steep climb up to the top. Paths and stairs follow the edge of the crater all around and the views are spectacular. 

The sky was an impossible blue!

Someone is always asking if they can take 
your photo - and we usually accept.

And our afternoon adventure sailing out in the harbor was marvelous. Both of us got to take the helm for a good portion of the trip. Although the Courageous wasn't a America's Cup boat, it is of similar size. The Captain was quite charming and we enjoyed talking to the other passengers. Happily there was a lot of wind and we got water over the lee rail quite a bit.  After our experience trying to find a table for dinner the night before, we made reservations at White & Wong - excellent Asian cuisine. So good in fact that we took out a meal for the next night to have in our apartment. We knew it would be a long day out at Waiheke Island. 

I took the first shift at the wheel and brought her
under the bridge.

Captain Scott executed two tacks - turning the
boat into the wind. 

This time we were a half hour early for the ferry and had no problem. We also signed up for the Hop On Hop Off bus that takes you all over the island. We stopped at about half of the 12. Our first stop was Mudbrick Vineyard for a wine tasting. Due to the early timing we shared a wine tasting there. The couple that own it built the property from scratch in 1992. It is now a hotel/restaurants/event resort. The wine was wonderful and the place really spectacular. What a place for wedding - and they do lots of them. 

The entrance to Mudbrick. The day started out
cloudy but soon cleared up.

It was too early in the day for lunch unfortunately.

The road down from Mudbrick and you can see the lovely countryside!

Next was Allpress Olive Groves. The first olives tress were planted there in 1997 and they sell both olive oil (in a number of varieties), olives & olive tapenade, and local boney. We were able to test all of them and they were wonderful! We bought a bottle and a tapenade to bring to Julie & Peter in Australia. Our next stop was "Island Frenchies" Built in a container with outdoor seating it is famous for it's French style sandwiches, pastries, salads and their huge breakfast. 

The tasting at Allpress Olive Grove

Frenchies, a deceptively casual place with 
unusually good food.

After lunch and a walk through the small town of Oneroa, we continued on to a cluster of wineries and one distillery. We only had time for two stops so one more winery was chosen because it was the first one when we climbed the hill - Soho Family Vineyard. It was a very friendly place and the wine was excellent - we bought a bottle. 

The SoHo tasting room

The path up to Soho passed by a small pond.

And last Hexe, the distillery. Scott makes his own gin and was interested in trying theirs's and the whiskeys came with the tasting - all very good.  We added a Marguerita pizza to the order and kept half of it for the next day - breakfast in fact! Then we stayed on the bus until catching the ferry back. It had been a long day so we were happy that dinner was waiting at our apartment.  The next morning we're driving down to Rotorua - but problems lie ahead for us and that will be in my next post!

Hexe Distillery