Life in Auckland

After a lovely few weeks cruising around the Harauki Bay we returned to Auckland, to Viaduct marina in the very centre of the City.

Harvey had to have some dental work done - two root canal surgeries and crowns. Luckily the dentistry in New Zealand is excellent and after a total of 4 appointments and 8 hours in the chair he now has teeth that will probably out last him!

Although we've been experiencing beautiful summer weather here, we've been closely monitoring the progress of Cyclone Geeta which has been circling around the Pacific. It has already hit poor little Tonga and at one point looked set to head straight for North Island but it now looks luckily as if it will go between the two islands of New Zealand and we will just get the wash out - high winds 85mph and rain, so we shall stay put in the Marina until that passes.

A couple of weeks ago we heard the very sad news that Oyster Yachts have gone into receivership. It came totally out of the blue, just recently they had a large stand at the Dusseldorf boat show to launch their new 75 foot boat. They had also announced record order books - its a struggle to understand how they can go from that to shutting the doors and laying off 400 people. Suppliers have also been hit, not to mention customers with deposits on new boats and with boats in build. We have come out relatively unscathed - the Oyster service and support for the rally will cease immediately but with 14 months under our belts we feel confident enough to continue on our own with the 15 or so other Oysters to complete our circumnavigation. 

On a more positive note the Volvo Ocean racers are on their way from the Far East to Auckland. They are expected here is about a week and the area around the marina is a hive of activity as the Race village is built. Transforming car parks into a small town with workshops, huge TV screens and stages. It is a massive event for the City with a lot of sponsorship money behind it. From our berth we will have pole position to view the boats as they enter the harbour and watch how the pros do it!

I thought that we have a lot of Bank holidays in the UK but the Kiwis have more! There have been two in the last three weeks that we have been in Aucklland. On Auckland anniversary day a couple of weeks ago, there were a load of water based activities in the harbour including a tug boat race and Maori canoe racing. We had a great view of all the activities from Safiya.

We've taken the opportunity while we've been in Auckland to explore the area outside the City - the black sand beaches of the west Coast which are a mecca for surfers and inland the Hauraki cycle trail which is a walking and bike path built on a disused rail line. We hired bikes and cycled a 30km section of it through the Karagaahake Gorge including bridges, bush clad mountain and an 1100 metre long train tunnel. We stopped mid way for a lovely lunch and were very pleased to be met at the other end by a minvan with a trailer to pick us up and take us back to base.

Last night a spur of the moment decision saw us at the events arena in Auckland with our friends Annie and Tom for a Queen concert. The lead singer was Adam Lambert - an American guy who was "discovered" through an US music talent show. He was amazing and although nobody will ever live up to Freddie, he and the other remaining members of Queen put on an increbible show. We sung until we were hoarse!

We've loved being in Auckland, its such a vibrant City. Also the Hauraki Gulf and its beautiful islands have been a pleasure to explore but its time to move on and very shortly we'll set sail up to the very North of New Zealand and the Bay of Islands.