Saturday, August 2nd 2003 – Day 165
I was up bright and early the next day as I wanted to go to Mount Eden wheicjh is a natural look out point overlookin g the cirt.
Mt Eden is one of Aucklands most famous landmarks. As the highest volcano on the Auckland isthmus it provides good views over the city and the Waitemata Harbour. Close to the centre of the city, Mt Eden is a constant reminder that Auckland is situated on a potentially active volcanic field.
Key facts:
Maori name: Maungawhau, ?‘Hill of the Whau Tree?’
Location: Auckland City, map reference NZMS 260: R11/677790
Height: 196 m
Age: Formed 10,000-20,000 years ago
Volume scoria: 8 million cubic metres (equivalent to 1600 Olympic sized swimming pools)
Volume lava: 150 million cubic metres (equivalent to 30000 Olympic sized swimming pools)
The Auckland Volcanic Field is comprised of monogenetic volcanoes. This means it is unlikely that Mt Eden or any of the existing volcanoes will erupt again. The next eruption will probably occur in a new location.
Anyway the bus stop was no where the Lonely Planet said it would be. Many of the bus routes and bus stops have changed over the past fwew days as a new urban terminal has called called Briitomart. anyway I found the bus 274 or 277 will bring you there. I asked the bus driver to let me know when we got close. I find the drivers here very good. they say good morning to all passengers and are very good in giving passengers advice and direction. Anyway it took about 20 mkinutes to drive there and the bus driver directed me ont he rigth road. it s free attravtion and trhe views of Auckland and the harbnour are good.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Auckland – New Zealand – Mount Eden (01-08-2003)
I wnt back to the American Express Viaduct Harbour as I wanted to visit the New Zealand National Maritime Museum. I visited the harbour first and the Americas Cup store. I decided to pospone my visit as it started raining and I thought I would do it tomorrow. This is because you get the chance to hit the high seas yourself: The historic scow Ted Ashby gives 45- to 60-minute rides daily at noon and 1:45pm for NZ$15 ($6) adults–definitely the cheapest cruise you’ll get.
For the first time in the 152-year history of the America’s Cup, a village was created to support syndicates, corporations, super-yachts, and the public together in one venue. This is Auckland’s American Express New Zealand Cup Village in Viaduct Basin, a glistening creation that includes new apartment blocks, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, markets, and every facility an earnest yachtie could ever want.
For 6 months, between October 1999 and March 2000, the village was the place to soak up the excitement of the America’s Cup challenge. An estimated 3.5 million visitors crammed in over this period, along with more than 2,000 competitors and team personnel, plus 200 international media representatives.
In addition to the America’s Cup action, the village hosted up to 80 super-yachts, the largest gathering in the Southern Hemisphere, turning Auckland into a Pacific Monte Carlo. Super-yachts are luxury motor and sailing vessels in excess of 30m (98 ft.) long, ranging in value from NZ$4 million ($1.7 million) to over NZ$40 million ($16.8 million). Viaduct Harbour can accommodate 88 super-yachts of up to 50m (164 ft.). United Yacht Transporters of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, made two trips to Auckland carrying super-yachts. Its submersible carriers can carry up to 24 yachts at a time at a cost of NZ$290,000 ($121,800) one-way.
Visitors can experience grand-prix sailing on an authentic America’s Cup yacht, NZL 40, built for the 1995 San Diego Challenge. You can be as involved as you want in the crewing action; it’s suitable for all ages and levels of ability. For information on the daily sailings from Viaduct Harbour, call NZL 40 (tel. 0800/724-569 in NZ, or 09/359-5987; fax 09/358-3137; www.sailnewzealand.co.nz).
No one needs to be reminded that Team New Zealand retained the America’s Cup in the 2000 challenge, and now the action is all set to start again in 2002-2003. The Viaduct Basin development has changed the face of Auckland forever, and all eyes will be on the village this coming summer as a revised Team New Zealand seeks to win against all challengers. At press time, America’s Cup websites had yet to be posted. For more information, contact the Auckland Visitor Information Centre, which is located in the heart of Viaduct Basin, right next to the action.
I then rang the Lionzone Experience about doing a tour at 3.00pm but they were booked up until Monnday Morning. Bugger. I decided to go on the NET for a while and attend the AJ Hackett Bungy Jumping Talk at 6.00pm in the hostel. It was good with competitions and videos. He brought us down to the Hostel Pub for 2 free pints. Decided tonight was athe nigth and shaved and showwered as I wanted to hit the pub for the Australia vs South Africa game. I met an English guy called John during the match in the Pub and we had a few pints. He was after having a fiight with his girlfreind from Bray (ireland) and had left her at the hotel. We then had a guy from the company who make Export Beer. He was drunk himself abut he brought us (well requeted as no money changed hands) FOUR free pints each for myself and John and two others beside us. Trouble was he brought them all together so they were lined up in front of us. Well we were in good spirits after that and people were starting to pack the pub. After a while, we decided to go to the Loaded Hog (Viaduct Quay, Hobson and Quay streets) and Dolans near the harbout. Both had queus going into them which was a pain.
I have never seen as many irish Pubs as in Auckalnd. They are very popular as they provide dancing space and live bands. In my block alone there were half a dozen from the Fiddlers, The immigrant, Murphys, Dolans, The Claddagh etc.
We stayed in Dolans for two and met an Irish guy from Galway. I cant remember his name. We went to the Laoded Hog and after that it was one pub and club after another until 8.00am in the morning,. What a night. It was a blur but I remember getting myself home safe and sound. I deserved a good night out but any activities for Sunday were out.
Sunday, August 3rd 2003 – Day 166
I woke up at 5.00pm in the evening. The day was gone. I could not beleive I slept all day without waking. It was getting dark again and the dorm was empthy. I went out and bought a bottle of Coke and went ont he NET for an hour. I then went back to bed. I did not bother to eat anything.