AUCKLAND - END OF A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY

Campervan returned with no problems, taxi to the Waldorf Tetra Apartments for a couple of nights.
As cities go Auckland seems lively, manic and full of Japanese/Chinese but that's just first evening impressions and it was St Patrick's Day.
Queen Street was a heaving mass of fast food outlets, never seen so many!
We finally found a nice place near the Aotea Centre where there was entertainment in the square.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!

DRUMMERS AT THE AOTEA CENTRE

IRISH PIPERS

SKY TOWER

ICE CREAM PUFF TIME!

Our last day in New Zealand was spent watching the Volvo Ocean Race start its 7th leg to Brazil, 3 weeks through the southern oceans. We spent 4 hours watching the razzmatazz of the start - Roy was in his element and I remembered why I went off racing yachts! 

SKY TOWER

THE 7 CONTESTANTS STILL IN THE RACE

LAST MINUTE JOBS

ROY IN HIS ELEMENT!

SAW THESE SKY WALKERS WHILE WAITING FOR RCE TO START

MASCOT

TURN THE TIDE ON PLASTIC

BRUNEL

VESTAS

AKZONOBEL

SCALLYWAG

DONGFENG

MAPFRE

LOVE THESE SAILS!

After the race started we went up the Sky Tower, what a fabulous experience and all for $23 each! Only place in NZ that had a oldies rate!

THE BLUE SQUARE IS WHERE THE BUNGY JUMPERS LAND

A BUNGY JUMP RIDE IN REVERSE - IT SHOOTS YOU VERY FAST UP INTO THE AIR! ROY WOULDN'T DO IT!!

My final words go to my beloved husband and soulmate Roy for having yet another wonderful dream that he made come true. He has driven me safely round NZ and planned all the route. Thank you Roy xxx
This has been a most fantastic time with hundreds of memories.

OUR LAST FULL DAY IN CAMPERVAN HEADING TO AUCKLAND

Not much of a drive today, we visited the Rainbow Warrior Memorial which was at the top of the big hill at the side of our campsite in Matuari Bay. The information boards (you might find them hard to read) were interesting as had forgotten just what had happened back in 1985. The memorial itself was lovely and a marker showed where the boat had been scuttled near a small island. 

Our last nights campsite is Camp Waipu Cove, meal out tonight as ran out of food!
Had our last walk on beach and Roy had paddle.

ROY DOING HIS LAST BBQ IN THE RAIN!

SUNRISE AT MATUARI BAY CAMPSITE

AND THE SUN NEVER ACTUALLY CAME UP BECAUSE OF CLOUD

LOOKING DOWN ON OUR CAMPSITE FROM MEMORIAL HILL

I'M NOT COMING HOME - STOPPING HERE!

LAST PADDLE IN WARM PACIFIC OCEAN