Our saga in the South Pacific seems to be getting better and better. In our previous four blogs, we shared our exciting sights and experiences in Santa Barbara, CA, Hawaii and French Polynesia.
As we continue our South Pacific and Australia Cruise on Viking Sky, we are happy to share highlights of the exquisite service on our floating hotel as well as memorable sights and experiences in New Zealand, more specifically Bay of Islands, Auckland, Waiheke, Tarangua, Wellington and Nelson.
It may seem unnecessary to write about food on a cruise, because it is always exceptional, but soon after we left Tahiti, we were treated to the most spectacular brunch we have ever seen, including a display and judging of ship building by passengers. The creativity and skill of participants was extraordinary.
Our “on sea” hospitality continued to be filled with memorable events like concerts by talented singers, musicians and dancers. One of the most moving of these was presented by Māori singers and dancers.
Our first stop in New Zealand was the historic Bay of Islands, known for its lush countryside, rolling hills, farms and interesting vegetation.
The Bay of Islands comprise some 150-some islands. We stopped at Waitangi, the city where the Treaty of Waitangi by British officers and Māori chiefs was signed in 1840. We saw the historic Kerikeri Basin and the ornate Hundertwasser public bathrooms, an iconic work of art that includes a living tree that grows through the center of its stalls.
After Waitangi, we were finally able to see Auckland, the cultural capital of New Zealand’s North Island. Auckland is also known as the “City of Sails” for its residents’ love of boating and its marinas brimming with world-class yachts.
A highlight of any visitor’s itinerary in Auckland, is the Auckland Domain, the city’s largest park, including the Auckland Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Māori and Polynesian artifacts, including an 82-foot-long Māori canoe or "waka" carved from a single tree.
The Museum is home to the impressive War Memorial Exhibition. We had time to explore the museum’s exhibits on our own, and paid respects at the War Memorial display, located just outside.
Much of the 75-acre Auckland Domain is the crater of a volcano, now converted to a beautifully designed multi-use park for the museum as well as sports, concerts and other community events.
On our second bus tour, we stopped at a memorial to Michael Joseph Savage, New Zealand's first Labour prime minister, 1935–1940, overlooking the Waitemata Harbour. Like the Massey Memorial in Wellington, it is built on the site of a former gun emplacement dating from the 'Russian Scare' of the 1880s.
It is a beautifully designed flower garden and pond with a spectacular view of the Harbour and surrounding areas.
We were fortunate to be accompanied on parts of our tour of the city by a professional friend, Jillian de Beer, a resident of Auckland and intimately knowledgeable of all things New Zealand.
One of our most memorable outings with Jillian was a trip by ferry to the resort of Waiheke Island, where we walked, visited shops, strolled on the beach, and enjoyed a gelato on a beautifully sunny and hot day.
We were happy that Jillian took us to visit the St. Mary’s Cathedral in the Parnell area of Auckland. Among other reasons, this church has deep historic significance for the fact that it was literally moved across the street adjacent to the main cathedral building. The building, in a engineering feat, was set on a chain of logs to roll across the street.
Perhaps just as significant is the blending of Māori cultures, teachings and values in the church decor and ministry. This integration of the deep connection of mainstream and Māori culture and teachings is evident almost everywhere in all of New Zealand. Māori language is one of three official languages of New Zealand, the other two being English and New Zealand Sign Language.
An unexpected but captivating experience for us, was a visit with Jillian to the Auckland Art Gallery, where we saw the most amazing art show of extraordinary fashions by globally renowned fashion designer Guo Pei.
We were fortunate to witness this Aotearoa New Zealand exclusive exhibition, featuring breath-taking fashions by Guo. There were more than 60 of Guo Pei’s unique garments, including her Yellow Queen gown worn by Rihanna to the 2015 Met Gala.
Our next major stop in North Island was the city of Tauranga, one one the mosr scenic cities and popular resort in New Zealand. This visit was on one of our hottest days, ideal for a walk along the boardwalk on Pilot Bay and for Cintra, an even longer hike around the base and part way to the top of the magnificent Maunganui Mountain.
Apart from its majestic presence overlooking the Bay of Plenty, Mt. Maunganui, is an extinct volcano that helped shape this spectacular region of white-sand beaches and azure waters.
We enjoyed a fuller experience of Tauranga when we joined the coach tour to Te Puke. Pronounced “tay-pookey,” this is New Zealand’s premier region for the production of the nation’s namesake fruit, the kiwi.
During our panoramic ride, we visited a local village community hall, enjoyed refreshments and a taste of locally picked kiwi. We were introduced to gold and green and told about red kiwis, being grown for the Japanese market.
Members of the local Māori tribe shared an entertaining insight into their culture in song and dance. We had the opportunity to chat with the performers and joined them in a photo.
The day turned out to be extremely windy, forcing the captain to cancel the next scheduled stop in Napier and the nearby Hawke’s Bay region, one of the “Great Wine Capitals” of the world. We had to miss the wine tasting of three New Zealand prized vintages.
Our next New Zealand stop was Wellington, the capital of the country. The city’s neoclassical Parliament House, called the Beehive, stands out and is listed as a Heritage New Zealand building for its history and cultural significance. It is widely acclaimed for its unique architectural design.
With some free time in the morning we took the shuttle and walked downtown, stopping along the way to view the Wellington Museum that displays the stories of the region in a beautiful 1892 heritage building.
It displayed the Bond Store, where bonded cargo was held; explorations of the Polynesian people over centuries; nautical interactive exhibits; the Wahine disaster in 1968; theatrical illusionist techniques that tell Māori creation legends.
Later we enjoyed a panoramic drive and visited the more contemporary styled Te Papa Museum, where we explored a celebration of New Zealand’s diverse landscape, cultures and nature and viewed the museum with its exhibits that highlight the natural world and geology of New Zealand’s islands, as well as the Māori culture and traditions.
The panoramic 360 degree view of Wellington was breathtaking. And to make our tour complete, we were treated to exceptional story telling by our Maori coach driver and guide.
Before departing this exquisite country, our cruise stopped in Nelson,on the South Island at the geographical center of New Zealand. The city is renowned for its year-round sunshine, long golden beaches and beautiful national parks. It is one of New Zealand’s oldest cities, having been founded in 1841.
We went into the city on our own with another couple and walked to a Japanese garden, the nearby Sumter Art Gallery, the downtown shopping district and mall and the Nelson Cathedral.
We took a brief tour of the city with very helpful information from our coach driver and guide. The tour ended at a privately-owned car museum where we viewed one of the country’s finest collections of classic, antique and more recent cars such as Jaguars, Cadillacs, Excalibur, Delorean and Triumphs all in pristine condition.
We ended our delightful visit to New Zealand with a upbeat and rousing concert of southern favorites by the Viking Sky Singers and band.
As the sun set on New Zealand, we started on our four-day journey to Australia.
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