The Hibiscus Coast is adjacent to Orewa, a small laid-back seaside town that is a 10-minute drive from Auckland's North Shore.
People stroll about in shorts and jandals (slippers). With a bit of imagination, the weather feels subtropical.
It was cloudy and drizzly but the temperature was just right at about 20°C. It was nice to have the persistent Christchurch fan turned off.
There weren't many people on the beach that day, but Orewa, an idyllic town packed with many little shops, was busy.
Queen Street is the main street in Auckland CBD. This was taken near the quay on the northern end. We were looking for a Chinese restaurant where we enjoyed dining some years back.
Britomart, the central train station, is located near the quay. The old exterior hides a modern, spacious, and well laid-out interior.
Heading south along Queen Street. The hustle and bustle was a refreshing change from rural Christchurch.
People dress very casually in the CBD. Maybe most are tourists like us.
Skycity Tower is supposedly the tallest free-standing structure in the southern hemisphere. Man continue to be pre-occupied with tall structures just as in the days of Babel.
Skycity is Auckland's casino and adjoins the Skycity Tower down which one can jump ... attached to a bungy rope of course.
Victoria Park Market is marketed as a tourist destination, thus luring us there twice. We later found out that in days gone by, it was a rubbish dump and the place where Spanish-Flu victims were incinerated. We decided not to have lunch there.
My daughter recommended that I take a picture of this sunset from the hotel balcony. I'm surprised it turned out fine without a tripod.
On the way to the CBD from the hotel. The Skycity Tower is a constant feature of the Auckland skyline. My son is now significantly taller than his mum, and eats more than I do.
Another bungy tower in the CBD. You sit in a cage that's rocketed up and down until even the most macho of men scream like girls. We've subscribed to a foreign-exchange trading service provided by a company located in the glass building on the right.
Auckland Town Hall on the southern end of Queen Street. It's triangular and is actually bigger than it looks here.
Skyline from the Town Hall. The city is a lovely place when the streets light up in the evening.
We walked to the CBD from the hotel every day. The children never complained. We made many stops at the central library for them to read books and surf the internet. Really wicked fresh strawberry ice-cream also tended to help.
Outside Britomart (the train station). We got around on the city shuttle bus.
A large cruise ship at the quay. It's windy at the quay but it's a very cheerful and welcoming part of the city nevertheless.
View of the city from the quay. It was a brilliant day.
At the hotel, my Mrs. did not seem to get away from chores while my son and I enjoyed watching the Australian Tennis Open most of the time. The hotel was a very new and spacious 2-bedroom apartment hotel within the CBD.
View of the Grafton bridge from the hotel balcony. It's mostly for foot and two-wheeled traffic.
Another view from the hotel balcony. Hidden amidst the greenery is a very old cemetery with most tomb stones laying in ruin. The hotel was advertised as "located behind a church".
NZ fern trees. Below the bridge was a peaceful place with Bird's of Paradise plants lining the banks of a creek.
Tropical plants, including banana, grow very well in Auckland.
Over-exposed picture of Browns Bay, a dreamy laid-back village located in Auckland's North Shore.
There's a long open-air mall in Browns Bay. The beach-bum lifestyle there suits me just fine.
A view from Browns Bay. Despite much volcanic/seismic activity, of which perhaps the distant hump in the landscape is evidence, there hasn't been a major earthquake in NZ in many decades ... patience ...
A rare picture with me in it. It was a comfortable 21°C with no wind. Owing to the maritime influence, there's seldom temperature extremes in Auckland.
Another glorious day in Auckland's Browns Bay. Stress readily melts away here.
Pizza Hut lunch - three Mia Pizzas for $13 feeds the whole family. Hard to beat that.
Auckland airport leaves much to be desired but has improved a lot since the 90's.
The holiday came to an end unfortunately. At least my daughter got to visit her best friend in Dannemora the day before.
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