Australia Road Tour ends in Victoria - heading back to NZ

The Finish of Our Tour Down Under in Victoria - November 2012

Our Aussie Tour Down Under 

When you look on a map your realise what an enormous country Australia is. We only travelled a small corner of the State of Victoria but we were determined not to hurry and we did not want to spend too much time at the wheel. We could have quite happily stayed much longer in many of the places we passed through on our short trip. There was plenty of variety in terms of scenery, vegetation and wildlife. Did not see any snakes or vicious spiders but I bet they saw us! 

Back over the Tasman to Auckland - 15th to 17th November

Melbourne Airport is a busy old place. Good job we were there nice and early. We always seem to get caught out by the darn departure cards. We waited in a queue for ages and could have occupied part of the time completing the card. Unfortunately we only received the card after we had checked in. We then had to hurriedly complete them 'on the hoof'. Grhhh! Anyway it was a good flight back to NZ. Our attractively priced ticket with Air New Zealand meant we had to fly home from Auckland. Not a hardship really.

Father Christmas in November on Queen Street, Auckland

Our first venture into Auckland, nearly two months ago, consisted of a bus ride to the docks on the first day and a short walk to pick up Yaris 1. This time we were staying in the City, right in the centre on Queen St, just along from the Town Hall, the Theatres and Bars. Not that we intended to visit any places of entertainment. We did go to Countdown to buy Dinner but that probably does not count. Our Quest Apartment came complete with a Washer and Dryer  - so that was our entertainment sorted for the night. Next morning we took the ferry to Devonport on the North Shore. Only a 15 minute ferry ride but a world away from the busy streets of down-town Auckland. Very quiet and sedate streets with wooden houses and nice places to stroll. TW had a very unusual Ploughman's Lunch in one of the many Cafes. We walked round to Cheltenham Beach and then back over the Head. This was a lookout point with gun emplacements to clamber over and tunnels to squeeze through. Great views of Auckland and the Gulf. We were back in the City in time for a meal out in Takapuna with JF and his wife. Had not seen Jim for thirty years, seemed more like 30 days. Very nice evening and glad we made contact.

Devonport with Auckland in the background

Smart streets of Devonport on the North Shore

TW on tour in Devonport

Cheltenham Beach

Auckland - The City of Sails

The next day the rain came with a vengeance. We had decided to take a bus to Mount Eden. It was only drizzling when we set out. By the time we were on top of the Mount it had become a deluge. We splashed and dripped our way to lunch. We had to buy some dry clothes in The Warehouse. Happily we were dry by the time we took our midnight flight to Hong Kong. Cheerio NZ, it's been great!

Mount Eden crater in the wet