Busy last days in Auckland

We made the most of our time left in Auckland. It was jam packed. We had a Japanese dinner with J and Laura and walked around Auckland at night.

Thursday we went on a day trip to Devonport, a ferry ride ($11 return) away and on the peninsula. It was a quaint town/village with beautiful huge houses. It was a beautiful day so we walked up Mt Victoria. The views were lovely and we met a local who advised us to go to Cornwall Park while in Auckland. We strolled back down and along the coast to the free Navy Museum where we tried on some fetching sailor outfits. Walking down a residential road we found a lovely beach a d hermit crab. We headed back and at the harbour I got the yummiest mixed berry smoothie which had sorbet Mmmh refreshing! Neil and I went for a swim and home to cook dinner.

Friday Laura, J, Neil and I arranged to meet at Base reception at 11:00 for a day trip to Cornwall Park. We picked up some sushi from Sushi Pak for lunch. This would become a new obsession as it was in fact the best sushi I have ever had, So good that even J rated it as the best and he knows his sushi as its his favourite food. I had a chicken Katsu, chicken teriyaki, squid, tuna sweet corn. Cornwall Park was a bus and little walk away. A present to the people from John Campbell, it contained lots of farm land, restaurant, the original home of the Campbell family and a monument to Campbell. We strolled round the park stopping for a good cup of tea in the most pretentious restaurant. We found a hollowed out tree, walked amongst the sheep and in their poo, walked up to the monument to take in the views of Auckland. A lovely day. We headed back as we were going for drinks for the drivers graduation. We met up with Sofie & Sara ( Danish girls) and pre drinked in our room. Headed out to some local bars near the harbour and then back to Camel Nomads bar which was a really busy night and good bar. Then to the s***ty Base bar to find the drivers. We stayed for a dance and drink and went on the hunt drunk for food. A huge chicken shisha wrap was really good in my drunken state and J was there to eat anything I couldn't finish.

Saturday hangover free (i thank the food) we taught J how to swim at Tepid Baths and ran back to base as we were running late for Sara & Sofie for our Korean BBQ date. Hungry by this point we went on the hunt and found a few that were closed as it was an awkward time between lunch and dinner. J led as in the right direction and we all enjoyed cooking our own marinated meat on a hot plate in the middle of the table. Rice, omelette, and other bits were provided cooked. We ate till we were very full and walked around the vintage shops. That night I met Craig whom Sara & Sofie had met originally in LA. we played s***head and said goodbye to Laura who was staying at a friends for her last two nights.

At 1am the fire alarm goes off and the whole side of our building is evacuated! Fire engines arrive but we are told nothing until we are allowed back into the building. I am told by a guest in the lift that some w***er on floor 9 drunkly set off the fire alarm!!

Sunday, our last day in NZ sad times. We meet Sofie, Sara, J and two swedish cousins Johan and Stephanie and went for a walk to the small vintage Sunday market. On the way back we come across a free dance show. We sat and watched in the sun.

After our final tepid bath swim, spa and steam room and last sushi pak yum, we headed back to the hostel for an evening of packing, cooking, playing Skip Bo (new favourite card game, the twist it has to be in sequence- sounds lame but is incredibly addictive) and said our goodbyes to J and New Zealand. I loved New Zealand and would love to come back and will miss its beautiful scenery, all the people we met and amazing sushi.