
Arrival in Auckland, New Zealand

City Skyline

Queen's Warf

Auckland is "The City of Sails"

A military vessel in the harbor

Welcome to Auckland

Looking down the hill to Queen Street

Queen Street

We made the walk down and up from Queen Street once and never went back!!

Joan wanted this car

"Emergency" Beer Service!

Sky City Tower is a city landmark
Sky City

Sky City has two hotels, casino, convention center and several fine restaurants

Sky City Tower

Sky City Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel Lobby

Great room on the 14th floor

Grand Hotel at night

Sky City complex
The Story of Lizzie

Joan asked two ladies for a good place to eat. They introduced us to Lizzie, Sky City Corporate Events Manager

Lizzie spent 3 days guiding us around Auckland. Her lunch recomendation was Federal Street Deli, an
old-school NYC Jewish delicatessen. Excellent!

Lizzie's dinner recomendation was
Depot featuring authentic
Kiwi fare. Giving them Lizzie's business card saved us a 45 minute wait for a table.

The Depot

Joan: "I'll be cold sitting outside"
Abe the waiter: "No mam. We'll give you a heater and a blanket"

Here's to our first night in Auckland and to Lizzie

Gusto at The Grand Hotel. An Italian restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner

Breakfast with Lizzie at Gusto

Lizzie was anxious to hear how we liked
Depot. So good we are going back for lunch today.

Lizzie invites us for an evening with her and her husband Malcolm.

Cocktails at
Bellota with Lizzie Malcolm

Dinner at
The Grill with Lizzie and Malcolm - Amazing steaks

Dinner at The Grill tonight with Lizzie and Malcolm

The chef at The Grill was anxious to show Lizzie the Japanese Wagyu Boneless Ribeye Roast he bought today

Japanese Wagyu Boneless Ribeye Roast was available at The Grill for $160NZD per ounce!

On our last night in Auckland Lizze arranged our dinner at the Chef's table at Gusto Italian Restaurant. Lizzie and Malcolm had a formal event that night but joined us with for cocktails
The Depot

Going back to Depot for lunch and more
fish sliders was a must.

Depot is renowned for its mussels and clams

Zealanders (Kiwis) Keep It Simple! No wine glasses. Silverware in a can. Mustard and pickles right out of the jars.

Meat platter

MASU at Sky City. Japanese robata restaurant and bar

MASU We missed the pleasure of this dramatically different style of Japanese dining
Rainy Day Tour of Auckland

Containers stacked 7 high!

Auckland skyline on a chilly, rainy day

Eden Garden

Eden Garden

Auckland Museum

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Parnell Village