Cruise #6 (Nov 2014)

Auckland, New Zealand








Auckland is "The City of Sails"


A military vessel in the harbor





Sky City Grand Hotel





Great room on the 14th floor








Grand Hotel at night


Sky City complex


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


Sky City Tower


Sky City Tower is a city landmark


Lizzie, Sky City Corporate Events Manager
After meeting Lizzie, she charmingly pointed out the best of Sky City and the City


Lizzie's lunch recomendation
Federal Street Deli, an old-school NYC Jewish delicatessen


Lizzie's dinner recomendation
Depot featuring authentic Kiwi fare


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


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


Breakfast with Lizzie at Gusto


Lizzie was anxious to hear how we liked "Depot"
Mentioning her name at Depot saved us a 45 minute wait


Back to Depot for lunch and more fish sliders





Depot is renowned for its mussels and clams


Meat platter


Zealanders (Kiwis) Keep It Simple!
Wine glasses? Silverware in a can. Mustard and pickles right out of the jars.


Bellota at Sky City. An authentic Spanish tapas bar


Bellota where we joined Lizzie and husband Malcolm for pre-dinner cocktails


The Grill - Great steaks


Dinner at The Grill tonight with Lizzie and Malcolm


The Grill
Japanese Wagyu Boneless Ribeye Roast


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


MASU at Sky City
Japanese robata restaurant and bar


MASU
We missed the pleasure of this dramatically different style of Japanese dining


Packed and ready to leave Auckland on a late flight
Lizze arranged our dinner at the Chef's table at Gusto Italian Restaurant
Lizzie and Malcolm had a formal event but joined us with for cocktails


Looking down the hill to Queen Street


Queen Street


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








Emergency Beer Service!











Containers stacked 7 high!


Auckland skyline on a chilly, rainy day

















Eden Garden


Eden Garden





Auckland Museum


Holy Trinity Cathedral


Parnell Village

Dinner At The Chef's Table at Gusto Italian Restaurant. Arrangements were made by our new friend Lizzie, the Event Planner at Sky City,. Lizzie and her husband Malcolm joined us for cocktails.