This morning my plan was to hike to the top of Rangitoto island, a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf just off of Auckland. There’s a nice walk up to the summit and great views of Auckland and the volcanic field its built on.
Because I had checked out of the motel in the morning and because, in true Emma travelling style, I hadn’t booked that nights accommodation I had to leave all my gear in the car and park it in the middle of Auckland somewhere for the morning.
In the end I went for a tiny little car, its fine to drive but not too much space for 6 weeks of gear. At home apart from work shoes and lots of rubbish, I leave very little in my car so to leave everything in there was a little bit nerve racking.
There was no way I was leaving my brand new laptop though, so me and my laptop (oh and my next lot of braces, didn’t really rate my chances of getting them replaced) hiked to the summit of Rangitoto. I think I can safely say I was the only one hiking with a PC, although certainly not the only one to backpack round NZ with one, although so far mines the smallest! The hostel I booked into for the evening has more laptops staying there than people I think. If you don’t have a laptop with wireless connection you really aren’t travelling! People are turning up with backpacks and a huge laptop bag. Modern backpacking huh?
In the evening I then headed off downtown to the Sky Tower, the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere, pretty cool huh? You can walk around the outside of it at 328m high or you can jump off of it, also at 328m high, I however, just decided to get the lift to the top and have a drink in the bar. Great views from the top of the whole of Auckland, the city and the harbours. Once I had had my fill of sights I headed back down and found this fabulous little Mexican restaurant just across the road, perfect.
My plan is to head out of Auckland tomorrow morning, although apart from North I don’t really know where I’m going. It’s nice here but I’m not really into the whole city thing.
Pahoehoe lava
View of Auckland from Rangitoto Island
Lava!!
Lava fields from Rangitoto
Rangitoto One of the holiday homes on Rangitoto
My feet at 328m
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