Circumnavigating New Zealand — Disembarking in Auckland

Well, this has been quite a double series. We began with a circumnavigation of Australia, as viewed aboard three ship voyages one year apart — in 2019 aboard Majestic Princess, and in 2020 on back-to-back cruises aboard Radiance of the Seas. Then I followed that up with a circumnavigation of New Zealand aboard the same two ships in 2019 and 2020. So, over the next three weeks we’re going to close out these two circumnavigation voyages with our 2019 disembarkation from Majestic Princess in Auckland on 22 March. Of course, on of the first views you’ll have of Auckland at the port would be the colorful Auckland Ferry Terminal completed in 1912:

But before we even saw the Ferry Terminal I stumbled upon a real beauty. Pictured below, which you’ll see more of in the weeks ahead, is an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. I was rather excited, as this was the first DBS I’ve seen in person. I also have a soft spot for any Aston Martin labeled “Superleggera”, as I once owned a 1967 DB6 that had Superleggera (Italian for “Super Light”) badges on the hood.

In case you’re wondering what an Aston Martin DB6 looks like, here’s one similar to mine of years ago (but in much better condition), and in the same olive green metallic:

So, let’s head south from the Auckland Waterfront and start taking in the skyline beginning with this view from Queen Street looking east down Fort Street:

A little farther south we arrive at the Blackett’s Building on the corner of Queen Street and Shortland.

At 205 Queen Street we find these two striking examples of modern architecture pictured below. The taller of the two is Phillips Fox Tower at 301 feet/92 meters. The building to the left is the 253-foot/77-meter tall Arthur Andersen Tower.

Here we hang a right and proceed westbound along Victoria Street West, where we find the tallest structure in Auckland. This is Sky Tower at 1,076 feet/328 meters to the tip of the antenna. Sky Tower is the tallest freestanding building in the southern hemisphere, and the 27th tallest tower in the world.