Tag Archives: Majestic Princess

Circumnavigating New Zealand — Disembarking in Auckland


End of the cruise aboard Majestic Princess

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:

Downtown Ferry Terminal

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.

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

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:

Aston Martin DB6 in 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:

Fort Street as viewed from Queen Street

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

Blackett’s Building, corner of Shortland and Queen

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.

Phillips Fox Tower (right) and Arthur Anderson 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.

Sky Tower

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Fun Photo Friday — Circumnavigating New Zealand; Rotorua and Tauranga favorites 2


Te Puia sculpture

Here are some Rotorua-area favorites:

Pathway into Te Puia
Rest Stop
Puarenga Stream
Puarenga STEAM!

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Circumnavigating New Zealand — Kiwifruit Country and Te Puia Māori Village


Kiwis in Kiwi Land

Yes, our ship was still in port over in Tauranga. And, yes, today was a very busy day, as you’ve seen these past two weeks. So far I’ve shown you the Rotorua geothermal area, the Living Māori Village, the redwood forest of Whakarewarewa, and rafters going over the falls at Okere. Can’t be a whole lot left to do, right? Wrong. Today we begin with Kiwifruit Country, a tourist attraction north of Okere Falls.

Kiwifruit Country

We arrived there courtesy of our tour hosts at Custom Day Tours.

Our host this tour — Custom Day Tours

Here, everything is kiwi. Even the tourist train:

Kiwifruit Country kiwi train

But Kiwifruit Country is first a foremost a kiwi farm:

Kiwifruit Country

One last look at Kiwifruit Country before we head on up the road toward a bit of local indigenous flavor:

Kiwifruit Country

We now head back south toward Rotorua arrive at Te Puia. Last week we took a look at the geothermal area here, but today we’re going to take in some Māori culture and traditions.

Te Puia Māori Village

It’s time for us to head over to the Te Puia Opera House, where a very special event awaits us:

Te Puia Māori Village Opera House

But before the show begins, let’s take a closer look at the interesting building to the left:

Te Puia Māori Village

Uh, oh . . . this fellow looks ominous:

Te Puia Maori Village Opera House

Before this show began, the audience were advised to take this seriously. Laughter is not appreciated during this welcoming ceremony. And, despite the stern look of our greeters, we were in fact being welcomed in the traditional Māori manner.

Te Puia Maori Village Opera House

Once welcomed into the opera house we were entertained with traditional Māori folksong, dance, and storytelling:

Te Puia Maori Village Opera House
Te Puia Maori Village Opera House
Te Puia Maori Village Opera House

This week’s Fun Photo Friday concludes our look at the Tauranga and Rotorua areas of New Zealand. Next Monday we head to one of my favorite cities, Auckland. Here we disembark from our cruise, and I shall spend the next several weeks showing your around the city.

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