Spent a gorgeous day on Waiheke Island.
Took the 10am ferry over (after signing up for a wine tasting tour for the afternoon). Trip is about 45 minutes on a fast ferry (it was just 36 minutes to return on a very fast catamaran). Very scenic ride.
Waiheke Island is in the Hauraki Gulf, 11m east of Auckland -- 36 sq mi -- population: 8,100+ There are about 40 boutique vineyards on the island -- most grow French Reds -- very different from mainland NZ which is known for its Sauvignon Blancs.
In the morning I took one of the hiking trails and walked over to Oneroa Beach. Spent some time there and then had lunch at a very nice little cafe. Then took another trail back to the ferry place to meet my wine tour. The trails were really good -- they're well marked -- and they have markers to identify native NZ trees, etc. The only downside were the cicadas -- there were a lot of them -- and I occasionally had to walk/run through a swarm of them! I was watching the news later that night -- and they had a short clip on them --- 43 different varieties of cicadas in NZ ---- and this year there are more than usual.
Wine tour started at 1:45 -- we went to 3 wineries -- MudBrick, Goldies, and Te Whau. Wines were all good -- all very different. Te Whau is a very small vineyard that only produces red French wines. Goldies is the oldest vineyard on the island. And MudBrick is one of the largest. Tour driver dropped me off at MudBrick at the end of the tour -- and I hung out there for a bit and then had dinner. Delicisou food in a beautiful location. Although I probably should have gone to Cable Bay and tried out another winery and their restaurant. Took the 8pm ferry back to Auckland -- sunset was at 8:15 -- so a very pretty ride back.
note: New Zealand has the slowest internet ever!
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 80 - 85F
Book/s Read: 'The Ascendant: A Thriller' by Drew Chapman; pretty good beach read -- ending was a bit tedious
Miles Walked: 6.5 (should count for a lot more since I spent a good part of that time running away from swarming cicadas!)
Transportation: 2 ferries, 1 tour bus, 1 taxi
Took the 10am ferry over (after signing up for a wine tasting tour for the afternoon). Trip is about 45 minutes on a fast ferry (it was just 36 minutes to return on a very fast catamaran). Very scenic ride.
Waiheke Island is in the Hauraki Gulf, 11m east of Auckland -- 36 sq mi -- population: 8,100+ There are about 40 boutique vineyards on the island -- most grow French Reds -- very different from mainland NZ which is known for its Sauvignon Blancs.
In the morning I took one of the hiking trails and walked over to Oneroa Beach. Spent some time there and then had lunch at a very nice little cafe. Then took another trail back to the ferry place to meet my wine tour. The trails were really good -- they're well marked -- and they have markers to identify native NZ trees, etc. The only downside were the cicadas -- there were a lot of them -- and I occasionally had to walk/run through a swarm of them! I was watching the news later that night -- and they had a short clip on them --- 43 different varieties of cicadas in NZ ---- and this year there are more than usual.
Wine tour started at 1:45 -- we went to 3 wineries -- MudBrick, Goldies, and Te Whau. Wines were all good -- all very different. Te Whau is a very small vineyard that only produces red French wines. Goldies is the oldest vineyard on the island. And MudBrick is one of the largest. Tour driver dropped me off at MudBrick at the end of the tour -- and I hung out there for a bit and then had dinner. Delicisou food in a beautiful location. Although I probably should have gone to Cable Bay and tried out another winery and their restaurant. Took the 8pm ferry back to Auckland -- sunset was at 8:15 -- so a very pretty ride back.
note: New Zealand has the slowest internet ever!
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 80 - 85F
Book/s Read: 'The Ascendant: A Thriller' by Drew Chapman; pretty good beach read -- ending was a bit tedious
Miles Walked: 6.5 (should count for a lot more since I spent a good part of that time running away from swarming cicadas!)
Transportation: 2 ferries, 1 tour bus, 1 taxi
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