New Zealanders or Kiwi as they are also called of course speak English however they do use words we as Americans are not accustomed to. For example, if you are talking about a long walk or a hike they call it going for a “wander”. By the way it is ok to call a New Zealander a Kiwi. If you are referring to the national bird or the fruit you say kiwi bird and kiwi fruit.
Amy and I heard about the Coast to Coast walk which is a hike across Auckland which highlights the natural and built heritage areas of the city with panoramic views along the way.
We wondered if the wander would be worth the 10+ mile walk. We headed out early on Tuesday morning, I got a coffee first of course and off we went. Once we got out of the business district we were treated to beautiful city parks with massive green fields, many of which had football or rugby goalposts. We also walked through multiple residential neighborhoods and got a feel for how people live. We saw school kids in uniforms and some were playing football at recess. We hiked to the top of Mt. Eden which is the highest point in Auckland. The 360 degree views were well worth the effort. What also made this worth it was the comforting Italian food we ate after we completed it.
The San Francisco of New Zealand
After 7 days in Auckland, it was time for us to leave Auckland today and follow the USWNT to their next match in Wellington. We packed our stuff and headed to the airport for our 10 am flight. I knew it would be a short flight but I swear we went up and I blinked and we landed. Fun fact; Wellington is known for being the windiest city in the world. And did we feel it on our flight? Let’s just say if I’m on a plane anywhere in the world in inclement weather, I hope my pilot received their training in Wellington.
The city is stunning from the air. It has a dramatic shoreline, houses nestled into the hillside.The ocean has varying shades of blue. I can certainly see why people think it is similar to San Francisco.
We spent the day checking into our hotel and walking our new city. So far it has less of a commercial business vibe than Auckland with more clothing stores; lots of restaurants of varying cuisines and even record stores. And of course a coffee shop on every block which makes me really happy.
Next up USA vs NED tomorrow which is a big game. These fans need to rest up!