______ Let's ______

TRAVEL. DIVE. EAT. FLY. WRITE. 

_________ Because Everything is Awesome _________

 

 

 

April 23, 2016

Auckland : Metropolitan city with its volcanic mounts

13 - 14th days of my 16 days backpacking through New Zealand and Australia


Auckland is the most well-known metropolitan and largest city located in North Island, New Zealand. It is the business center of New Zealand where there are many skyscraper building that never found in any city/town in New Zealand. Even though it is metropolitan city,  you can find turquoise water with just 15 minutes from the city center. Another thing is the city is surrounded by volcanic mounts which transformed to be public parks!

I stayed with an Indonesian family who i never expected to stay with. I learned more about the life in Auckland as foreigner from them. Meeting with some friends, enjoying the city, visiting city side and relaxing  was the thing that i did in Auckland. Sometimes, i don't know how to enjoy very big city. i am a nature enthusiast.

The trips

It is my 16 days backpacking through New Zealand and Australia on late November to mid December 2015. follow the full adventure by clicking each link :
Itinerary

Day 1
  • 02:00 - 08:25 : Traveling from Turangi to Auckland by Naked Bus
  • 08:25 - 09:00 : Tea time while waiting My friends
  • 09:00 - 11:00 : Traveling to the Accommodation in Mt roskill and taking a bath. I hadn't took a bath for 3 days!!
  • 11:00 - 21:00 : Traveling to city view point
Day 2
  • 08:00 - 10:00 : Visiting Mt Eden with the family
  • 10:00 - 17:00 : Going around the city by bicycle and walking
  • 20:55 - 23:00 : Flight from Auckland to Melbourne
Getting here and around


Getting here
Auckland is the main city in New Zealand. Most of the plane from domestic or international is departed/arrived from Auckland. For Bus Option, Intercity, naked bus, mana bus etc connect the city with the far northern, western, eastern and southern part of the North island. You will not get any trouble with the transportation

Getting around
City Transportation is also well provided. You may count bus or train. Bus is the main transportation in the city and it connect the whole part of the city to the city center. You are also able to take Ferry if you plan to go to the island nearby. Follow this link for any information related with the transportation  https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/

Accommodation

I stayed with Indonesian family in their house located in Mt roskill or 20 minutes from the CBD. It is most probably, the best accommodation ever during my trip!

Greeting from the family

Before departed to New Zealand, i had asked my friend whether i was able to stay in his house. Then, I was suggested by my friend to his friend house. I never expected that i will stayed with an Indonesian family. It little bit awkward at the first but they welcomed me very well. Thank you for the hospitality!

The family rented a house in Mt roskill. It was just 20 minutes driving from the CBD. The house was owned by Chinese. The owner lived in China actually so he expand his business very far. I asked about live in New Zealand to them. They said that the country is very welcome. Before the European came to New Zealand, New Zealand had been explored by Maori people. Nowadays, they live together and Maori language is still used until now. I was told by my friend that some Maori language had similarity like traditional language in Indonesia.

 Auckland City tour


I was little bit confused to spend my time in the big city. It may because of i was a Nature enthusiast. My friend, Kang Toni, accompanied me during the city tour so i just followed him wherever he go. 

The City view point & beaches


My friend suggested me to go far west following the shore . He said that i would get better scenery to see Auckland from far away. He also recommend the beach with its vivid colour water. I never expected much with the beach nearby big city. It should be just a common beach. We went there using bus. We stopped at front of the small pier. It was located nearby Okahu function & event and SEA life Aquarium. We visited the pier and i saw the colour of the water. It was so vivid, over my expectation! From there i could see the tall buildings of Auckland. Night time might get better sight because of the city light.

Opposite side of the city view, There was an island with its mountain called Rangitoto Island. this is one of Volcanic field in Auckland. The mountain is the youngest and largest volcano in Auckland erupting out of the sea around 600 years ago. I like the shape of the mountain, looks so dramatic.

University Visit


University is one of the place that can represent the country and its culture. I always put it in my itinerary but sometimes my travel partner doesn't agree with it. I was a solo-travel so the itinerary was mine. I asked my friend to bring me to the his University. He was a student in Auckland University of Technology. We went around to the university and the building was distributed to some area so we just went to the iconic building. I also tried the Muslim prayer hall nearby the University. It was established by the Muslim students of the university.

Mount Eden


I packed my bag and had to say goodbye with the Indonesian family. They were very kind. They brought me to the Mt Eden before i left. I didn't know what kind of mount is that. Previously, i did not believe that this was a mount because the height ... just like a hill. After arrived on the summit...yes it was a mount. It had crater!

I asked them "Is it just common mount?"
"nope, it is a volcanic mount and we have a lot around the city" replied them

What!! it was a yes that i could see another peak from there. The mount was transformed to be a public park!

It's called Auckland volcanic field, an area of volcanoes underlying much of the metropolitan area of Auckland. Auckland has 90 volcanic eruptions from 50 volcanoes, that become a city hill and public park now, in the last of 90.000 years. The only city that built on active basaltic volcanic field is Auckland. We can say some some volcanoes are considered extinct but the volcanic field itself is there. wow!

Queen Street & Wynyard

The busiest street in Auckland is Queen street. It is a long street where a lot of shopping mall, business center and tourist services. There is a lot of stall selling a souvenirs and merchandises along the pedestrian walk. The price is relatively same actually. Last time, i tried to compare the prince for T-Shirt. The stall inside the mall is cheaper rather than outside. You may try your luck!

Another place made me interested is Wynyard. I Cycled there and enjoyed the Auckland Waterfront. Almost like in Wellingtown, the waterfront is the place where the locals enjoyed their free time, urban activities but it is bigger.

Goodbye New Zealand



which was meant time for leaving from New Zealand. My flight was at 20:55 so i considered to fo to Airport 3 hours before.

I checked in and the airlines staff asked me to weight my bag. My bag was 11 kg or 4 kg over from the maximum cabin baggage for economy class. She asked me to pay 150 NZD for the baggage. I said, "NO!". It wasted my money so i just threw some of food and clothes for reducing the weight.



7 kg Cabin Baggage
Be careful! the rule for 7 kg cabin baggage is very strict in Australia and New Zealand. Your belonging will be checked by the airport officer before continue to immigration. I threw some of my pants and food because of it



Good bye New Zealand 

Believe me that this country is worth to be visited!!

3 comments:

  1. Mas, foto wanita di kursi dengan pohon besar itu dimana? Di Auckland University of Technology kah? Saya berencana ke NZ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nama tempatnya emily place reserve. posisinya di pusat kota acukland tapi ini nemunya ga sengaja pas muter2 uninya

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