NEW ZEALAND :- Auckland (Devonport) >>Flight
back to Sydney
16th Day: 21.03.2016
It was around 05:20 in the morning when my
IPhone woke me up in my room #104 at the Albion Hotel. I changed and rushed to
get the car from the parking lot because the ticket should be going to expire
at 05:30. I took the car and drove directly to AVIS Car Hire office located on
the Nelson Street. There are a few people in the streets for whom the life
starts early in the morning. It is also the case for me today. I parked at the
side on the street just in front of the AVIS building but the office will not
be opened before 07:30. At the post on the sidewalk, I read that the parking is
free up to 08:00 and I was deciding to leave the car here and to go back to the
hotel and to sleep. The hotel is approx. 400 meters away from AVIS. Suddenly I
saw a car driving out from the parking lot of the building. The automatic doors
are only operating with correct codes and I do not have the key. I rushed to
enter the garage just after the guy who came out before the gate closed
automatically. I was inside the garage but all AVIS locations were full. I
parked the car in a corner and wanted to get out by walking. The doors are also
operable with code and I couldn’t open the doors.
Luckily, a few minutes later someone entered
the garage with his car and I stepped out.
I walked to the Hotel and it was 06:10 and
I slept again for more than one hour. At 07:40 I went to the AVIS car rental
and handed over the car officially. I prepared all my luggage and left in the
storage room of the Albion Hotel. I finished my check-out and then I walked
down to the Quay in order to take the ferry to Devonport.
Fullers Ferries are operating to Devonport
which is a small suburb of Auckland on the north side of the bay. The ferries
take people in 10 minutes to Devonport and there are nice places to walk and to
see. With its picturesque Victorian villas, stylish shops and cafés is
Devonport a great place to spend minimum half day. I can highly suggest a trip to Devonport !!!
I caught the ferry and stepped on Devonport
after 15 minutes. There is a Hotel just adjacent to the ferry wharf at the
entry of the Victoria Rd. The weather was sunny and the sky was clear. I sat
there at the café “Dixie Browns” and
had my breakfast. Then I started to walk on the Victoria Rd and climbed to the
top of the volcanic cone -Mount Victoria-
which is around 90 meters above the sea level. There is a nice view over to
Auckland. I took a lot of pictures there.
 |
| Auckland City from the ferry's deck |
 |
| View over Devonport, looking to Auckland City, Mount Victoria |
I enjoyed walking through the green road
where I met also a writer’s house in a calm and silent place.
 |
| Michael King Writers' Centre |
I walked all the way down on Kerr Street and saw nice villas and
gardens. When I reached to the King
Edward Parade which is the coastal road, I sat on a bench and watched the sea,
birds and the North Shore of Auckland. The color and the shape of the rocks at
the shore of Torpedo Bay confirm that there was some time in the past eruption
of the volcano. I headed to the Cheltenham Beach which took only 20 minutes by
walking. There were a few people kite surfing at the beach. I took some pictures even the sun light
was bad for my pictures.
 |
| Cheltenham Beach, Devonport,Auckland |
Then I walked to the top of the North Head which is the second head of the volcano.
There was a kind of artillery establishment
on the top. I saw military tunnels, bunkers and gun emplacements. It was
interesting. There were two big canon guns each having 6” (150mm) diameter and
the loading facility of them was also with special conveyors.
The military had used them in the past and
the unbearable noise had caused a lot of hazards in the town and glasses had
been broken etc. Then the people had decided to plant trees around the town in
order to hinder the shock waves penetrating the town.
The tree are now well grown and not even
one shot was done after that any more.
After finishing my tour on that part of
Devonport I sat again at the café “Dixie
Browns” of the Hotel. I ordered a cold beer and calamari for the lunch. It
was around 13:30 when I finished my lunch and paid the bill. I took the ferry
at 13:45 back to Auckland. At 14:00 o’clock we landed and then I bought some
souvenirs for my friends.
I came back to the Hotel at 15:00 o’clock
and made my last arrangements with my luggage and took all my stuff with me and
walked down to the SkyBus (=Bus service for airport)
 |
| Just before boarding at Auckland ferry port |
Station which is only 200 meter downwards
on the Hobson Street.
The bus costs only 12.-NZD (or maybe 16.-) and
drives in 50-60 minutes to the airport. This is the best way in my opinion to
get to the airport or city. The SkyBus runs every 10 minutes.
As soon as I got at the airport I completed
my check-in to the Emirates flight to Sydney.
After a comfortable flight I arrived at
Sydney airport and took the ticket for the Redy2Go shuttle service which
brought me to the Airport Hotel Sydney at Arncliffe. It was 21:00 something
when I moved to my room on the second floor. This is my second staying at this
Hotel. I stayed also just before I flew to Auckland and it was 4 days ago.
It is a good option if someone arrives at
Sydney late and has a next day flight early in the morning. The shuttle service
of Redy2Go costs only 8.-AUD.
I made the booking through the reception
for the shuttle of Redy2Go for the next morning flight to Ayers Rock. My flight
is at 09:50 and I made the booking for 08:45 shuttle. But…?
I slept and prepared for the morning
flight.
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