beelikej | Auckland and beyond: Northern Island train [April 2023]

This month I've been busy with moderator duties for the good old NicknGreg fandom; I had to sort out a few issues on the WMTDB website in order to get it ready for the definite transition to AO3. It was such a relief when I finally traced some mystery tags back to a fic challenge from 2004! Hopefully that was the final problem and we'll have a smooth move from here on:)

Today I dove back into my pile of photos from my (business) trip to New Zealand; these picspams are of the last two days before I flew on to Australia for a family visit.
Because of my covid isolation I had lost some days that I had wanted to use for exploring around Auckland before I had to catch the train to Wellington. Thankfully I still had one day left to visit a sight on top of my list: Maungawhau (Mount Eden). The climb took a lot less time than expected, so I also had a few hours to finish the day on one of my favorite mode of transportation: a ferry!

Look at my happy face (That's Auckland in the background:)

Let's goooo!

Wednesday, April 5: Maungawhau (Mount Eden) & bonus ferry

After breakfast I spend some time writing postcards in my room, before I take the bus to the city centre.

I love the design of Queen street, which gets greener the closer you get to the waterfront.
I walk to Britomart, the rail & bus station to figure out where my bus stop is.

Near the busstop: detail of a mural of 25 pots by Contemporary Māori artist Shane Cotton, entitled Maunga; the motif on each pot represents a maunga (place or mountain) in New Zealand. More info here
The bus is a double decker and I sit on top: view from the bus on the Tasman Building.

Behind the Cityside Baptist Church you can already see the green trees in the Tahaki Reserve.

Had to ask for help to find these steps up to start my climb; the map half way was not very clear either, but eventually I figured out where to go to get to the summit.

The road is closed for vehicles to protect the area; I still climbed up the heightened sidewalk, just to be safe. Higher up I also had a better view; I think that's Mount Hobson in the distance.

So green *heart eyes*. At the end of the sidewalk there were these steps...

The led to a flat field of grass with an amazing view of Auckland. I made a 360 video here!

Watch on YouTube

Then I climbed up another set of steps to the path towards the crater and summit.

It's very beautiful and quiet up here.

Look at that massive crater! It's really deep!!

From the top you can see Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill!), I zoomed in on the right. *pets camera*

After one last look at Auckland, I climbed back down.

Lots of busses here to go back to the city centre; from there I walked to the piers; notice the street art and the signs in both English and Maori.

Waiting for the ferry to Devonport, which is a heritage suburb on the other side of the Auckland harbour.

View on the 1912 terminal featuring Edwardian Baroque architecture.
Look, I'm on the ferry! I so love going on boats <3<3 Thrilled that I have time left to do this :-)

It's only a ten minute crossing, but I made loads of photos, haha! Enjoy these pics without my babbling:

The sun is already setting over the harbour, but there is enough light left for a walk around Devonport *waves at skyline of Auckland*

Cute art at Bartley Terrace, where I discover a supermarket and post office, that's just closing, but in front is an international mailbox where I plan to post my cards later. First I walk back to the wharf through the Windsor reserve, past the library and the War memorial (Great War 1914-1918)

I find a lovely spot on the pier to finish writing my postcards and view the sunset.

Gorgeous, right?

After I post my cards and bought some snacks for my trip tomorrow, I buy a take away dinner at Harry's Burger Punk Smash Burgers before I run to catch a ferry back. Barely have time to get a ticket, pfff.

On board I devour my smash burger (a Jnr Hash-Stack with 2 Beef patties, cheese and a hash brown!) and butterscotch hokey pokey shake, omnomnom:)
I'm very hungry and eat so fast that I also still have plenty of time to go outside to enjoy the view of Auckland.

Upon arrival, I have no more time for photos, because from the ferry I have to catch the bus to the hotel and I had my walk to the busstop perfectly timed
... but then the bus turned out to be cancelled, as was the next one (an hour later) and all the busses after that, so at the end of the evening I had no choice but to walk all the way to the hotel in the Parnell neighbourhood, which took me about an hour *sighs*.
Oh well, I did have a wonderful day and tomorrow I get to sit down all day on the train :-p

Thursday, April 6: Train from Auckland to Wellington

A quick breakfast before I walk to the trainstation (only 15 minutes, it's why I chose that hotel:) for the Northern Explorer Train from Auckland (7:45am) to Wellington (6:25pm).

Final look at the skyline of Aukland and I check in my backpack before finding my seat on the train:)

And here we go (mind the gap;), it takes about an hour to get out of Auckland and from then on it's one amazing view after another *chinhands*

I'll let you enjoy the ride without too much babbling:)

After taking lots of photos from my seat (excuse the reflections in the window), I spend some time in the open-air viewing carriage. There are no seats and it's windy, but so very cool with the best views \o/

I also made a short video from the open-air viewing carriage: view from the Northern Explorer Train

Very convenient and clean toilet on board, as well as monitors that show our location and an audio system that pings when there is interesting commentary about the area, which you can listen to on provided headphones.

See the sharp curve of the rails? This is the beginning of the Raurimu Spiral, a single-track railway spiral, built in 1898 to overcome a 139-metre (456 ft) height difference. It starts with a horseshoe curve and then has an ascending spiral southwards, with two relatively short tunnels, a circle and three hairpin bends!

Can you see the track we were just on? Check the image from the air to figure out how the train is going:)

Click for my video from the train riding the Raurimu Spiral!

Wheeee, it was like a roller coaster! After that exciting loop I head to the Scenic Cafe for lunch. They don't have any beef pies left, so I get a vegetarian Kumara & Cashew Pie and a 7UP.

Kumara are sweet potatoes, the pie also has mushrooms, broccoli, pumpkin and green beans. The pie is delicious!!

Makatote River.
Ohakune Old Coach Road Bridge.

View of Ruapehu <3

Rangitikei River (aka Anduin River in Lord of the Rings;), it's very long and winds along the tracks, so here's some more photos:

In between these two photo's I spent a couple of hours reading. I love trains so much.
The tracks go right along the coast! At the horizon: Kapiti Island.