Australia & New Zealand - Day. 15 - 10th June

Day 15

Up early and off to the airport.  Got there by 5.30 and went to check in.  Found Justin had been upgraded to Business class so while checking if I could get upgrade also, we had breakfast in the business class lounge.

I failed in my attempt but still enjoyed breakfast in the B C lounge before catching the plane.

Here's one just to prove I was there

Emirates Business Class lounge at Sydney airport

Alfie sending email to Amy rubbing it in

When we arrived in Auckland we were met by Andrew Clemmett and after a short tour  we were dropped off at our apartment.  We arranged to meet later in a bar called the Sixteen Tun. Now if you are ever in Auckland I can thoroughly recommend this bar which is to be found in the Wynyard Quarter of Viaduct Harbour. Luckily for us only a stones throw from where we were staying on Fanshawe Street.

It is a craft beer pub with I would think around 20 different beers, lagers, ales as well as specialist bottled ciders but it is not just that, it is the music selection playing which grabbed me and the selection of bar foods was first class. Another bar I would highly recommend you visit. 

When the bar closed I was dragged to the Sky City Casino for another couple of hours before we decided to call it a night. After all, the match was the next day.

Australia & New Zealand - Day 14 - 9th June

Day 14

Well it won't be a long blog today as I have been preparing to fly to Auckland, New Zealand in the morning.

Had to pop into North Sydney first to get myself a new phone for use when I am over here.  Got a very nice Telstra Android smartphone for only £49.  It'll do fine for the next 7 weeks.  Then I'll leave it here for topping up when next over.

North Sydney

North Sydney

I am meeting Andrew Clemmett (Kramer) in Auckland tomorrow and later in the week I will be catching up with Ryan in Hamilton. Most Paramount people will remember them for their spell spent with us a few years ago when they came over to play rugby with Old  Illtydians in Cardiff.

My reason for going to New Zealand is of course to watch Wales play The All Blacks in two of the three tests and also the mid-week game in Hamilton against the Chiefs

When I arrive I will be wearing this cap.  I hope the significance is not lost on them.  I know it was a long time ago but it still burns in the memory.

My new best cap

I expect to send some good posts from New Zealand over the next 10 days.

Australia & New Zealand - Day 13 - 8th June

Day 12

Glorious day. Not a cloud in the sky.  I decided to have a leisurely day at home today but not before going to pick up some school uniform for Cerys from Warringah Mall.

It's a nice Mall, but no Mall at Millennia or Florida Mall.  The prices bear no similarity at all.

Warringah Mall

Inside Warringah Mall

Then it was back to Frenchs Forest to chill out and have a stroll around outside.  It's even nicer here now the sun is back.

Amy's house

From another angle

Side garden and the Granny flat

The Reserve next door

Australia & New Zealand - Day 12 - 7th June

Day 12


A much nicer day today.  The weather had calmed down, the sun was out and everything seemed just right.  I caught the Manly ferry into Circular Quay and then hopped on the ferry to Darling Harbour.

On the Manly ferry there were many photo opportunities, some of which can be seen below.

In port at Manly waiting to leave

Blue skies and white fluffy clouds.  Not what we've experienced lately

Casting off

Heading out into the Harbour

The entrance to Sydney Harbour. Out there the Tasman Sea, then the Pacific

The Sydney skyline from the harbour

Kirribilli House , Home of the Australian Prime Minister. Where the Royals stay when in town

Nice shot of the Opera House from the ferry

Oh! Buckley's again

Leaving Circular Quay heading to Darling Harbour there were more opportunities.

Former warehouses now expensive living places

One of the bridge towers

Sailing under the Harbour bridge

Whale watching boat.  I'll be doing that soon 

Once I arrived at Darling Harbour I could not believe the buildings that had sprung up since I was last here 12 months ago! New convention centres, offices and restaurants.  I wonder who is doing the fit outs?

Plenty more to see around Darling Harbour, and plenty of green spaces to relax (does that chp look pleased to see me?) or you could try to exercise like the group doing their boxercise class.

For lunch, I went to another favourite of mine.  The Pump House for my usual lunch there of honey glazed lamb ribs with a bowl of beer battered chips. Accompanied by a local draft cider. Heaven!

The Pump House, Darling Harbour

Australia & New Zealand - Day 11 - 6th June

Day 11

The storm has passed but everybody is talking about it so I thought I would go to Dee Why or Curl Curl to see what the water was like today.  I hopped on a Manly bus and set off intending to get off on one of the beaches mentioned.

However, on the bus the talk was all about Manly and the 5 metre waves there. So I carried on to Queenscliff and got off the bus there.  I then walked the whole of Manly beach into Manly and took the following photographs on my way.  

These waves were due to the recent storms which eased off yesterday evening.

I've neve seen Manly like this before not one reason on the beach and obviously nobody in the water.....until I saw this lot

The storm deposited so much sand on the roads and promenade that it looked more like the beach than the beach

Beach

Road