Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand March 16, 2025

After disembarking the Queen Anne, we picked up a rental car and drove out of Auckland to Piha Beach.

We were about to embark on a whole new adventure spending two weeks on the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Black sand at Piha Beach, a result of past volcanic action.

The last time Larry and I were here, the tide was out and a wedding party were out on the edge of the rocks having photos taken.

Love the photo bomb surfer!

Lots of surfers were catching waves….it was fun to watch.

We went down a path to Maukatia Bay, a park that gave us close up views of Gannets nesting on the flat cliffs above Piha Beach.

The views were stupendous!

We could spot Gannets on distant cliffs. They come here each summer and mate, raising their young often in the same nest year after year.

A teenage Gannet. Babies are covered in white down feathers

Luckily, I caught this young one starting to fly.

We climbed up from the black volcanic rocks. The stairs that lead the way up to the lookout point had been wiped out from a cyclone.

An adult Gannet

Young Gannets

Straight down off the cliffs

A young gannet still has fluffy feathers. Very few of these were spotted because it is the end of the season for raising Gannets.

Wendy and Irene, two dear NZ friends we met on the MSC Poesia in 2024. We plan to visit with them during our travels on the North Island.

First we visited Irene. She lives in a cute 150 year old home.

Irene treated us to a wonderful New Zealand dinner of leg of lamb and many roasted veggies that were new to us.

Her home had intricate stained glass doors and windows.

She also had a collection of one of my favorite artist, Norman Rockwell.

Irene’s home was full of antiques including a large collection of China.

Irene sent us off the next morning vowing that we would see her in the US in the coming year.