AmyHuang
City of Sails - Auckland
I have waited too long for my sister to eventually turn up with that article of hers that we decided to go see Antarctica ourselves:
Well ok - not really. I am afraid this is as close to Antarctica as I can get to for the next ten years and it's good enough for now.
We are at Kelly Tarltons Underwater World in Auckland. Will suggested we visit because he had seen some advertising about their newly opened Antarctica section.
"It's just like the aquarium isn't it?" I asked, but we went anyway.
Yes indeed, it is almost exactly the same as the Sydney Aquarium or any other similar underwater aquariums in the world, but once I got there I enoyed myself tremendously.
Not because it's better. Because life under the sea is so much fun wherever you are.
The recently added Antarctic section is a big hit, and is one of the reason why we visited in the first place. You get put in this little snowmobil thing and it takes you around their penguine enclosure with information about the penguins and research in Antarctica.
The rest of the centre has lots of interactive activities. Kelly Tarlton's run a free shuttle bus to and from the city centre, and entry is $31.50, or pick up one of those free Auckland guides when you get out of the airport and there is a 10% off admission coupon in it you can use.
Auckland was our gateway to Rotorua, and we thought we'd use the opportunity to visit since we had to stop by anyway.
And so it turned out - it wasn't too bad
Admittedly, Auckland is a cosmopolitan harbour city, just like Sydney, yet with significantly fewer occupants, it's not as busy and feels a lot more laid back than the city I live in.
Besides Kelly Tarltons, we did all the necessary tourist things like visited the tower, browsed through the museum, and shopped for souvenirs. There were a few local hunts that I particularly liked. The suburb of Parnell, just 10 mins drive from the centre of Auckland, is really cute. It has all these cute little victorian shop fronts and side lanes that open up to courtyards and backways; there is also the Rose Garden which is the perfect place to relax and read a book.
Then there is Devonport - 10 mins ferry ride across the harbour with the best view of the Auckland skyline from the top of its volcanic cones. The historic Devonport has lots of stories to tell and it's a quick day visit if you have the time. I for one, think this could be the place for me to retire, if by the time I retire I can't afford a villa in Tuscany.....
Oh yeah - while we were on top of the tower they happened to have a 'Jumper' for the Sky Jump, and we got to watch. We were safe inside the tower and this dude was dangling outside, check out the jump below: (sorry, you may need to turn your computer around mid-way.... I don't know how to edit this thinig... and the beginning is a bit slow, I wasn't sure when they were going to pull the cord!)
King penguins of Antarctica
Well ok - not really. I am afraid this is as close to Antarctica as I can get to for the next ten years and it's good enough for now.
We are at Kelly Tarltons Underwater World in Auckland. Will suggested we visit because he had seen some advertising about their newly opened Antarctica section.
"It's just like the aquarium isn't it?" I asked, but we went anyway.
Yes indeed, it is almost exactly the same as the Sydney Aquarium or any other similar underwater aquariums in the world, but once I got there I enoyed myself tremendously.
Not because it's better. Because life under the sea is so much fun wherever you are.
The recently added Antarctic section is a big hit, and is one of the reason why we visited in the first place. You get put in this little snowmobil thing and it takes you around their penguine enclosure with information about the penguins and research in Antarctica.
The rest of the centre has lots of interactive activities. Kelly Tarlton's run a free shuttle bus to and from the city centre, and entry is $31.50, or pick up one of those free Auckland guides when you get out of the airport and there is a 10% off admission coupon in it you can use.
Auckland was our gateway to Rotorua, and we thought we'd use the opportunity to visit since we had to stop by anyway.
And so it turned out - it wasn't too bad
Admittedly, Auckland is a cosmopolitan harbour city, just like Sydney, yet with significantly fewer occupants, it's not as busy and feels a lot more laid back than the city I live in.
Auckland at night
Besides Kelly Tarltons, we did all the necessary tourist things like visited the tower, browsed through the museum, and shopped for souvenirs. There were a few local hunts that I particularly liked. The suburb of Parnell, just 10 mins drive from the centre of Auckland, is really cute. It has all these cute little victorian shop fronts and side lanes that open up to courtyards and backways; there is also the Rose Garden which is the perfect place to relax and read a book.
The Tower observation deck
Parts of the flooring on the observation deck is glass - it can feel quite freaky!
Then there is Devonport - 10 mins ferry ride across the harbour with the best view of the Auckland skyline from the top of its volcanic cones. The historic Devonport has lots of stories to tell and it's a quick day visit if you have the time. I for one, think this could be the place for me to retire, if by the time I retire I can't afford a villa in Tuscany.....
Oh yeah - while we were on top of the tower they happened to have a 'Jumper' for the Sky Jump, and we got to watch. We were safe inside the tower and this dude was dangling outside, check out the jump below: (sorry, you may need to turn your computer around mid-way.... I don't know how to edit this thinig... and the beginning is a bit slow, I wasn't sure when they were going to pull the cord!)
