Wenesday Jan 17 - Australia to New Zealand

Regular readers will be spared a lengthy blog entry today (I think) as we spent most of the day in airports and in the air. Strange when you think it’s only a 3 hour flight from Sydney to Auckland but with a 2 hour time change as well the day gets eaten up pretty quickly.

Both airports are very efficient and, for those that think there are no good airlines any more - try Quantas.  Good seats, great entertainment choices, decent food and wine.  Come on American, KLM, Air Canada - try harder!

Our home for the next 2 nights is the Best Western Presidents Hotel in Auckland. Very well located and the room is clean but, like our first night in Katoomba, this won’t be making the cover of their annual report.

We took an evening stroll down to the ferry and wharf area which is full of interesting restaurants. We settled on Oyster and Chop and....... we have a new entry in the fish and chips sweeps!  Can’t give it quite the style points of the Fairmont Vancouver Airport but the taste, right up there.  Definitely in solid second place right now.  Gave our first southern hemisphere tip here. (It’s not common practice). A Corsican kid who is working his way around the world. A standout from regular servers so far.

Just to make things fair,  keen eyed observers will note the excellent Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc.  The had this with her meal in Vancouver so the playing field was really lvelled.

Walking back we passed some America’s Cup style racing yachts.  You can sign up for a racing experience.  These pics are for you Andy. 

Tomorrow promises to be an absolute soaker. Need to research what to do here in the rain. Wine Institute maybe?

By the way, we did our first two Ubers today to and from airports.  BC, let’s stop the foot dragging, we need this service.