From the moment we boarded our Whidbey-SeaTac shuttle, boarded a Virgin America flight to LAX and finally settled into our 12 hour Air New Zealand flight, comfort and service was front and center.  Before we deplaned in Auckland, we had an invitation to stay in the apartment of one of our fellow passengers. Warmth and hospitality have been the theme for all our encounters with New Zealanders. In using various systems of transportation on our first day, we were given immediate assistance for trains, buses and ferries to acquaint ourselves with this city and were quite pleased to retrace our steps to Eden Park where we spent our first night.

The following morning, our first Servas hosts, Mary and Graham Sweet (sweetwanders),  arrived and gave us a driving tour of this city and it’s surroundings, where half the population of the country lives. Mary and Graham have explored their homeland as well as many other areas of the world. They completely gave themselves over to guiding and visiting with us, taking us to view the cliff top nesting areas of thousands of gannets and terns. Hiking above them, we were able to look down, observing their behavior—nurturing their chicks and necking with their mates.

We were introduced to their friends who were similarly easy going and friendly. They were invaluable in advising us of places we might enjoy as we make our way to Rotorua. The past two days spent on the Coromandel Peninsula has been a treat with wonderful views, walks and the most winding roads I have ever had the delight to drive on. Fortunately I have remembered to stay on the left side of the road.

Cynthia

A gannet landing on the rocks

Gannet chick, hatched a few weeks ago

Gannet rookery