Today, I discovered what great hiking shoes my pair of blue chucks makes: a damned horrible pair. Surprise! They’re probably better than my sandals, but it’s too chilly for that. I should have left my swimsuit in Christchurch.
After tasty breakfast near my hostel, I went to the wharf and hopped on the ferry to Waiheke island. Famous for wineries and scenery, it’s just 40 minutes by ferry to the island.
I chose the hiking option, and followed its winding trails up and down the island’s ridges for about four hours. Totally gorgeous! I walked in the water for a bit, and saw a lot of vineyards.
After a nice nap on the return ferry, I headed up the sky tower for a good view of the entire city. Auckland is a sprawling city built on a bunch of volcanic cones, though there are a few proper skyscrapers downtown.
Rain was moving in and it was getting windy and more chilly, so I headed back to the hostel for the evening. Ok, and my feet really hurt.
Shopping and whale watching tomorrow, woohoo!