Auckland

Our last stop on the month long trip.  From Pahia to Auckland is a 4 hour drive, we thought we would break it up with 18 holes at Waipu golf course.  Set on the water’s edge of Bream Bay with spectacular ocean views from all 18 holes, with a reputation of some of the best greens in New Zealand, this naturally sand based course presented us with great challenges and outstanding panoramas from tees and greens.  The course was badly flooded after Cyclone Gabrielle and opened up for 18 hole play on the day we wanted to play it - luck was on our side and surely this was the day we were going to beat the boys.  The highlight of the day was Penelope Pitstop our ride for the day.  

As the State Highway 1 was closed southbound due to Cyclone damage, it was a little out of our way, but we decided to play and it was worth it.  Beautiful views and a good country course.  But the baddies won again, seriously getting irritating.  I think the boys were 7 up at one stage, I mean what do we have to do! Needless to say that they won again.  Photos below.

Then a scenic drive through the green rolling hills of the North Island.  Very slow driving but beautiful scenery everywhere.  We arrive in Auckland and find our home for the next 5 nights.  We are staying in the centre, I was a bit worried about the car fitting in the car parking bay provided, but all worked out well.  The apartment is on the 24th Floor with lovely views - so happy days.

Tonight we were booked into Esther which is a friend's restaurant named after his grandmother, unfortunately, he was not there but the meal was fab, and a good night was had by all.  The girls were buying - of course!

Next stop is Titirangi, this is an Alistair McKenzie course in Auckland.  What a welcome we got, after the curt reception at Kauri Cliffs, at Titirangi they were so welcoming taking the time to tell us about the course, where to drive the carts, etc.  We got given a water bottle to keep, pencils and pitch repairers as well.  Really very well done, it leaves you with an "Aahhh moment".   This was going to be the day we beat the boys.  The course had also suffered damage but was in excellent condition, the boys were just impossible to beat yet again!  Ross is playing out of his tree and when he has a hiccup John is there with a 3 or 4 pointer.  Photos below:

As you can see, we have been blessed with wonderful weather, today we are due to play Windross Farm.  Rain on the way but we are on, surely wet sticky grass is going to stump the errant shots of the boys?  Again a fantastic welcome by our South African host, they allow us to delay our start by 30 minutes which gives the rain time to go away.  So off we go, Windross Farm has been developed as a unique inland links-style course that offers a mixture of flat and undulating ground, man-made lakes and strategically placed dramatic bunkers to offer the best of golf and the natural environment.  The course was designed over 6 years by Brett Thomson (The Hills, Clearwater, Jack's Point) with additional consulting input from Phil Tataurangi.  It is very similar to Jacks Point, just no Wakatipu or Remarkables views.

Ross had a golfing dream last night, he dreamt of sinking long curving putts.  Guess what, 24 points on the front 9 - we had no hope.  Ross was apologising as he sunk long putts and his dream came true.  We were playing individual skins, the day was sponsored by yours truly only winning one skin with an eagle.  Hard work playing with these punters. Ross got 7 skins, John 6, Carolyn 4.  Ross was 3 over par on the front 9, really great golf.  The rain held off, Carolyn got chased by a duck, lots of fun. Some of the photos below:

That evening we dined out with Carolyn and Ross's friends, we went down to the Viaduct/Harbour.  I have to tell you it is so good to see Auckland so busy, hip and vibrant.  She feels like she is really thriving.  Restaurants fully booked, streets full with tourists and locals.  Just brilliant to see.  Remember 5 weeks ago Auckland was under water and streets were rivers.  

Our fun game is to see if Carolyn can fin our Apartment after getting out of the lift.  There are four lifts, 2 opposite each other, so depending on the lift, some days you turn left and others you turn right.  Well she pretty much turned the wrong way each time.  Oh the little games we play!

Today was a day of rest, which involved Ross taking Carolyn on a short, gentle walk to Ponsonby (cough cough)!  John and I exploring Auckland by Scooter.  Of the 3 galleries we went to vist two were closed for re-organising, so not so successful on that front but good to see other parts of Auckland.  Photos below:

Last game of golf was at Murawai, which is on the west coast.  Murawai was one of the villages that was badly hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and is closed to visitors.  We had to pass a checkpoint and have a tee time to enter.  Sadly this is to prevent looting.  It was evident by the land slips everywhere that Murawai residents are doing it very tough.  We asked the guy in the ProShop how the residents are and as a resident he swallowed the lump in his throat before answering and said "tough".  Very hard to hear, just so sad that everything can go in a second.  Anyway, the golf course was open, it had also suffered from flooding and the water table is still very high, so some bunkers are now newly formed water hazards.  This was our last chance to beat the pesky boys and we are off to a great start 1 up after 3 holes, first time this holiday we have been up.  Sadly we mentioned this to the boys and they found their form some where and started combining very well.  SO FRUSTRATING!  The girls are buying dinner AGAIN!  The course was quaint, with lovely views, right on the ocean, the bunkers had black beach sand which the west coast is famous for.  A really good day.

Our last night in Auckland, Carolyn and Ross have one more day to explore.  Dinner at the harbour, Carolyn spent a long long time to find a restaurant that had Oysters for me and beef and chicken for John, and it wasn't fully booked.  Found one, they had run out of Oysters.  But it was in a wonderful location, good food and a fun evening.

Bye bye Auckland, Kia ora a Tamaki Makaurau ka kite a muri ake nei.