Of all the countries on my 80 day cruise New Zealand was the one I was most excited about. I had heard from several travelers over the years that everyone loves New Zealand and after my short visit I would have to agree. This country consist of two main islands and is surrounded by several smaller islands especially in the Bay of Islands. Our adventures visited the north island which if you are a Lord of the Rings fan you would be in heaven as this is where middle earth was created.
First stop was the Bay of Islands in Waitangi, New Zealand. I had scheduled a catamaran cruise to see Cape Brett Lighthouse and if weather permitted to sail through the hole in the rock at the very tip. It was a cold and crisp day for sailing and I loved every moment of it as we passed island after island heading toward the open sea. Once we returned a friend and I stopped off at 35 Degrees South Restaurant, Aquarium and Bar to warm up with a local version of hot chocolate with a kick. The town of Waitangi was small but offered a good selection of shopping and food choices. They had an open craft market which had a lot of great local items.
Second stop was in Tauranga, New Zealand and I took the day off from tours to explore on my own. Very quaint town with a lot of local choices for food and shopping. I really enjoyed my time there exploring the streets and shops. Hiking options are very close to town if you feel the need to climb a mountain.
Last stop was Auckland which has two large harbors and is referred to as the city of sails. We docked in town which was awesome for sightseeing. I had scheduled to take the city tour that also included the town of Devonport across the bay. Really liked Auckland as it is very modern and you find superyachts and streets lined with bars and cafes. The town had a fun vibe and endless things to do.
New Zealand did not disappoint and I will be going back to explore the South Island!