Hi y'all,
All ashore in Auckland. The ship docked right downtown so it's a beautiful wharf. It's was chaotic with three cruise ships at the same time so we were looking around a little lost when this lady approached us and asked if we needed help. We explained that we needed to get to the ferry wharf that goes over to the island where we would be staying. She said no worries I will walk you there.
Come to find out she does this most days that the ships are in. She just likes to help tourist find thier way. She stayed with us and helped us find the baggage storage place too. We checked our luggage in so we had the day to explore Auckland before we took a ferry. We had a foodie tour at 230p so we had 3 hours to kill. We landed in this cute oyster bar. They had the best oysters!!!
The Foodie tour was great. We sampled cheeses, gelato, fish and chips, meatballs, chocolate, local wine, chicken sliders, and more. We walked the whole pier area. Our guide Jono was very entertaining and the group was nice. It was about 530p when it was done. Lovely day.
Then, we walk back to the dock to pick up our luggage and imagine our dismay when the business was closed! CLOSED! locked out no luggage no clothes no medications no toothbrush!
We asked everyone and everyone tried to help but nope. No one had a key. So we bought our ferry tickets to the island and went back to the oyster bar and had a glass of wine. What else was there to do but just carry on ?
While on the ferry I finally got emails from all day. In them was an email from the car rental wanting to know what ferry dock to leave the car at. From 9a this morning and now they are closed. So now we have no car. This day!!!
We get to the island and there finally was one taxi that pulled in. The travel gods sent him! He was a jewel and took us to a store where we got essentials like a toothbrush and toothpaste , chips and dip. And wine. Then took us on ( much further than I imagined) to the guest house at the Te Whau Lodge.
We got there and it was all lit up. And we told him we were great . We arranged for him to pick us up in the morning to take us back to the ferry so we can go back to Auckland to get our luggage and then back .
After he left we went to open the door and it was locked. We looked all around. No key. We finally found a lockbox. And I finally found the email from 9/14/23 that had the code in it . But it would not open. Y'all we were out there in the dark locked out tired and getting grumpy. I called the office number , no answer, Called the emergency number , voicemail. Walked to the lodge and the door was locked. THIS DAY! Finally , and he doesn't know how, Chris got the box to open and we got in.
It's lovely and we will have amazing views and a hot tub. But this has tested us. Not a harsh word said. We laughed through it all. We are tired and dreading having to go back tomorrow. But by noon it will all be done and we will have until Sunday to enjoy this magical place.
Chris: We knew worst case scenario was to call the cab back and ask him to take us to a hotel and we start a new tomorrow but this place seems to be way out in the middle of nowhere and pitch dark so it was pretty humbling just standing out there in the dark knowing we had paid for this place for the night and we couldn't get in !
It's the next morning now and we are on the ferry heading back to Auckland to retrieve our bags. It's about a 35-40 minute trip. We got on the 10AM ferry and had hoped to run off, get our bags and get on the 11AM ferry back to the island but we left 15 minutes late and we are not sure if it's the same boat that goes back and forth or if there are several different boats. If it's a different boat that goes back and it's on time we doubt there is any way we can make the 11AM ferry. Oh well, we know where to get beer and oysters.
We are going to make this day good! Love y'all.
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