Finding my Feet

We met with the IEP representative, Nalin who gave us a mini tour of Auckland. We stopped off on the way back at the top of Mount Eden which had great views all over the city. We then made our way to the ACB hostel convenientally located in the centre of Auckland on Queen Street.

Once we were settled in at ACB we all went for a walk to explore Auckland and to find a restaurant as we were all famished! Walked past lots of massage parlours and strip clubs, where we knew we'd find work if we got desperate! We headed to a little pub called the Queens Head on upper Queen Street but Helen, Hayley, Nick, Amy and I decided to head back to the hostel to get some rest as we were really jet lagged!
On the Tuesday we went to the IEP office and were introduced to the delights of the Peanut Slab and L&P and were given useful tips for finding work and accomodation in New Zealand.

In the evening Helen, Hayley, Nick, Amy and I went to the pub meet which was arranged by IEP and was a great opportunity to meet other people who were also on work and travel programmes. We met an American guy called Dustin and headed to the Empire Tavern on Nelson Street and took part in the pub quiz. On our way out of the pub we met Jonathan and Erin, two Americans who asked us to come to a karaoke bar called the Fiddler.

After a few pineapple juices...yes just pineapple juice, I decided to have a go at karaoke. Amy said she's sing with me but then as I went off to the toilet the crafty girl wrote me down to sing solo to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive!" Have to say I think I cleared the pub out pretty much! Amy also sang on her own and Nick and I sang the best version of the Righteous Brothers "You've Lost that Loving Feeling." Everyone was in hysterics!
We then all headed to Globe, the hostel bar but me and Amy decided to head back as we were shattered! Hayley, Helen and Nick stayed in Globe and got back in the wee hours where I heard Helen's drunken tales of Nick pole dancing with a guy! She honestly must have told me about three times!

On the Wednesday, Rowan, David, Jo, Rich and Stuart left to go upto the Bay of Islands. Helen, Nick, Amy, Hayley and I all then moved into the same room, it was like a little family!
We spent the rest of the first week in Auckland exploring the city and testing out the White Russians in Auckland! On the Friday we went on the free Kiwi Experience tour of Auckland. The bus took us to Devonport beach where we tried our first ever Hokey Pokey ice cream - yummy! Great morning out for a free trip!

In the afternoon, Helen, Hayley and I went to a lovely Belgian bar called Occidental, just off Queen Street. We met Nick and he introduced us to a Belgian guy called Jerome who he was staying in the dorm next door to us.

Before leaving the UK, Helen had spoken to a girl in a shop who had been to New Zealand and had given her a load of contacts. We met up with one of the guys called Tommo and his friend Marti in the Palace.
Marti, Amy and Nick went on the Bungee ball, just near the sky tower and Marti strangely asked Amy to marry him as they were leaving the ground!! How bazaar!!

All in all a good first week in Auckland!

written by  Susie Sue on November 7, 2005 from Auckland, New Zealand
from the travel blog: New Zealand
Send a Compliment

comment on this...