Although it was late to bed and we were tired, Paula couldn’t sleep! We’d set the alarm for 6:30am and the ship was already lining up to dock at Queen’s Wharf – not Prince’s Wharf as last time. That meant the meeting instructions I’d given to Darryl & Sue were a bit out, so I scribbled a quick note and pushed it under their cabin door.
It didn’t take long to get sorted and we left the cabin quite early and parked ourselves in the dining room on deck 5, awaiting the clearance to disembark – once the luggage had been off-loaded.
It didn’t take long and we were first off along with M & M! Two immigration booths open and then we collected our luggage. The lack of sleep must have affected Paula’s eyesight as she’d loaded someone else’s case onto our trolley! Luckily we spotted it straightaway so we rolled up to the MAF (Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries) to declare our wood/nuts etc. after first passing the beagle test.
For future travellers arriving at that wharf, currently, no Duty Free facilities on arrival.
The official was quite happy with the Panama hat in its balsa wood box and the three or four small ornaments made out of ivory nuts, so straight out for a taxi, parked at the exit to the shed.
First time I had ridden in a Toyota Prius. Eerie silence…
The trip home was against the traffic, so easy enough, but the queue going into town from Onewa Rd. stretched the full length (about 2kms). Missing out on the daily rush hour traffic is something I really am happy to have left well behind.
The house was still standing and heaving the four suitcases, two carry-on bags, the backpack with computer and camera and a zip bag with the balsa box and the left over cans of cider, was easy enough. The advantage of arriving home by ship!
First jobs were turning the water and electricity back on and heading for the garage to see if the 2010 vehicle would start. Luckily it did, (the AA man lives across the road and was on standby) though the remote unlock button is on the way out. Ditto, buttons on the CD/radio remote and also the Sky TV remote…
After a quick sort out and a partial unpack of one case each, we nipped out to the supermarket for a couple of basics.
Out again and into town to pick up Darryl & Sue at 11am – though we’d forgotten what a pain it was dealing with Auckland’s unsynchronised traffic lights. All OK and off then to our regular garden centre for the best coffee in two months. Ship coffee is OK but it pales against the local brew.
A bit of a trundle around with our guests then home. We relaxed and also watched Ganjo’s first two DVDs of last year’s cruise, as Darryl & Sue were on until Rome.
Out then for an excellent Indian meal before returning them to the dock, for their last three days to Sydney. It was rather cool so the heaters were on at home.
So that is it. Three months away and blogging our progress at every stage.
I’ll post a summary in a day or two but that will be aimed more at the future cruisers who I know followed this hoping to pick up tips; those who keep in touch because they couldn’t travel this year and oddly enough, those who were also on the cruise.
I hope you enjoyed the ramble and weren’t too bored but any comments, positive or negative will be welcomed.
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