Auckland, New Zealand

We've arrived safely in Auckland, New Zealand, and feel like we could easily spend a year exploring this country. As soon as we left the airplane we found magazines and brochures full of beautiful scenery and extreme adventures. We started our trip with 4 days in Auckland, which reminds us a lot of Seattle and Vancouver BC. We're staying on Queen St. which is the middle of downtown, and within walking distance of many great attractions. It's also nice because the city is all decked out for Christmas.

We walked down to the waterfront and saw the teal blue water full of whale watching ships. The streets are full of cafes and shops, and beautiful old buildings. Auckland has so many options of exhibits and parks that are free of charge, and we've taken full advantage. This week we've seen:

• Outdoor Photography Exhibit: In Auckland's town square called "Little Big City," they have huge art exhibits complete with audio that are lit up for the public 24 hours a day. We spend over an hour and could have stayed a lot longer. The photos were taken all over the world from an airplane, and included facts about each place. If you have time, it's worth checking out at: http://www.biglittlecity.co.nz/Events/Earth_from_Above 
• Mt. Eden: We hiked through the city up Mt. Eden, which is an inactive volcano. There are several viewpoints from the top that overlook the city and bay.
• Auckland Domain and Museum: We walked through the campus of the University of Auckland, and through town to a huge park full of opportunities. We took a walk down "Lovers' Path" a forest trail next to a creek. We saw a beautiful sculpture park, 2 botanical gardens, a duck pond, and a fernery. We ran out of time before we could tackle the museum, but hope to see it when we return to Auckland.
• Christmas Concert: Tonight, we're going to the Auckland hall (a giant beautiful old building), for a Christmas concert by the Auckland Symphony and the Pacific Island Church choir. We're really looking forward to getting into the holiday spirit (it doesn't feel like Christmas without the cold weather, tree, and family).

Tomorrow morning, we get to pick up our new home, a mini-camper! We hadn't planned on doing this, but it seems like our best option to see the most of this country for the least amount of money. It's a station wagon with a mattress in back, attached tent, and removable solar shower. There are campgrounds everywhere with kitchens and lounges.

We also start our first job through WWOOF (willing workers on organic farms) tomorrow. The winery job did not work out, because grape season has ended, but this job sounds wonderful. We'll be working on a small lodge on the beach in Northland. We'll help with the garden, prepare for the Saturday Farmer's Market, playing with the hosts' 7 year old twin girls, and whatever other projects are needed. In exchange, we'll receive dinner and accomodation in a great location to see northern New Zealand. Really looking forward to the experience!