We have left Tahiti for Auckland. On the last leg home! But it will take 6 sea days to get there. Allthego finds these long periods of sea days a little wearing. I think I have previously said that one can sit in the lounges, shut your eyes and not know you are moving. Time stands still until you realise it is lunch time. Still, I have read 4 books on this cruise. Haven’t done that for a long time! Homealone focussed on craft to while away the time. A daily game of trivia tests the memory.
On the second day out from Tahiti we have a change of course due to a passenger medical emergency. The poor woman has to be offloaded at the earliest opportunity and we head for Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. We will still make Auckland on schedule.

The sea conditions off Rarotonga are far from ideal with a heavy swell and a brisk wind. To add to the drama one of the ship’s dining room staff has had a bad fall and needs to be stretchered off as well. Normally, you get in a tender at sea level (Deck 4) but because of the difficult seas the tender is loaded with the patients and medical staff at Deck 7, which is about 8 metres above the waterline. The tender is then lowered to the water and heads off as soon as possible bobbing around in the swell.

The whole process was done very professionally, no hiccups. We later hear that the operation was successful and the staff member was OK.

The cruise ends in Auckland for most of the Kiwis on board so the ‘Knitters and Natters’ put on a display of their work during the cruise. Quite impressive, Homealone participates with her Physi rug, Allthego’s Iceland beanie and some other bits and pieces. Someone wanted to buy the Physi rug (which is to be a prize for our local Physical Culture Club) but got knocked back.

Passengers can wander around and observe all the Knitters nattering and also check out the work.

The six days at sea came to an end as we sailed into Auckland Harbour and docked at Queens Wharf right amongst all the action on the waterfront.

We had planned for a quiet morning having a look around and lunch before Allthego completing the Harbour Bridge climb in the afternoon.

The climb was very interesting with great views of the city skyline and harbour. Some commentary about the politics of its construction was provided. The Bridge was completed in 1959 and was the last major bridge to be constructed in the world with the old girders, welding and rivets techniques. Three workers died during its construction. Safety equipment was negligible back then, two plunged into the harbour falling off the girders. The other was unaccounted for and it is thought he fell into the concrete being poured for one of the pylons.

The climb took about two and a half hours all up. Not super demanding but a little stiffness of limbs set in later that night.

We sailed north that night for the Bay of Islands. Another easy day planned here no tours just a wander around Paihai, the town where we are taken ashore in tenders. Much calmer compared to Rarotonga!

The Bay of Islands is a wonderful place, blue sea dotted with small islands and sandy beaches. Made famous in the 1920s for Marlin fishing by Zane Gray! For those who remember the old TV show ‘Pic a Box’ I think the hosts Bob and Dolly Dyer also fished here? We were also here a few years ago on a cruise with Homealone’s siblings and partners, but we didn’t go Marlin fishing.

The place doesn’t seem to have changed much! We had lunch at the Zane Gray restaurant, best fish n chips yet!
We upped anchor mid afternoon in brilliant sunshine and set off to round the northern tip of the North Island bound for Old Sydney Town.