We left Sydney on the 31 January on the Carnival Spirit on its inaugural trip round New Zealand. First time I have ever travelled by ship and the experience was wonderful and relaxing, no meals to cook, no housework, just laze by a pool or on your verandah and watch the world go buy.
My family, being my brothers and sister and their working children, all put in to buy Mum the Cruise and my twin sister, Trish and I accompanied her. She and Trish had cruised before, and while my sister and I had previously been to New Zealand, Mum had never been there and it was one place she wanted to go.
My husband thought it was funny the three of us were sharing one small cabin but we got on OK.
We spent two days at sea and I was surprised how fast the days went, we shopped (a lot), prices on the ship were really good and there was a different sale on each day. We played trivia, I got third in the Star Wars one, lazed around. Meals were fantastic. Funnily enough are cabin steward was named Ketut which we did think was hysterical but he was wonderful.
Out first day in New Zealand was Bay of Islands, non of us had been, it was disappointing that it was a misty day but we enjoyed a lunch cruise out to Russell, and visited a Craft Market.
Next stop Auckland, again misty but weather cleared eventually. We took a tour across the harbour to the NorthShore, it was a great way to see Auckland. We eventually ended up in Devonport and after going up the two extinct volcanoes for views, were dropped in the village where we wandered and then caught a ferry back to the ship. Unfortunately it was not clear enough to warrant a trip to the tower.
Again sailed overnight to Tauranga, where we hoped on a bus to Rotorua. The driver, a tiny woman was a very informative tour guide. On arrival at Rotorua we boarded the paddle steamer for an enjoyable morning tea while cruising on Lake Rotorua. On return to docks we were taken to Hells Gate Thermal Park, where the staff treated us to a tour and a Hangi lunch. Again the staff were great and Mum struck a conversation up with one of the Maori girls working there, who tolk her about how proud she was to be working on her peoples land.
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