Arriving in Auckland

The flight from Nadi, Fiji to Auckland was great! Air New Zealand is super fancy, super friendly. Both Joe and I are glad we get them for a nonstop on the way home

We arrive into Auckland around 2:30, and sail pretty smoothly through customs. They questioned some cava root I picked up in Fiji, but no major problems occurred. They did inquire why Joe was here, which is a question I’m sure he’s getting sick of by now.

We take a bus to Auckland and immediately start to look for a place to stay tonight.  Little do we know every hostel in Auckland is booked this weekend, because this concert called “Big Day Out” is going on here.

Down on our luck, we start to actually look at maps and travel books.  While waiting on the street bench, an older Asian man walks by and strikes up a conversation with Joe about his bodyboard.  We proceed to ask him if he knows of any living quarters nearby, and without hesitation he says, “I have free time, and I know of 4-5. Follow me!”

Now I’m thinking, “Great, he’s going to lead us into some alley and we’ll be stuck living a life of prostitution.” To my great surprise though, he simply walks us around, shows us 4-5 hostels and gives us directions to more, shakes our hand, and walks away.  Kiwi hospitality is already promising.

Feeling a bit like the Virgin Mary, we struggled carrying our many bags through the streets of Auckland, sweating in the 75 degree weather and slight humidity.  However, we finally find a place that will take us, and although its a bit more expensive we get a single room to share (as opposed to a multi bed room). Desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose.

The room is nice, we have a great view of a brick wall out our window.  Upon moving in, Joe says, “Hey, lets actually make plans tonight.”  I reluctantly agree, and we get set up with our internet connections (top priority). 

First night in Auckland will probably be pretty quiet, and we’re thinking about getting out of the city by tomorrow, because hostels will be impossible to find space in the night of “Big Day Out”.  Buying a van suddenly looks a bit less attractive when we see the price tags posted in the hostel, but renting a car or van looks ridiculously cheap, if we decide to do that for a bit.