Our plane to SLC was delayed from morning to the next evening, which gave us an extra day in Auckland. We spent March 28, 2025 exploring that urban hub for the South Pacific. Auckland's excellent Maritime Museum was a great place to start.
The museum was on the pier. It was a foggy, rainy morning, which created a slightly mysterious aura.
The sea and the sea are the dominant themes of museums in the South Pacific, whether they are specifically described as "Maritime Museum" or not..
Ever since Dave read the book, "Endurance," about Ernest Shackleton, the great Antarctic explorer, he has been fascinated with Shackleton's travels and leadership ability. The Maritime Museum had an exhibit on Shackleton's voyage, including art work documenting the famous ship wreck and trek to safety.
We walked through Auckland's downtown to its art museum.
We ducked in and out of stores, searching for a gift for my paralegal, Cate Benton. "Something woolen," she had suggested, when I asked what she would like from this country full of sheep. We found the perfect item--a teal throw made of a combination of merino wool and "possum" fur. Possum is an invasive species that New Zealand has turned to good use. New Zealand is fighting an uphill battle against the invasive animals and plants that have decimated its native birds (ex. the dodo) and overrun its native trees and shrubs. Nobody feels sorry for the poor possum.
As we walked through the city, restaurants and shops beckoned.
At the Art Museum, as at the Maritime Museum, many of the displays featured the sea.
I visited Auckland's Art Museum in 1985, and I have never forgotten its traveling exhibit of Monet's paintings. That was the largest collection of works by that favorite artist that I have enjoyed, before or since. There was no such blockbuster exhibit on this trip, but we did enjoy its collection of Old Masters.
It was also a treat to see the Art Museum's collection of paintings of Maori leaders, painted during the 1800s.
Maori women often wore tattooed beards, which was considered beautiful.
As America swings back from the he/she/they culture, I was interested to see this sign next to the restrooms, in both English and Maori.
Dave and I hired a taxi driver to give us a city tour and then drop us off at the airport later in the afternoon. We drove through the Devenport, Mission Beach, and Royal Oaks areas of Auckland, which each had different personalities. They also accorded us stunning views of beaches and of Auckland's skyline.
Devonport was a quaint area of the city, with many shops and restaurants, as well as a pier, beach, and Victorian buildings. We bought ice cream cones and sat on a bench by the beach. It would have been fun to stay and browse.
Our driver was an Indian immigrant who originally came to New Zealand to study engineering. It was easier to obtain New Zealand citizenship as a chef, so he changed his career. He offered me a great recipe for barbecued ribs. In our driver's free time, he drove a taxi. Our driver took us high above the city for views of the countryside and sea, and he drove us through his neighborhood, telling us about his life as a New Zealander, but also living within an Indian community.
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