Auckland – Waiheke Island
I arrived in Auckland early morning. I was outside looking for a bus around 6am. So, after a long bout of flying, I had a full day ahead of me. I did not have a specific plan, but once on bus from airport, I found a place to stay and made my way there. After dropping off my pack I started wandering around Auckland. I found a tiki bar on the water and noticed what looked like an Obama bobblehead. Sure enough, more than 1. I got a couple of blurry pics, but also one that is focused properly. I was not functioning well. I made my way back to hostel and I think by 3pm I was zonked out. Which of course led to me being wide awake by 2am.
While awake overnight, I decided to take an overnight bus to Wellington, so I had a day to kill. I bought a ferry ticket to Waiheke Island. A location with numerous wineries and some hiking trails. From the dock, I walked along the coast on a trail for a bit, then hiked inland and stopped at a couple of wineries. The first was small, with a sign to ring bell and wait for owner to come by. I did, and after 15 min or so, I gave up and went to a different winery, and had a glass of wine. Had some gelato in the small touristy type town and took ferry back to Auckland. Oh, I very briefly saw a penguin in the water. Penguins roost on Waiheke Island, but I guess not in November, but while on return, I looked down and close to boat was penguin. It went under quickly, but I saw it. That was highlight the of the ferry trip.
My only winery visit. Waiheke Island. Mudbrick Vineyard. 
I like the seemingly rigid organization of these trees. I kept thinking of them as cycads, but that appears inccorect. A conifer, and probably not even native to New Zealand.
Once back in Auckland I visited the Sky Tower, got some food and wine, took a few pics before grabbing my stuff and getting on overnight bus to Wellington. I was looking forward to seeing Wellington, but a couple of factors screwed that up. In my jet lagged state, I had booked a room for same night I spent on overnight bus. And the weather in Wellington was atrocious, which I know is pretty normal, but it was fairly chilly, really windy and raining. I decided to just book the ferry to Picton, where I would then get started on my first hike, the Queen Charlotte Track.
This is ferry to South island. 
Anybody ready to swim the Cook Strait? Twas a rainy, windy day. I suspect kind of normal. 
Was calm once we started heading up the sound to Picton.
