72 Hours in Auckland, NZ

Come with us on a 72-hour journey to Auckland, NZ, where we visit Mt Eden, viaduct harbour sky jump and more.

Viaduct harbour looking towards the sky tower.

Day 1/2: Sydney - Auckland

We left Forster making our way to Sydney to have a night there before catching the early morning flight to Auckland. The trip was running smooth until an argument ensued over where and when to stop for dinner and which direction to take to the airport. We were both just hangry and in reality, it didn't really matter which way we went. We decided to just get to the hotel and would figure it out when we arrived. After all, nothing says "romantic getaway" like a good old-fashioned argument over dinner plans and directions, right?

We arrived in Auckland in the afternoon and quickly figured out where to take an Uber to the city. Once we checked into our hotel, we took some time to get familiar with the room. After a brief but memorable moment of relaxation and a few burnt calories we decided to go grab some lunch. Being in New Zealand, we couldn't resist the classic fish and chips, we also grabbed some smoked kahawai (Australian salmon) fillet and some oysters all washed down with a local lager and a malibu diet coke for the wife.

We found this in a nice little shop down by the water in the Auckland fish market and indulged in our succulent fish and chip meal. enjoying the fresh seafood and the beautiful waterfront views. It was the perfect way to start our Auckland adventure.

After lunch, we took a little walk around to get familiar with the city and figure out where to go for the Sky Jump. I would be jumping off the Sky Tower on Saturday morning, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't shitting myself. Thanks, Cara!

The Sky Jump is an exhilarating experience where you leap off the Sky Tower in Auckland. It's not just any jump – it's a controlled free fall from a height of 192 meters! It gives you 11 seconds of pure adrenaline as you plunge 53 floors. Imagine stepping off the edge and plummeting towards the ground at

speeds of up to 85 km/h all while taking in the breathtaking views of the city below. It's like a roller coaster without the tracks, and its sure to scare the living shit out of me.

We finished up with a quick stop in an Irish pub for a creamy pint of Guinness and headed back to the hotel for chill night to relax and get ready for the big day ahead tomorrow. n

NZ fish and chips with smoked kahawai and oysters.

Day 3 Auckland:

We woke up and headed down for the buffet breakfast. I kept telling myself not to eat too much because I had to jump off a building in a couple of hours. After breakfast, we took a little walk around the city to check out all the designer stores for the wife: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, and Prada. I was quickly reminded that her birthday was coming up. "Yes, dear," I replied like a good husband, trying to get through this as quickly as possible. Another stop in H&M, and I was hoping this would end soon.

The caffeine was wearing off, and we both needed another coffee. We headed down to the waterfront, found a nice little cafe, sat down, and enjoyed the caffeine hit. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to have a belly full of food and another coffee before jumping off a building. The coffee did its job, and the nerves started hitting me so it was off to the men’s room for me .

I get that out of the way and we began our walk to the Sky Tower. We went up 53 floors to take a look at where I'd be jumping from, and I can confirm it was fucking high. I went down, got ready, headed back up, and before I knew it, I was standing on the edge, looking down with my knees weak, arms heavy and no vomit on my sweater, I jumped, going down at over 80 km/h. With all that adrenaline, I needed something to calm down, so we headed to the pub for a creamy fooking pint.

We went to the Marina to an Irish pub, and I asked for a Guinness. "We don't sell Guinness," she said, but I could go to the English pub down the road and grab one there. With a look of confusion on my face, I said, "OK," and headed to the English pub for an Irish beer. With two pints down, it was time for some lunch.

We hit up a Yum Cha place and ordered some dishes. For drinks, I ordered a Tsingtao beer, and my wife ordered a mojito. A mojito in a Chinese restaurant didn't seem like a good idea. It came out looking odd, so my wife asked me to take a sip. I got hit with a salty rum concoction. We asked the lady to change it, as a mojito shouldn't be salty but sweet. She said you want salty sugar in her broken english "No, I want a mojito, which is sweet, has lime and mint". She made the same drink but without the salt, sugar, mint, or

lime so we had to settle for a rum and soda. We finished lunch and headed back to the hotel to chill before the Chris Stapleton concert tonight.

We grab a quick feed and drink and start Walking into the concert. As we head in I have never seen so many brand new cowboy boots and hats so if you’re in the market for some boots and a hat check out Auckland’s buy, swap and sell next week and your sure to pick up a bargain. The concert was epic, Marcus King band absolutely killed it as a support act and Chris Stapleton absolutely shreds on the guitar. We head back home and wrap up the day with a slice of pizza and head off to bed to get some rest for day four.

Launching off the SkyTower

Auckland Day 4

We rise late this morning, basking in the comfort of our hotel room. The sun is already high as we finally wander down for breakfast. We smash some bacon and eggs and coffee and try to muster up some energy for the day ahead.

After much discussion, we settle on a visit to Mt. Eden, a dormant volcanic cone that promises stunning views and a peek into Auckland's ancient past. With our plan in place, we finish our breakfast and prepare for the day's journey.

Arriving at the base of Mt. Eden, we are immediately struck by the lush greenery that surrounds us. The climb to the top is a nice change to the bustling city, and as we ascend, the panoramic views of Auckland's skyline gradually unfold. Upon reaching the summit, we are greeted by a breathtaking sight: an expansive, lush green volcanic crater in which settlement dates back to around 1200 AD. This ancient site was once one of the largest fortified settlements in the region, home to thousands of people over the centuries.

The crater's sheer size and beauty are awe-inspiring. We take our time exploring the area and send the drone up for some ariel views.

Reluctantly, we begin our descent back to the bottom, taking in the serene surroundings one last time. Upon reaching the base, we decide to order an Uber to take us back to our hotel. A few moments later, a driver arrives, a stern-looking woman who grunts and points to her phone as if to ask, "Is this for you?" We confirm the ride and hop into the car.

As we set off, it quickly becomes apparent that our driver is not in a hurry. She maintains a steady speed of 45 km/h, the engine revving loudly at 6000 rpm, stuck in second gear for the entire 30-minute trip back to the hotel. Despite the slow pace, we can't help but chuckle at the situation, finding humour in the unexpected quirks of our journey.

Back at the hotel, we check out and make our way once again to the waterfront to get some coffee and take part in some people watching. We down the coffees and decide its time to go to the airport. We order another uber wondering what talent we will encounter this time. Thankfully, we get an absolute legend who quickly takes us to the international terminal.

We check in, pass through security, buy some duty free and find a seat to relax before our flight. Our flight is called, and we make our way to the gate and say good buy to Auckland.

What an action-packed couple of days. Thanks to the wife for organising this trip for my 40th birthday present and to Cara who also contributed to trying to kill me. Also, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog I really appreciate it.

We have a few trips coming up so stay tuned for more exciting Travel stories and adventures. If you don’t already give me a follow on the gram @bardos_adventures and take a look and the little NZ edit on YouTube. Smash the like and subscribe on that also to help the channel. Unfortunately I accidently change some setting on my go pro so I lost heaps of extra footage of the NZ trip.

Aeriel view of the volcanic cone.