NZ Winter, Not Too Shabby

7/1/19:  Is it worth it?  Another trip down south?  This time way south to New Zealand and Australia.  Yes, we over packed our things and headed once again across the equator.  Everyone welcomed us with the Maori words Kia Ora, a greeting meaning good health.  The Kiwis welcomed us with open arms from the moment we landed.  Kiwi's were very friendly, helpful, and polite everywhere we went.  Everywhere we looked, even in winter, the landscape was emerald green and breathtaking at times.

Retro packaging on display at SFO, this basically sums up our excitement for our upcoming trip! 

Our Air BNB had the austere look and feel of a German nunnery, but it was situated in CBD (Central Business District) and accessible to lots of different amenities.  An excellent home base for all of our adventures.

Well the NZ winter is rainy, chilly and wet.  Our first full day (July 4) the heavens poured down...but you couldn't dampen the spirits of the intrepid travelers.  We whisked ourselves away to the Auckland Zoo for what would be a very personal experience.  It turns out we were the first and practically only patrons at the zoo.  Most animals were out and about despite the inclement weather.  The otters were playful as pups and the giraffes were almost close enough to touch.  We also traipsed into the Kiwi enclosure and were able to see a few of this national bird.  This was somewhat difficult as the Kiwi is nocturnal and the enclosure was fairly dark.  Not many Kiwis are in the wild, these birds are fairly large, a bit larger than a rugby ball.  The eggs of the Kiwi are about 1/3 of their size, almost the same size of an ostrich egg.  These flightless birds are really cute, it is no wonder this is the national bird of New Zealand.

These wild animals are close enough to touch, and so are the giraffes.  

Good times at the zoo. 

Definitely unimpressed with our shenanigans.  

A drenched ostrich.  Looking alot less happy about the weather than we were.  

A premature welcome to Oz.  

Look Carolyn, Mulder's cousin in NZ

There is a warning about this bird not to touch as his bite can take off a finger, and yet he was free to fly in the aviary.  Nice to be in a country that at times allows for natural consequences for stupidity! 

A wandering emu. 

These lion tamarin's weren't daunted by the rainy. 

The lunch at the zoo restaurant was exceptionally good (surprising for a zoo to boast such quality grub).  The enclosures for the animals were well thought out, and safe.  We felt as if we could almost interact with the animals.  All in all an excellent first full day in NZ.