NZ Bonus day

7/15 - We flew back to Auckland to catch our flight to LA, and surprise there was no ticket available...it seems when you change your prearranged travel plans for any part of your journey (i.e. taking a different flight back to NZ), the airline assumes you won't be making any of your flights...our flight back stateside was cancelled.  Of course I got on the phone and played let'd make a deal for about 45 minutes (adding just a touch of snippy American) and bottom line was we were put on the flight the very next day.  The agent was pretty helpful and got us pretty reasonable flights. 

So, we had an additional 24 hours in NZ to kill, off to the Auckland War Memorial Museum.  Although this is called the War Memorial Museum, the Pacific Islander section is very large, and this museum boasts a pretty impressive Natural History section.  

Somewhat creepy effigies...

This may actually haunt my nightmares...

Ceremonial mask...

gotta love the drums...

WWII memorabilia...I'm often fascinated by the different points of view in every country about the WWII.  The War Memorial beautiful expressed the patriotism of this war with a practical and real sense of the realities of war.  On one floor, the walls are covered with the names of soldiers who had died in WWI and WWII, more an honor and remembrance than a glorification.  

Because rubber was unavailable, this is a bike with spring tires instead of rubber...my body just shuddered at that prospect. 

A "volcano" in the natural history section.  Very cool display reminding us that we are standing on a disaster movie waiting to happen...

Sir Edmund Hillary's ice pick...he was the first to ascend Everest with a local sherpa.  

Very close to the museum is this beautiful green houses/botanical garden.  The green house is under some construction...still cool in a Victorian way.  

An impressive display of carnivorous plants in the green houses.  

A wide variety of carnivorous plants as well.  

Three tired but happy men in the fern garden! 

Many things during this trip stole our hearts away. Namely Di's wedding, Hobbiton, and the warm and wonderful people in New Zealand.  We have travelled to a breath taking country and were welcomed with open arms.  Thanks to New Zealand and to Australia for your kindness and hospitality.  we hope to return the favor some day, just not all at once!