March 13, 2003
The Park Towers
Auckland, New Zealand

Skytower Scream


By Lois Joy

                                               

 


Two days in Auckland so far, and we’re having a blast! The guidebooks tell you that New Zealand is the country for adventure tourism. One thing is certain: an enterprising tourist business has bent over backwards to think up any way to have fun, seek thrills, and enjoy new adrenalin-producing experiences. We picked up all the glossy brochures, but the Lonely Planet sums it up best: “New Zealand is like a microcosm of all the world’s attractions. You can trek on the slopes of active volcanoes, or in remote, rugged patches of virgin rainforest, through thermal areas of geysers and boiling mud, or kauri forests with some of the largest and oldest trees on earth. You can swim with the dolphins, watch whales, see glaciers descending into rain forests…see fur seals and penguins…white-water rafting, cave-rafting, rock and mountain climbing, tandem skydiving, bungy jumping, skiing down glaciers, and much more.”

Not to be outdone by “the kids”, Gunter and I declared that we are game for anything—well, almost anything.

It started with the Skytower, just an urban downhill walk from our hotel. The Skytower is New Zealand’s tallest structure at 328 meters—taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. We ascended the elevator (a fast 40-second ride) to the observation deck, and walked around taking photos of the city—a 360-degree panorama. Thank God for digital memory chips; I was glad that I didn’t have to develop film.

Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version.....
• Auckland Skyline    

• Auckland City and Park as Viewed from Skytower   

Then Markus noticed a platform going out from the tower. “You can bungy jump from here!” Gulp. That’s when my story begins.

We watched the jumpers from behind as each, in turn, stood ready at the platform extending from the glass walls of the tower. Then the four of us went to down to a lower deck where we could have leisurely cappuccinos and giant muffins while watching the jumpers—in suits and harnesses—as they fall, spread-eagled, in front of the curved window glass.


• Grandma and Grandpa Before their Decision  

Do Grandma Lois and Grandpa Gunter still have it in them? We picked up a flyer. We looked at the price—over $100 U.S. for less than a minute of seeing the cement pavement of the city racing toward your face. “I could treat you to a very nice dinner and drinks for that price,” said Gunter. What would you think we did?
• Skytower Scream   

• Gunter afterwards with Skytower Queen   

Yesterday we had a continental breakfast with “the kids,” strolled to the America’s Cup Village, and had lunch at the Loaded Hog overlooking the racing yachts. New Zealanders are still smarting from their loss of 5-0. Twice they had dropped out of the race due to problems. We had watched their mast break during fateful Race # 4, with a better view via TV than most of the yachties that had been here in person. We felt for them. What a blow to New Zealand pride—especially since many New Zealanders were paid mightily to crew on the victorious Swiss yacht. Then we took a taxi to Kelly Tarltan’s Antarctic Encounter. We completed the day with a nice dinner at a Japanese restaurant near our hotel.

Today is Markus’ 40th. We took all the gifts down to breakfast. No pix. Sorry! Then in the evening, we celebrated at the Mai Thai. Markus said, “I don’t feel any different turning 40—but then, I’m only 39 back in Germany where I was born.”


• Sabine, Gunter and Markus Having a Beer at The Loaded Hog   

 


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