Auckland bound and the final leg home

Day 18
We wake in Blenheim and it’s a rest day from our journey. With a lovely home cooked breakfast, Ross and myself head to Marlborough golf club for a round at his local course - the wind is blowing and the fairways narrow and tight and the golf is very testing - with a number of lost balls and a poor short game it is a day to forget but the company and layout were very good. Melissa and Joss went for a

walk with the dogs - Bear and Poppie and then lunched at the local cafe and bought supplies for a home cooked meal which after all the travel it is very much appreciated, with a night in watching “naked and afraid” on tv …….maybe for another blog but very entertaining.
Day 19
With the last day in Blenheim with our fabulous hosts we have a long sleep in some breakfast and chill out - a quick stop at a cafe near the airport to see a lovely older freight plane situated on site as a memory of its service to aviation in NZ and Ross who spent many years working at air NZ holds the record with his crew of unloading and loading this plane in 14 minutes flat - what legends.
With our flight leaving Blenhiem we are treated to the fabulous views from the plane of such a wonderful place with its vineyards as far as the eye can see and to the north the beautiful islands on the Queen Charlotte Sounds. Some very fond memories.
Arriving in Auckland for our last night, it’s dinner at the restaurant

downstairs with mixed reviews - the drinks and service slow but the food was excellent and it’s another day in our journey.
Day 20
Our last day of our NZ adventure and it’s an early start with a DiDi ride to Eden Village for breakfast at the Circus Circus café and a meet up with along time internet friend through a health site we both follow and cycling app Strava - Mark is a treat to meet in person and it’s an easy conversation as we share stories and similarities - a terrific morning and the coffee and breakfast superb. We say our goodbyes and head up to the top of Mt Eden for the beaut view of the city and it’s surrounds, then a DiDi ride to the waterfront first perusing the yachts and super cruisers before boarding the ferry to Devonport across the harbour - this is an old Victorian era village and is very quaint with its old buildings and shops we treat ourselves to an ice cream and as usual I end up with an “ice cream headache” much to Melissa’s amusement.
We arrive at Auckland Airport and battle the long queues through check in and customs, treat ourselves to a pre flight beverage and its homeward bound.
A terrific holiday which we enjoyed so much with our beautiful Kiwi friends - Arriving back in Brisbane airport, we meet up again with our Limo driver Roger and the final leg of our holiday is completed in style!