After another early morning wake-up (6am – why can’t I get up this time at home?), we planned to get to Auckland’s Sky Tower in time for it opening. Luckily, when we arrived at 8.30am it was open. We both forgot to check the times.

The Sky Tower is like a smaller version of the CN Tower (Toronto), but still tall enough if you are considering some of the activities. You can walk around the perimeter, on the outside, on a 2 foot ledge, attached to a wire. Or, you can fling yourself off, attached to a couple of wires and hurtle towards the pavement, landing on a trampoline target (that isn’t unlike the one from Jamie and the Magic Torch – showing my age here).

I had actually considered the second of those options whilst sat on the comfort of my own couch, in my onesie, with a cup of tea. It’s very different when you see what’s involved.

My name is Dianne Howard and I’m a chicken.

It took all my resolve to walk across the 3 feet bit of glass floor.

The visit was good though. It’s really interesting to get a 360 view of Auckland – the harbour, the suburbs and the volcanoes. Yep, there are 7 of them (at least), the youngest, Rangitoto Island, being only 600 years old, which isn’t long in geological terms. Or as Angus likes to say, less than a knat’s fart.

Well, we’ve journeyed to Napier today in our fancy campervan to see the Art Deco Festival. More to follow soon!