On my recent trip to Auckland I decided to catch a ferry across Waitematā Harbour to Devonport, but as I set off on my journey I noticed more and more things that felt like back home in Australia.
I set off from the CBD at C̶i̶r̶c̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶Q̶u̶a̶y̶ the Ferry Building.
The ferry set off across the water, C̶e̶n̶t̶r̶e̶p̶o̶i̶n̶t̶ ̶T̶o̶w̶e̶r̶ Sky Tower above the skyline.
The arch of the S̶y̶d̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶H̶a̶r̶b̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶B̶r̶i̶d̶g̶e̶ Auckland Harbour Bridge to one side.
Navy ships moored at the G̶a̶r̶d̶e̶n̶ ̶I̶s̶l̶a̶n̶d̶ Devonport Naval Base.
As we headed across S̶y̶d̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶H̶a̶r̶b̶o̶u̶r̶ Waitematā Harbour.
Before our arrival at the M̶a̶n̶l̶y̶ Devonport ferry pier.
There I realised I could catch a bus back to the city.
So I caught a local bus to the M̶a̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶V̶a̶l̶e̶ Akoranga busway station.
And jumped on a B̶-̶L̶i̶n̶e̶ Northern Busway double decker bus.
To the northern terminus of M̶o̶n̶a̶ ̶V̶a̶l̶e̶ Albany.
And then hopped on a bus headed back south towards the W̶a̶r̶r̶i̶n̶g̶a̶h̶ ̶F̶r̶e̶e̶w̶a̶y̶ Northern Motorway.
I found a separate set of lanes to one side, o̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶r̶a̶m̶s̶ ‘cliped-on’ to the original bridge.
On the other side there was a tangle of exits from the W̶e̶s̶t̶e̶r̶n̶ ̶D̶i̶s̶t̶r̶i̶b̶u̶t̶o̶r̶ Auckland Northern Motorway.
And there it was – S̶y̶d̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶ Auckland!
Very funny, you should hook up with a comedian and make a short film
I wonder if someone has done a TikTok on it already.
The similarities are uncanny
The similarities hit me when I stopped off the ferry in Devonport, and kept stacking up along the bus ride!