Study Abroad Favorites (March)

Wow, time has gone by SO fast. I can't believe I've been here almost three months. Time is truly flying by and I've been trying so many new things. A few of my favorites this month were...

#1) Visiting Devonport and Takapuna

This month I took a few day trips to nearby towns in the North Shore. Of my excursions, I especially enjoyed visiting Devonport and Takapuna. Devonport is about an hour bus ride from my school, at the most southern tip of the North Shore. It's a very artsy town, with small galleries and independent shops lining the streets. If you walk away from the city you'll come across Mount Victoria, which is a quick hike up and offers amazing views of the town. If you walk towards the city you'll reach Devonport Wharf, which has a beach, park and beautiful views of downtown (especially at night). I visited the library, had lunch, and then saw a movie at The Vic, which is New Zealand's oldest operating cinema. In addition to the beautiful views, Devonport also has some great restaurants, gelato shops and even a chocolate factory! It's the perfect place to go if you just want to have a relaxing day of window shopping and good food.

Takapuna isn't as much of a trek, but there's just as much to see and do. Aside from the beach, there's a lot of great shops and restaurants. It's not as artsy or picturesque as Devonport, but I really enjoy taking the bus down on a weekend and getting something to eat with friends. From Colombian BBQ to Neapolitan-style pizza, everything I've tried in Takapuna is amazing! It's easy to spend the entire day there if you plan to shop, see a movie and go for a swim.

#2) Fish & Chips in Mairangi Bay

This may sound simple, but it's one of my favorite things to do after school or on a Sunday when I just want to lounge around. When the weathers nice I'll walk down to the bay after school and pick up some fish and chips (always fried, always kumara) from the shop by the beach. Afterwards I like to stop by the bakery and pick up something for dessert. It's not the most "exciting" thing in the world, but it's something I'd never be able to do back in Austin, and I'll definitely miss it!

#3) Trips to the City

Whenever I take the bus downtown I usually end up getting off at the same place near Canterbury Arcade. I love this area, because it's close to shops and restaurants while still being a short walk from the museums and parks. I usually visit La Couronne, which is a Japanese bakery serving delicious cakes and pastries, before walking along Queen Street to do some window shopping. Downtown Auckland has a ton of great bubble tea shops, so I usually end up buying one of those as well before heading over to Albert Park. The view from the top of the hill around sunset is beautiful, and it's a great place to go after visiting the botanic gardens.

Next month I'll be traveling heaps, so I'm sure I'll have tons to post about then!