Waving farewell to my bingo buddies and the friendly staff that helped me sway days of nausea I was torn between the disappointment of leaving the Pacific Pearl and my eagerness to embrace one my favourite cities in the world, Auckland.

If you’ve been keeping up with Natalie’s on locations on board the Pacific Pearl then you’ll know me as the ‘First Time Cruiser’ or otherwise and often referred to as Nahrain.

Lugging a suitcase and two handbags stuffed with clothes, shoes and newly purchased treasures from the Pearl, relief filled that lazy creature inside as I found our accommodation standing tall and proud less than a metre from where we’d docked.

No trolleys or buff men needed to assist this traveller as I took the few steps towards what I found to be one of the most stunning accommodation properties in Auckland, the Hilton Hotel.

Greeted with big smiles, Natalie and I checked into separate rooms (a necessary division after sharing a cabin for four days).

Making the short journey to my room, the hotel’s spacious hallways and architecturally mesmerising lobby design were a hint of the beauty and comfort that lay behind closed doors.

Walking into my fifth floor accommodation, the large bathroom, overflowing amenities, up-to-date technology and soft bedding were enough for me to never want to leave.

But with only one day to relieve the Aucklander inside I decided to spend my few free moments on the balcony waving to people directly across from me boarding the Pacific Pearl.

Heading downstairs to meet Natalie, the Hilton’s knowledgeable concierge suggested we explore Auckland by foot. So we took off with sunnies on eyes and handbags on shoulders.

Walking down the main road, Queen Street, we took a quick detour to see the Sky Tower. Standing 328 metres tall, the Tower is open to travellers looking to dine in a 360-degree restaurant, gamble and even bungee jump.

That’s right, arriving just as a dare devil took a leap, the large property is equipped with the tools for the adventure activity, allowing thrill-seekers to fall 192 metres from the Tower between 10.00am and 6.00pm daily. 

Failing to peer-pressure each other to take on the challenge, Natalie and I continued our stroll along the main road.

Walking past familiar and unique retailers we found ourselves often stopping to exchange quick greetings with new-friends made on board the Pacific Pearl.

With the majority of cruisers opting to stay in the city overnight, we soon turned our walk down the road into a game of ‘spot the passenger or the on board entertainer’.

As the game began to exhaust our eyes and fingers (from all the pointing) we found ourselves enthused by Christmas spirit around the city.

A large Santa and his reindeer stood tall above shopping outlets while locals gathered towards the end Queen St to enjoy the annual Christmas Market.

The two-week set-up was filled with stands selling a range of products unique to New Zealand from locally produced fudge to jade tiki jewellery. While Natalie preferred to indulge in a bit of sweets, I chose to decorate my ‘do’ with an island plait.

Leaving the markets a few hours later with a few bags of fudge and the sense of feeling like a Rastafarian, my travelling buddy and I decided it was time to head outside the city and enjoy the warm sun at Takapuna Beach.

Only a 20-minute cab ride later, we were splashing our feet in the cool water, enjoying the fresh air and absorbing the breathtaking scenic beauty of New Zealand.

As the sun began to set we trekked off the waterside and ended up at a brightly decorated Potters Park.

Located across the street from the beach, the Park was a small but quiet escape from the cars passing along the streets.

As the occasional fly and bee tended to the bright flowers, the sound of our growling tummies told us it was time to head back to the city for some dinner.

Deciding on a place to eat was like choosing a favourite sibling, hard and ultimately a decision we had to make in separate directions.

While Natalie chose to select a dish from the Hilton’s amazing selection of dishes (seriously so many choices and delicious ones too), I stepped out of the hotel again and headed towards take-out at Wendy’s Old Fashioned Burgers.

Sitting along Queen Street, Wendy’s is the third largest quick-service hamburger company, serving ‘traditional burgers’ to people in up to 25 countries across the globe.

Ready to burn off the calories from my Spicy Chicken Sandwich I headed back to the Hilton.

Although exhausted from the long day, my eyes widened as I stepped out on my balcony. The sight of the city sparkling in the distance was enough the leave this traveller eager to plan her next trip to Auckland and the Hilton Hotel.