After several sea days (and one canceled port due to weather), we were more than ready for a port day. So arriving early into Auckland—with an overnight stay—felt like a gift.

Mission: Fabric First

Our first mission of the day?
Find a craft store and grab some fabric.

Mission accomplished. ✔️

From there, we grabbed an Uber and headed to the aquarium. What made this place so unique is that it’s built into a hillside—you really only see the entrance from the outside.

Inside, it was such a cool experience.

The first section focused on Antarctica, which I hadn’t really thought about before—but New Zealand is actually one of the closest countries to Antarctica. They had both King Penguins and Gentoo Penguins, and I have to say… the way some of them sleep made my neck hurt just watching them. 😄

Then we moved into the underwater exhibits, including tunnel walkways where sharks swam right overhead. The conveyor belts weren’t working that day, but honestly it was still fun wandering through and trying to snap the perfect photo.

One thing I really appreciated—many of the animals there were rescues, including a turtle missing a flipper.

After the aquarium, we headed back to the ship so John could get a little rest.

Group Excursion Day

This was also the day of our first curated excursion with Travel with Mandy Loo, and we were really looking forward to it.

One thing I love about traveling with Mandy is the flexibility. You’re part of a group, but it’s still your vacation. You can join group dinners, excursions, or skip things entirely—it’s completely up to you. Mandy is there if you need her, but she’s also enjoying her own trip too.

Even when our earlier port was canceled, she stayed in communication with everyone, kept us updated, and made sure refunds were being handled.

Off to the Glowworms

We met early in the Piazza and headed out as a group for one of the most unique experiences of the trip: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

This excursion actually split into two options depending on activity level. One group went for the more adventurous route—climbing, tubing, and exploring deeper into the caves.

We chose the walking and boat experience, which included Ruakuri Cave.

Let’s Talk Glowworms

First—despite the name, they aren’t actually worms.

In New Zealand, glowworms are the larvae of fungus gnats. They hatch on cave walls and immediately begin to glow.

From a distance, they look like a starry sky.

Up close? They’re actually master hunters.

They create silk “fishing lines” that hang down with sticky droplets to catch prey. The hungrier they are, the brighter they glow. Once they mature, they only live a few days—just long enough to reproduce.

Also important: they’re sensitive to light and noise, which is why photography isn’t allowed in some of the caves.

Into the Caves

The entrance to Ruakuri Cave is stunning—a spiral walkway that slowly takes you down into the earth.

Before entering, the guides close off the doors to prevent airflow from disturbing the glowworms and the cave formations.

Inside, the pathways were easy to walk, and the scenery was incredible. Stalactites hanging from the ceiling, stalagmites rising from the ground—and even fossils along the way.

(Quick tip: stalactites = ceiling, stalagmites = ground. That trick actually helped me remember!)

Then came the boat portion.

We boarded quietly, and the guides pulled us through the cave using ropes. As we floated through the darkness, we looked up…

And it truly looked like the Milky Way.