If you are ever visiting Auckland in NZ you should take a ferry trip over to Devonport. Located here is the National Nave Museum and the North Head defensive fortifications dating from the end of 19th century when there was fear of Russian aggression.
I had a day free from house hunting on Thursday, so took the ferry over from Auckland, $12.50 was quite a reasonable return price for the ferry. The museum is free entry, the models in the museum were fantastic, I forgot to take any photos, but here are the websites.

http://navymuseum.co.nz/
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/auckland/places/maungauika-north-head-historic-reserve/north-head-historic-reserve-history/

This is well worth a visit

Cheers
Ian

I've visited North Head a couple of times, well worth a visit

I've not yet visited the Navy Museum
Next time I'm in Auckland

I know both places well having worked at HMNZS Philomel for a couple of years way back when - totally agree that both are worth a visit.

Good luck with your search for a suitable place in Auckland Ian...the market up there is shall we say "interesting" at the moment.

Cheers
Peter

Sounds great, good luck on the house search

Seconded

Houses are more expensive, but there are more wargamers 

Thirded !!

Cheers - Phil

Good luck house hunting. We are debating this after the kids have moved out, if and when that happens!

Does this count as "fifthed"?

Quote from: paulr on 31 December 2017, 03:10:33 AM
Seconded

Houses are more expensive, but there are more wargamers 

Jings - paying extra for more wargamers - our hobby is expensive!   

 . I grew up in Devonport; my brothers and I used to play in and explore the tunnels all the time. Watching the Shannara Chronicles a while ago, I recognised the exact tunnels where some of the scenes were filmed; it took me right back to my childhood.

The museum wasn't there before I left the country but I imagine that many of the exhibits were formally in Philomel; I served my apprenticeship in HMNZ Dockyard and worked there for a few years so know it well.

Thanks for the post Ian, it's taken me on a trip down memory lane for sure.

Quote from: Bren on 31 December 2017, 11:59:22 AM
. I grew up in Devonport; my brothers and I used to play in and explore the tunnels all the time. Watching the Shannara Chronicles a while ago, I recognised the exact tunnels where some of the scenes were filmed; it took me right back to my childhood.

The museum wasn't there before I left the country but I imagine that many of the exhibits were formally in Philomel; I served my apprenticeship in HMNZ Dockyard and worked there for a few years so know it well.

Thanks for the post Ian, it's taken me on a trip down memory lane for sure.

Don't suppose you happened to see the Walsh Brothers Boeing seaplanes that are reputed to be sealed in one of the tunnels in North Head during your explorations Bren? They're a bit of a local urban legend around Devonport. 

If you have time Ian MOTAT out at Western Springs, especially the Airfield exhibit near the Zoo is really worth a visit - A complete Avro Lancaster and an ex TEAL Short Solent flying boat on display as well as many other iconic NZ aircraft 

Will plan a trip to MOTAT as I like Lancasters, my dad was working on them in the late 40's. So I feel a vague connection 

We may have struck lucky on a house in Pukekohe, handily near the racetrack as well.

Cheers
Ian

Best of luck with the house