Actually, the fortifications and gun emplacements date not from the 20th century at the earliest, but from the 1880s.
Now trying saying it three times quickly 
I hate it when I’m wrong. calm kiwi, I stand most humbly corrected. Ice Wolf, thank you.
Hey Middlecase I was more wrong (except I did know that…I was just being thick when I said WW1/2).
My wrongness does not take away from the awesome view and “eeeeeeeeeeeeeek! a tunnel” moments though. 
calm kiwi, long time no see. Yeah, that and the smell of pee. No, wait, we’re supposed to be encouraging him. {Blam Blam Blam: There’s no urination in New Zealand/ And no micturition in our holes./ Yes, there’s no urination in New Zealand/ We’re all clean Kiwis deep down in our souls.
Heh, heh! That had me chuckling! Cheers, Middlecase!
Sadly, a Kiwis-only reference, I fear.
…for today, Middlecase, I’ll remember your smile…
Congrats Dooku on deciding to visit New Zealand! Although I haven’t done it, I must reccomend jumping off the Sky Tower!!! Its not everywhere that you can jump off a building taller than the Eiffel Tower!
http://skyjump.co.nz/skyjumpbackground.html
Apart from that, the other Kiwi Dopers have pretty much given you the best of the touristy things to do around town…its a shame you can’t fit in a trip to Wellington, a visit to Te Papa would be a must!
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/TePapa/
…and of course, King Kong spotting is a fun game that Wellingtonians are playing at the moment…I was shopping at my local supermarket, and in the background, they were filming scenes on top of a whole lot of containers!!!
If you do make it down this far, pop into the Wainuiomata Golf Club on the weekend, and I’ll shout you a beer! Seek out DB Export Dry, my favourite reccomendation for a kiwi beer…
Enjoy your trip!
All part of us educating the rest of the world, mate!
The above response meant for Middlecase, but I reckon it fits much o’ this thread.
Goddamn I’m homesick now! Just as well this is the North Island not the South island or I would be really sad.
I plan to win the Freedom Air competition.
my one final bump
Thanks for the advice everyone - I’m off!
OK, now calm kiwi has turned up alive and undismembered, where is Dooku? He should be back by now - inquiring minds want to know grisly details!
Yeah me too.
I LIVE!!!
Actually, I’m swamped at work since I’ve been back, and am leaving again for the Holidays, which will slam me at work again when I get back. I know I owe you guys a trip report - rest assured one is coming when I get time.
Some quick things to tide you over:
• I learned very quickly not to order a mixed drink. Those were some tiny pours. Luckily I discovered Speight’s Gold. Monteith’s was also very good.
• Although you can buy a Sprite at the store, if you order a Sprite at a restaurant, it’s not a Sprite, it’s more like flat generic lemon-lime soda. For some reason, you call this lemonade, although it ain’t lemonade either.
• Driving on the other side of the road was quite a challenge. Just when I thought I’d gotten the hang of it, I’d turn on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal. :smack:
• I almost got killed looking to the left and then stepping in front of traffic.
• Your Savingnon Blanc is the best I’ve ever had in my entire life. Too bad I will probably not be allowed back on Waiheke Island (More later on that one).
• The book “Way of the JAFA” is hilarious.
• Allowing pedestrians to cross diagonally is a really good idea, one I can’t believe hasn’t been adopted in the more busy intersections in San Francisco.
• P-Money rocks. So does Fast Crew.
• As near as I can tell, cricket games go on indefinitely.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Cricket tests only go on indefinitely if we aren’t playing Bangladesh. Or Australia {Sigh}.