Day 56 - Fishing

I can't claim to be any kind of fishing expert (my handling of a fishing rod was once described politely as 'unorthodox'), but the few occasions I have been out on the water in New Zealand have been some of the most enjoyable and relaxing of my time here. I even caught an actual fish once, which should buy me at least a degree of credibility from my Kiwi colleagues.

Day 55 - L&P

I've never been the biggest fan of soft drinks, but the light and refreshing Lemon & Paeroa, whose bottles and cans proudly - and quite accurately - proclaim it to be 'world famous... in New Zealand', is perfect as a summer's day thirst-quencher.

Day 54 - Bees

Like sheep, bees are a more common sight in New Zealand than they are back home, but still bee populations here are declining at an alarming rate. Beekeeping as well seems to be something of a dying art, so it's heartening when you come across a buzzing hive like this in someone's back garden.

Day 53 - Sheep

There's an old joke about there being more sheep than people in New Zealand. Now while I've no idea if there is any truth in this, it's undeniable that there are a bloody large number of the woolly creatures residing here. They tend to be a bit more refined than the scraggy British versions I'm used to and are surprisingly tame, even in the wild. I can also confirm they LOVE apples.

Day 52 - Lunchtime escapes to Victoria Park

It's a park in the middle of the city with a motorway running right through the middle of it. And yet, Victoria Park is a blissful lunchtime haven for office workers wanting to escape their stressful desk-bound lives. (Yep, that includes me.)

Day 51 - My brass bed

In the absence of Ikea, vintage and second hand retailers become a necessity if you want affordable furniture - and as this brass bed shows, the end results are often a lot more interesting than your average flat pack.

Day 50 - Tamaki Drive

The waterfront drive to the east of the city centre is arguably the most scenic in Auckland, the distant skyscrapers of the CBD and the imposing volcanic mound of Rangitoto out across the harbour combining to provide some of the most majestic views in New Zealand.

Day 49 - La Cigale

One of my favourite places in Auckland, La Cigale is a French market by day and rustic restaurant by night. Its butter pastries are to die for and the extensive wine and craft beer selection makes an evening meal there extra special.

Day 48 - St Kevins Arcade

St Kevins Arcade on K Road, Auckland, is a bustling emporium of vintage clothes, second hand books and great food. Its faded glamour, potted palm trees and views out over Myers Park make it an intriguing spot for a mid-morning coffee but I think its very un-Aucklandness is what makes it so special.

Day 47 - Long blacks

It's near impossible to get a decent cup of coffee in London, unless, of course, you happen upon a cafe run by New Zealanders. Such frustrations are a thing of the past in Auckland, where even the most bog-standard outlet will serve you a coffee that's at the very least palatable. NZ has also introduced me to the wonderful 'long black' - an espresso shot with a top up of boiling water. Impossibly simple, yet no one in the UK would ever have heard of one. Madness.

Day 46 - Suburban architecture

I often used to bemoan the faceless conformity of newly built British housing estates but I've been pleasantly surprised by the diversity of styles and designs in the modern suburbs of Auckland. This curiously shaped block of flats in Remuera is a case in point.

Day 45 - Cats in prams

'Nuff said.

Day 44 - Chooks

There's no denying that chickens, or 'chooks' as they're affectionately known over here, are an icon of the Kiwi landscape and you're not unlikely to find them pecking around someone's suburban back yard. As a lover of eggs for breakfast, there's also nothing better than a freshly laid one poached and served on a slice of toasted Vogels bread. Yum.

Day 43 - White Night in Remuera

Another event put on as part of the Auckland Arts Festival, the White Night series allows contemporary artists to display artworks and installations on the streets and in the shop windows of nominated suburbs, including my very own Remuera. I think it's safe to say the local housewives won't have seen a sight like this one in a while...

Day 42 - En Route in Auckland

The acclaimed international arts project En Route is in Auckland this month as part of the annual city Arts Festival. Participants are led by a series of instructions delivered through a combination of text messages, secret notes and phone calls through the back streets of the central city accompanied by a soundtrack of local artists through special a special headset. At one point we were guided to the twentieth floor of a tower block, where an open air car park provided incredible, clandestine views out over the neighbouring rooftops. Is that you, Manhattan?

Day 41 - Fort Street

A narrow alley in downtown Auckland where a series of old dilapidated buildings have recently been transformed into classy drinking and dining establishments that retain the bare brickwork and industrial piping  of the originals to atmospheric effect.

Day 40 - The sun bursts through morning cloud

It's been an amazing summer, with blue skies and intense heat the norm. So when I woke up this morning to cloudy skies, it was a bit of a shock. Thankfully, it wasn't long before the sun burst through again and it looks set to be another glorious day in Auckland.

Day 39 - Auckland's villages

Auckland's villages - the thriving suburban hubs of Remuera, Parnell and Mount Eden - have a charm that more than makes up for the bland, grey CBD.

Day 38 - The view down College Hill

Another great view of the city skyline, and helpfully the one that greets me when I exit the office each evening.

Day 37 - Queenies

One of my favourite Auckland cafes. Great food, great coffee, outdoor seating, and a stone's throw from the office. What more could one ask for? (Apart from a Full English obviously).

Day 36 - Cows in the city

Maybe I've just forgotten but I'm pretty sure parks in English cities don't have herds of cattle casually lumbering around them. In Auckland, it's a surprise if they're not.

Day 35 - The Hobson Bay Walkway

There are lots of great suburban walks in Auckland but one of my favourites is the seemingly little-known Hobson Bay walkway, a winding wooden platform that tracks the perimeter of one of the city's many inlets.

Day 34 - Flip flops aka jandals

I have to say, I was very cynical about these iconic pieces of Kiwi footwear when I first contemplated moving over here from the UK, not least because the New Zealanders call them 'jandals' (a word that still makes me cringe when I catch myself saying it) rather than the equally silly but long-ingrained 'flip flops'. But over the past 2 1/2 years I've been more and more accustomed to wearing them. Indeed, I can even walk in them for more than few minutes without either losing them or driving myself mad with that clippy cloppy sound they make.

Day 33 - Thai restaurants

It might be hard to find a decent Indian over here (how I miss you Brick Lane!), but Thai restaurants are abundant and almost universally offer a good red curry.

Day 32 - The view on leaving the office

It's always a relief to escape into open air after a long day cooped up the office, particularly when it gets past 8pm at night. And I've always liked the block of modern apartments that greets me when I walk out of the building, not least because the great Marcello's cafe is bang opposite (though it's a shame they don't have an after hour's license...)

Day 31 - Tropical trees

Growing up, palm trees were symbols of faraway places - tropical islands, or the Mediterranean coast. So if I ever forget that I now live ten thousand miles away from home, the sight of a palm tree silhouetted against the skyline can be a vivid reminder.

Day 30 - Self-built houses

Though Grand Designs might have you believe otherwise, there aren't many people in England who have the capability to build their own homes, but in New Zealand it's fairly common to find people buying land to stick their dream house on. And over here they like to keep things simple - it's amazing what you can do with some planks of wood and a few sheets of corrugated iron...

Day 29 - Osborne Street

It's safe to say I'm not the world's biggest fan of shopping, but one place I don't mind browsing is Osborne Street in Newmarket, where the combination of boutique stores, cafes and strange egg-shaped street art helps to keep me entertained when I get dragged into town by the missus. (Yes, the complete lack of people also helps.)