On Sunday, the weather was so beautiful that my humans decided to do my usual daily walk at the Viaduct Harbour - right on the downtown waterfront.
My human, Hsin-Yi, says this is one of the coolest places to hang out in Auckland – there are lots of cafes and restaurants serving yummies and people sitting out, eating and watching all the big white boats called ‘yachts’ go by. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in Auckland, especially on a sunny day!
(Hsin-Yi: It was actually quite chilly but you wouldn’t know it from the pictures! One of the best things about living in Auckland is the ‘sunny winters’ – envious friends overseas always can’t believe that we’re sending them photos of us in winter! 
)
There aren’t many dogs, though, ‘coz it’s right in the middle of the city, and so it’s not very dog-friendly – but I still like going there ‘coz it’s always nice to go somewhere different from time to time! Lots of new sights and smells!
My humans like walking me there because there are wide, clean pavements…really good in winter when all the parks are muddy and boggy – and I have just had a bath!
I don’t get to sit at the cafes but I can still walk around and enjoy the atmosphere! And people can enjoy meeting me!
There are lots of benches if you get tired of walking…
Hsin-Yi says I’m an “overgrown lapdog” – what on earth does she mean??
There are always interesting things to see at the Viaduct Harbour…like this giant sculpture!
This is also where you can get all the big boats called ‘ferries’ which take you out across the Big Water – to the islands like Rangitoto, the sleeping volcano, and the beautiful
Waiheke Island which has lots of farms making wine and lots of humans making paintings and sculptures…
I have never been on a ferry – or even a boat, like some of my blog friends – but I really hope I get the chance to one day!
You can also see the famous Auckland Sky Tower from some parts of the Viaduct Harbour.
My humans have climbed to the top of the Sky Tower and they say you can see all around Auckland for miles and miles…
My humans in the Sky Tower Observatory - Summer Jan 2008
In fact, you can even jump off the Sky Tower (www.skyjump.co.nz) but my humans weren’t crazy enough to do that!
However, they have walked on the scary glass floor!
But – so unfair! – they don’t let dogs into the Sky Tower, so this is probably the closest I’ll get!
Here is a ‘panorama’ my human made by taking lots of photos and sticking them together: (you can click to enlarge to see it better!)
Oh – and I am so annoyed! I’ve totally missed the deadline for Rufus & Indie‘s ‘Best Summer Photo’ Competition! It’s all my stupid human’s fault! And I had such a good picture prepared as well!
Anyway, here is what my entry would have been:
OK, to finish off – if you fancy a laugh – have a look at this video of me trying to do the weave poles – ha! ha! ha!
Hi Honey,
We saw your blog nomination at the Bone Zone and came by to say Hello. Congrats on the nomination. My humans love NZ and have been twice but have only toured South Island. Your pics of Auckland is beautiful!
Looks like a really nice walk. And I LOVE the summer photo!!!! It's really too bad you missed the deadline, that picture could have won in a heartbeat
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your summer photo!!! You look GREAT in a bikini! And I don't know what your Mom is thinking -- of COURSE you're a lap dog, she just needs more lap!
As for the weave poles? I'm not sure you've got the right turning radius for those poles!
*kissey face*
-Fiona
Love the weave pole video! The weaves, at least for us, are definitely one of the trickier things to teach and learn. Once you figure out what clicks for the dog, it's like magic!
Love your photos of the Viaduct! The Viaduct is an interesting place, where you can always find something hilarious. We have seen painted cow statues at one time and a huge blue human-shaped balloon at another time!
And, our mum says that she is going to email your human to suggest another meet-up later in the week. So, we hope to see you soon!!
Hi Honey it’s Star!! I met a Great Dane at the dog park for the first time today. WOW!!! He was sooooo big. I was a little scared. I wanted to play but I didn’t want to get trompled!
The Lady laughed at your weave pole performance. I am just learning them and I REALLY don’t get it.
Your friend Star
Hi Honey! Oh -- our human did giggle at your video, she said she felt a bit better about us being a bit ungainly at times, if the beautiful, graceful dancing Honey has 'off-days' there is hope for us -- humph, whatever can she mean?!
We love the photo of you in your summer get-up! Very 'ooh-la-la!' You would have won we're sure of that!
Tail wags -- JD and Max.
Love your bikini and your video! It must be hard to bend that tight. Thanks for the comment on our Video. Our humans really try to make us have good manners. Bad dogs are annoying at all sizes!
Sounds like you had a nice walk there. Lovely pictures of Auckland!
The harbour looks a beautiful place to walk around. I think I'd pass on the tower's glass floor though -- way too scary!!
Your lapdog photo just goes to show that the basket on my bike is just not for you! A trailer might be a good idea……..but I wouldn't like to be the one pedalling!
What a wonderful walk, Honey!!!
I laughed so hard with your video! You look so concentrated, so focused… it's just that you are huge, girl!
And bootiful.
Pipa
hahahah your summer photo is the best!
big licks Pu
What a nice trip into the city…it's so beautiful there! Good thing you didn't get to go up that big tower cuz that would have been scary standing on that glass floor so high up! Nice weaving Honey:)
what gorgeous scenery -- looks like you had a really nice walk with your humans
those pesky weave poles are very difficult -- i do them really well i head straight at them and just parry my head and they move out of the way -- it is the biggest benefit of this egg shaped head i can use it as a wedge!!
woodrow sweetie mj
What a lucky dog you are -- you have incredible places to visit on your walks. I don't like heights, so I'm happy to observe from a distance when you hit the rooftops!
Looking good with the weave -- Nigel is good with poles, but not in quite the same way…
Hey Honey!!
Wow, what a brilliant day out you had!! I have never been to a harbour like that, it looks like great fun!! And like your human says, it looks very warm there!!
That Sky tower looks very scary -- not sure I would have stood on that glass floor!!!
I thought your weave video was very funny -- maybe you need bigger and wider weaves!!?
I loved your bikini photo -- you look super cool in that!
Luv Scott xx
everything about this post was fantastic! the pole video had us cracking up! Honey you are so tall we still can't get over it! And what an deep deep chest you have!!!
Wow! Very great pictures! Thank you for sharing all those photos of Viaduct Harbour and also the Sky Tower. Too bad that you aren't allowed to join your humans coz' we can tell from the pictures, it's really pawsome to be able to see the view from up there.
Licks,
Adele, Vincent & Bella
I think you make the perfect lap dog. Very cute picture! As for the weave poles I think maybe you should try the horse sport of pole bending, its more your size!!
I think they need to make the weave poles Dane-sized! ha ha
What a cool rip to the city! Looks very pretty!!
Honey,
Brillant photos -- we reallly enjoyed the tour around the port. You looked fabulous by the way!
Lots of woofs
Clive
I was thinking of all sorts of nice things to say, but then I saw you in your bikini and …. YOWSA! HONEY! That is a side of you I haven't seen before.
Slobbers,
Mango
Oh Honey, you look very sexy and stylish in your bikini! What a lovely walk you had. I often walk to the Viaduct from where I live … it's really good exercise and I like the wide pavements too, so my small humans can run without bumping into people!
You had a pawesome walkie! The Viaduct looks great!
You summer picture is beautiful!
I had a good laugh with your video!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Oh Honey, you are always up to the best of things! My human just had a fabulous day on a little island on the West coast of Sweden, together with many of my relatives. She posted a picture of my sibling Heika on my siblings Swedish blog, but she hasn't had the time to the whole post justice. Recognise that? Humans make such a big deal out of everything! Anyways, I can't wait to see what all my uncles, aunts, cousins and brothers & sisters look like! My mom was soooo happy because she claims I'm such a well behaving girl. People just stared at my mom when she told them that in Africa, I carry my own leash! I also like to walk with the horses, but mom never lets go completely. I don't know why she doesn't trust me, but she claims that the horses are quite big and I am very petite in comparison. And sometimes -- being quite young still -- I get bored of the task and let go. Mom has never given me the opportunity to show my catching skills -- but very well. TOGETHER we walk the horses
Warm greetings from Africa!!
Sheba
OMD Honey, we have missed so much! We love the big lap dog photo….so funny! Glad you got to go visit that fun place but bummer that you can't go up in the big sky tower. Your humans looked very cute in their picture up there. Also, nice photo class pictures your human took. I can't see the video dance moves as I have to use firefox right now and not Internet Explorer because IE won't let me open certain blogs so I will have Mom download the plugins so I can watch later.
Nice summer pose too….you are so gorgeous in that bikini! 
Kisses,
Nala
Oh Honey! That looks like a beautiful place to visit and a pretty day out there too. You're summer photo is fabulous! You certainly would have won if you got that in time! Hot Mamma, you'll have all the boys!!
~Princess
Pole Bending is a sport in the Rodeo where the cowgirls and cowboys ride their horses through a line of poles much like our weave poles. Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1z8TheitfE
See how much more room you would have to move around?
Jackal
Auckland Harbour is beautiful. What a great place to wander around and explore.
Don't worry about the weaves Honey, they're hard for Danes! You can't be awesome at everything, you're such a good dancer it makes up for lack of weaveability!
Oh my Honey! You're a hottie in your bikini!!
Well, I happen to think you worked those poles very well… better than I ever could. I'm sure I'd have thought they were sticks and would have pulled them right out and chewed them!
Really, they should have more space between them for big dogs, don't ya think?
Aukland is a very beautiful city. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
xox
Chef
OMD….I watched the weave pole video!
It's hard being big sometimes huh! But I still think you did ok and I bet you could get it eventually. 
Tell Hsin-Yi thanks for all the lovely compliments to my Mom. 
Mom says yes it is a very stressy time and she will definitely try to take a minute to just breathe and enjoy the day. 
There will definitely be pictures too! 
Nala
Honey!! What a great walky in the sunny winter! No wonder our mom's best friend loved Aucland so much while she was working there. Like you mentioned on our blog (thank you for your comments!!), it's hard to believe that you're in the middle of winter though.. Thank you for sharing many many nice pictures with us.
We absolutely love the picture of you sitting on Hsin-Yi's lap.
It makes us smile….. and yes, the photo fot the contest is cool!!!
You know.. we met many lovely big dogs like yourself at woofstock but for some reasons one of the photos mom took came out well… Dad was busy to manage us, two crazy dogs! hahaha
So we really have to blaime mom!!!!!
Momo & Pinot
ooops.. Please read 'none of the photo came out well…"
These photos are amazing -- what a terrific place to visit. Honey you were looking magnificent although we agree you are an overgrown lapdog!
We would love to visit the Viaduct Harbour one day.
love
Martha & Bailey xxxx
ps the bit about Bailey being part cat is that she HATES birds and is always chasing and barking at them!
Honey,
I love your tours of the beautiful place you live!! I'll probably never get to travel there, but I can see it through your eyes.
It's funny for us to see you refer to January as summer since our January was so terribly cold. It's probably getting cold there now, right?
Your summer photo is really something special. Be sure to save it for the next contest that comes up.
By the way, you did pretty well with those weave poles. They just need to build some Honey-sized poles, then you'll be perfect
what great pictures of a interesting walk! Thank you for taking us on 'tour' with you … we enjoyed reading about auckland!
Licks and wags
Tuffy and the Dog Woods Pack
What an awesome place to go for walkies! I wish I have some place like this near my home! I love your bikini pic, you certainly deserve an award for the World's Sexiest Great Dane!
I think you did pretty well in your weaving, just a little more practice and you will perfect it in no time! Keep up the good work, Honey!
What a GORGEOUS place to walk!
And we love your summer picture.
And the video made mommee giggle out loud!
Great stuff, Honey!
Wuv,
Gus and Waldo