The cloud
October 9, 2011
I finally got down to Queen’s Wharf today. This is the main “fan zone” in Auckland for the rugby world cup. There is a huge bar with loads of big TV screens, so large numbers of people can drink beer and watch rugby. I was there at 11:00. The place reeked of stale beer. Uuurgh!
There is also a large inflatable rugby ball that, I’m told, contains an audiovisual presentation (there was a 90 minute wait to get in, so I didn’t go). There is a stage, where a band was sound-checking.
The only really striking thing is The Cloud, which is an elegant building formed with a curved steel frame and a stretched canvas exterior. I assume the name intended to invoke the Maori name for New Zealand: Aotearoa, which means “land of the long white cloud”. Anyway, the structure is elegant, but there isn’t much of interest inside.
There is a cool timelapse movie of the building being constructed.
Apart from that just admired the cruise ship that was in, and the luxury yacht Family Day.
