Lantern Festival

After spending the day tramping & tanning in the Waitakere area, we went on to Albert Park (5 mins walk from our flat) to check out the Chinese Festival. The festival is one of the events in a series of Chinese New years eve celebrations.

As one of Auckland's most popular summer events, the eighth Lantern Festival featured hundreds of beautiful lanterns, including brand new designs from China, to bring Chinese New Year celebrations to a glowing finale. There were be performers from New Zealand and overseas as well as crafts, fortune-telling, fireworks and martial arts displays. Thousands of Aucklanders and two Norwegians enjoyed the Lantern Festival for its family entertainment, delicious food and amazing atmosphere.

To ensure that Mari & me got in the right mood we were invited to dinner @ Fey's. (Fey is a friend of ours, she is originally from China and is now studying finance & marketing in Auckland). We got served traditional, exciting & delicious food from China - it really made the evening! Thanksalot, Fey!

Celebrating the Chinese New Year

Our friends from overseas

If you're not a star, buy some instead!

The lanterns were really sophisticated. This is a chinese dragon.

New Zealand-inspired sheep lanterns

Tha guys posing