A Night in Orbit

I got the opportunity to spend a night in orbit recently - thanks to the generosity of a relative celebrating a special occasion who decided to treat the family. So into Orbit we went. Three of us travelled in together and we were very amused by the attendant on the ground floor who wanted to know if we had a booking and asked us, "Are you early?" "We're late", I said, aware that a bunch of other people heard me and feeling strangely sheepish. Then we got the giggles as we asked each other if we should specify exactly how we were only a bit late and give an exact time calculation to make ourselves appear more respectable. But then the doors of the lift opened and we were sent up.

I've never liked the look of the Skytower from the outside I have to say - like many people here I think it looks like a giant needle. But Orbit Restaurant, which is up near the top of the tower, has marvellous views. You can see for 82 kms in all directions because it's a revolving restaurant. It is considered a tourist sort of thing to do but the night we were there the place seemed to be full of locals. I had read some bad reviews about the place, so I was a bit apprehensive. I needn't have worried though.

I'm not a restaurant reviewer, so I'll just give my impressions. Firstly, we had a great waitress who hails from Ireland - she managed to remain professionally friendly while we asked questions and got hysterical about our own incomprehension of what items on the menu actually were. I for one did not have a clue what compote was, so advice was needed. Unfortunately the wine waiter was hopeless in attending to people - a cafe gives better service. But we weren't too bothered as we were we busy looking at at the view and nattering about different landmarks of significance to us. And the view was fantastic - it was a clear night and the lights and sea looked so peaceful.

The food was pretty good. The scallops which some of us had for entrees were not warm enough though. The person who ordered mussels in coconut cream was envied by everyone else and you could tell we were all thinking, "I wish I ordered that." The mains were better - I had a melt in your mouth eye fillet steak with kumara (sweet potato) mash, others had fish - salmon and hapuka, which they said was excellent. Scrummy desserts followed but we were all too chicken to order the Blue Vein icecream (yes, that is Blue Vein cheese in the icecream). Two people combined and got a cheeseboard which included Blue Vein and we all ended up eating that as well as our own desserts. Overall the food was good, although sometimes less sauce would have been better, and some servings were a bit small. It's also a bit pricey by local standards, and isn't somewhere I would normally go. But since we were being treated we enjoyed the gift.

It was a great night out with people I care about. It was easy to relax there, perhaps because of the view, and the tables seem quite private. It is very funny popping off to the restroom and coming back to find that the table isn't where it used to be because the restaurant has moved. Travelling back down in the lift is something else. Not only can you see the view outside through the glass as you descend, but there is a big glass panel on the floor of the lift too. It's like something out of a movie and it really looks like you are hurtling down to earth as bottom of the shaft gets closer and closer. A guy in the lift pointed his video camera down and filmed the descent through the glass panel. He has me on his soundtrack going "Wooo - aaaargh" just before we touched down.

It was an enjoyable night doing one of the tourist things. I tend to avoid tourist things for the most part. I've always been like that - a more off the beaten track kind of person. And I usually do the dinner thing in homes rather than restaurants. But as a oncer it was something I could get into. So yes, worth checking out if you visit NZ - or live here and go for a special occasion.