Places around Auckland

These pictures and notes are from a couple weeks ago when filling my days off in Auckland. 

Cornwall Park & One Tree Hill

This was a walk about 30 minutes from home here in Auckland that includes sheep in lambing season along the hillside, cattle and like most hills in Auckland is an extinct volcano and was a former Maori pa site (defence during war times).  On the one side of the hill is the Auckland Observatory, which I didn't have a chance to visit as it was Sunday and closed of course.  The grounds of Cornwall Park were gifted to the public in 1901 by Sir John Logan Campbell, known as the 'father of Auckland', who was a doctor and became a prominent businessman. 

One thing that is missing on One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie - the Maori name for 'hill of the kiekie vine') is the lone tree that once stood on the summit for nearly 130 years.  Due to vandalism it was removed in 2000 and there are continually talks of a replacement tree.  The tall obelisk at the summit is a memorial to John Logan Campbell and he is buried there as well. 

It is a pretty expansive area with children's play areas, trails, spots to picnic with public barbecues, an archery range, & several heritage buildings. 

Yep, I was this close and I am certain that she is the rogue cow as the others were all across the path behind a fence...... I like her!

This one is about to burst with lamb.... it was odd to see the ewes under the trees giving birth and 'placenta droppings' everywhere as I walked along.  A little different than lambing season in winter in Canada, that's for sure. 

Right smack dab in the middle of the city

Long Bay to Piripiri Point through the Okura Estuary

This walk included a 30 minute car ride north along Motorway 1 to the North Shore.  This area is called Oneroa in Maori and is a marine reserve starting with a long, wide beach and then led me up through winding hills, cow paddock tramping and along limestone bluffs.  I combined the clifftop path with the shoreline along slippery rocks and sand through a mix of sun & sprinkling rain.  Along my way I enjoyed the salt sea air, waves pooling along the sand, many different species of birds chirping & squawking, winds blowing in the trees, the cattle mooing, sand &, at times, mud squishing beneath my feet.  It was a nice day hike at my own picture taking speed in a relaxing environment.

These are pukeko, the swamp hen of New Zealand, we have some near our place.  I have been working on figuring out what a group of pukekos is called...... no consensus yet  :)

Standing on Pohutukawa Bay beach looking out to the back side of Rangitoto Island, the other side faces Auckland. 

The alternating layers of Waitemata sandstone and siltstone cliffs, occassionally I found a cool fossil in some of the layers that jutted out & small waterfalls flowing through the layers

These rock pools had sea crabs and even a couple of starfish..... but since the tide was rolling in  I decided to continue my walk and not get caught on the rocks  haha

Hope you enjoyed the walks with me!  :)

Northland, a fun 4 day trip!

Northland

This trip was a 4 day adventure driving north along both the east and west coasts of the Northland.  Laurel & I packed up Layla, & smiled to ourselves wondering if she would last the trip and how we would get back if not.  Let me mention, she not only did & returned to Auckland but showed us that she enjoys highway driving and all the tight turns offered along the New Zealand highways.  Road signs & speed postings, if you can find them, often would have 30km/hr and 100km/hr within a 100ft of each other.  Oh and slips, or mudslides as us Canadians would think of were found throughout as well!

So heading north along Motorway 1 our first stop was brief in Whangarei as it was a rainy gloomy day, but plan to come back to this area for all the water activities of snorkelling, sailing, swimming, etc. as it gets warmer.

The following are from a short walk at Memorial Kauri Park walk, ending at Paranui Falls. 

Slight detour along the Twin Coast Highway led to Matapouri beach,  if only you could hear the roar of the surf to go along with it

Continuing on our way, this is Opua where the car ferry takes cars over to Okiato

On from Opua is Te Haumi, where we enjoyed low tide picking up seashells at sunset

Our first night we stayed in Paihia at a cute little hostel, this is the morning view from the beach at Paihia

Close by is Waitangi, which is historic to the creation of New Zealand.  The treaty of Waitangi, between the British and many Maori chiefs took place here at the Hobson house, looking out over to Russell.  Amazingly kept grounds and Maori history....  This is one of the war canoes

Paua shell on Maori carvings

Hobson House

View from Waitangi grounds

Maori meeting house built in the 1930s

A spiritual experience in itself, spectacular maori carvings in kauri creating an unbelievable smell

View from Russell, after taking the passenger ferry over.  Paihia and Russell were having a jazz festival

The boat Laurel and I oared over on......  haha

Views from 'Dolphin Discovery, Explore NZ bright yellow powerboat'  exploring the Bay of Islands, consisting of 144 islands.  Both Laurel & I have decided we want to learn to sail and these sailboats made us want to even more.  It looked amazing!

Approaching 'Hole in the Rock',  but cannot see it yet!

Lighthouse across from Hole in the Rock

Here it comes, there is literally rock all around it with the waves only carving out a hole, that will continue to get bigger and bigger over time.