If anyone tells you to only spend 1 day in Auckland, I challenge you to think again. There are so many things to do and see, both at a price and for free. Volcanoes, beaches, open-air movies, boating, diving, aquariums and bush walks are just some of the activities we got up to...
A great place to start is One Tree Hill. One of Auckland’s 53 extinct volcanoes with 360 degree views over the city. (It also inspired the U2 song of the same name.) It’s locally known as No Tree Hill as chainsaw-weilding protesters attacked the only tree on top of the hill eventually killing it.
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| Views from the top of One Tree Hill |
We spent a relaxing 45 minutes or so taking in the uninterrupted views from the top. Sir John Logan Campbell, one of the first Europeans to settle in Auckland and a mayor of Auckland is buried here. And on the way down, we saw some of the wild birds and animals living in the surrounding Cornwall Park.
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| Crazy looking pheasants |
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| Rabbits hiding |
About 45 minutes drive from the centre of Auckland are a number of west coast beaches - Muriwai, Bethells, Piha and Karekare. Completely different from the gentle east coast beaches, these are exposed to the winds and often have powerful waves, large swells and strong currents. Take care if you decide to go for a swim as it only takes a few seconds to get stuck in a rip and swept out to sea. The beaches are also popular with surfers hoping to catch the perfect wave. And watch out for the black sand. Kris learned the hard way about how hot black sand can get in the middle of the day so remember your jandles!
Muriwai was our destination. Not only for some beach time, but also for the gannet colony that breeds here in summer. In January and February, the flat, exposed tops of the cliffs are covered in large, white birds with bright yellow heads sitting on eggs, soft, grey, fluffy chicks or beside larger fledglings.
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| Muriwai - black sand, hot sun, cool water |
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| The cliff tops covered in birds |
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| Dealing with a noisy chick |
Time goes quickly watching the birds go about their daily life. The adults circling around trying to land next to their mate without getting attacked by their aggressive neighbours. The young demanding food. A fledgling flapping it’s underdeveloped wings hoping to get off the ground. And don’t forget ice-cream afterwards!
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| Fledgling determined to fly soon |
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| Hokey Pokey icecream - a NZ icon |
Throughout the summer months, Auckland has free movies in one of the many parks scattered across the city. Every Friday and Saturday night a different movie is screened. Crowds turn up early to claim their piece of grass, eat a picnic and enjoy a glass of wine or beer. We met up with some friends to take a nostalgic run down memory lane and watch Crocodile Dundee. Actually, it was less about the tacky 80’s movie and more about sitting on the grass, surrounded by people and catching up on 2 years of life.
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| Hanging out with friends in the park... |
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| ...with the movie projected onto an old silo |
There are plenty of forest and bush walks to do all over Auckland. We headed to the Hunua Ranges on the southern boundary of Auckland one afternoon. The falls are about 20 metres high and quite dramatic after heavy rain (not so much this day). There is also a 1.5 hour bush walk (with a few steep hills) which takes you to a dam where some of Auckland’s water supply originates. With views stretching out across the ranges and plenty of native birds to spot, I think it’s a very relaxing place to spend an afternoon.
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| The Hunua falls |
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| Through the bush |
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| NZ Native Wood Pigeon (Kereru) |
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| NZ Native Tui |
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| The dam with some of Auckland's water supply |
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| Framed touristy shot |
This was only the start of the things we got to do and see in Auckland. Head along to my next post with some of the rest of what we got up to!
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