Walked the 5km Hobsonville Coastal Walkway, which loops around a former Air Force base. Over the last 20 years, the area has been transformed into mostly high-density housing, over 4,000 homes when complete, two schools, restaurants and bars. Developers have offset the footprint with extensive parklands, bush, and trails. It ensures no one is ever far from nature or the water, while a ferry terminal offers a scenic commute to downtown Auckland.
Category: Living
A walk on the edge of Auckland
After a 35-minute high-speed ferry to Pine Harbour on the edge of Auckland, we took a bus through rolling farmland. We then walked back to the harbour via coastal trails, bush paths, and residential areas, enjoying lovely views across the Hauraki Gulf.
Our rusty steeds
We rented a couple of bikes from a local business that seemed to specialize in salvaging old bicycles. While we waited, they put the finishing touches on our rides and sent us on our way. They were inexpensive, about US$6 each for the day, but we definitely got what we paid for. Eventually, I found the one “perfect” gear combination where the chain didn’t fall off the derailleurs and stuck with it for the rest of the day.
Pride festival at Auckland Art Gallery
Today is Saturday in Auckland, the final day of Pride Month. Our hostess for the day, the fabulous Buckwheat, introduced the music at the Auckland Art Gallery’s Pride Festival this morning. It was a rare sight to see a drag queen so early in the day. Later, we observed the Auckland Rainbow Community Choir rehearsing a program inspired by gay icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Liza Minnelli, and Lady Gaga.
Puhinui Stream Forest Trail
Another day, another walk through native bush. Today was the Puhinui Stream Forest Trail in Totara Park, located right next to the Auckland Botanic Gardens we explored a couple of weeks ago.
What we sipped in Auckland stays in Auckland (sadly)
We took the city bus out to Soljans Estate Winery, where we started with a tasting of five different wines. Next, in the restaurant, we sat down for a delicious lunch (I had grilled fish) paired with our favorite of the day, the Pinot Gris. Everything was top-tier quality; the only downside is that they don’t distribute their wines in the US.
The island that rose from the sea 600 years ago
Volcanic Rangitoto Island erupted from the sea just 600 years ago. We spent several hours hiking past native bush rapidly establishing itself across the lava fields, eventually reaching the summit for panoramic views.
Pix at Piha’s beach
Morning walk along the black sand beach at the end of our two-night stay in Piha, a world away from Auckland, just a 45-minute Uber ride.
The easy beauty of a waterfall
Hiked more beautiful bush trails today: again up, up, up. It’s impossible to pick just one photo to encapsulate the beauty here, so here’s a waterfall we passed this morning.
Tracing Te Auaunga
Went for a walk from our home for the month, eventually joining the lovely Oakley Creek (Te Auaunga) Path. The trail follows a winding stream wrapped in carefully restored native bush; the city was all around us, yet stayed completely invisible from the floor of the deep gully.