May 13, 2021
From the hustle and bustle of downtown Auckland, it’s just a short ferry ride across the harbour to the laid-back suburb of Devonport. There has not been the same amount of development there as in many other parts of Auckland and many of the original villas and bungalows remain. In a way it feels as if you are stepping back in time to the Auckland of last century. It also happens to be the neighborhood where kiwi pop icon, Lorde, was raised.
We went for a walk along the coast toward North Head (Maungauika) a volcano that forms a headland with spectacular 360 degree views of the city and harbour.
Here are some of the views from the top of North Head.
We liked these painted furls.
Because of its prime location, North Head has, in the past, been used to provide defenses for the city. There are still remains of some of the fortifications and a wooden barracks at the very top.
These canons were being climbed by some children. Which seemed to us to be a far better use for them than their original purpose.
We then walked down to Cheltenham Beach. It is quieter than Auckland’s other beaches and more of the older homes have survived. Even the newer ones were more traditional in design, unlike the glass and concrete modern homes that are common along the other beaches
We then walked back through Devonport to the main shopping area by the pier. Here is a sample of the typical houses that we passed along the way.
And here are some of the older buildings in the main shopping area. In New Zealand it is common to see old banks and government buildings repurposed to become restaurants, cafes or bars.
In our last blog post we featured a pohutukawa tree clinging to a wall. Today we came across another unusual tree. This Morton Bay Fig is over 100 years old and is affectionately known as “Old Albert”. Like any old man, it was in need of a little extra support to stay upright. Ingeniously, it appeared to have grown supports extending from its branches down into the ground. It wasn’t something that we had ever seen before.
Back at the pier, while waiting for the ferry, we saw this beautiful sailing boat pass by.
And then it was time to head back to the city, where the sky tower seemed to be blowing clouds into the air.
Mal and Lauren 