Category Archives: Uncategorized

April 25, 2021 The weather in the Auckland region is very changeable. The bad news is that you can set off for a walk in bright sunshine and five minutes later be drenched by a passing shower. The good news is that the region has more than its fair share of rainbows. Driving over theContinue reading “Matakana / Pakiri, New Zealand”

April 22, 2021 We headed across the Harbour Bridge to visit Takapuna, on Auckland’s North Shore. Taka is Maori for knoll or assembly and puna means spring. It probably refers to Lake Pupuke, a small lake lying about 200 meters inland which was created when a volcanic crater filled with fresh spring water. The beachContinue reading “Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand”

April 21, 2021 We went along to the Van Gogh Alive multi-sensory experience with our friends Howard and Carolyn. It was a beautiful experience seeing the tormented artist’s work on huge screens in vibrant color with classical music playing in the background. The colors and texture of his works make him an ideal artist forContinue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

April 19, 2021 Today we continued climbing the peaks of Auckland. At 143 meters high, Ohinerau / Mt. Hobson is smaller than Maungawhau / Mt. Eden and Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill (both of which we have previously blogged about) and a much easier climb. It has been extensively modified by human use, first asContinue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

April 16, 2021 As the sun started to fall we joined our good friend Hamish as he took his two dogs, Bonnie and Chica, for their regular walk up Maungawhau / Mt. Eden. Maungawhau (mountain of the whau tree) is Auckland’s highest peak at 643 feet above sea level and at times the climb wasContinue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

April 15, 2021 Today we walked along Karangahape Road, commonly shortened to K Road by the locals, over the Grafton Bridge and on through the Domain to the Auckland Museum. K Road was Auckland’s most popular shopping street during the first half of the 1900s and was home to many of New Zealand’s most popularContinue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

April 13, 2021 The Auckland area is home to 48 volcanic cones, many of which are clearly visible standing above their surrounding suburbs. The most recognizable is Maungakiekie (hill of the kiekie vine) more commonly known as One Tree Hill. The hill got its English name from a solitary tree that stood near its summit.Continue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

April 12, 2021 Today we decided to go for a stroll through our alma mater, The University of Auckland, where Mal did his BA and Law degrees and Lauren did her MA. We were joined by our friends Judi and Arlette who were both at university with us back in the eighties. In fact, ArletteContinue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”

April 3-5, 2021 We just spent an awesome Easter weekend at the beach town of Whangamata with our dear friends Dave and Jac, their son Nick and his partner Nicole. Whangamata comes from the Maori words ‘whanga’ meaning bay and ‘mata’ meaning stone, and refers to the obsidian which washes up on the beach. TheContinue reading “Whangamata, New Zealand”

After dinner, we decided to go for a walk along the length of Ponsonby Road. For DC residents, Ponsonby Road is best likened to 14th Street, but on steroids. Along its length are scores of restaurants, cafes and boutique stores. Even on a Tuesday night it was bustling. Many of the early street names inContinue reading “Auckland, New Zealand”