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New Zealand

Karekare

While I was at Piha late last year I drove a bit further around the coast
to Karekare, another of the West Coast beaches to the north of Auckland.
Just inland there is a fabulous waterfall. The view from the road is
good, but the short walk down to the foot of the falls is well worth the
effort.
Karekare Waterfall2.jpg Karekare Waterfall.jpg
The big shock after Australia is how lush and green the scenery is even in
New Zealand summer. But then when you see, or feel, how much rain they
get it’s hardly surprising.
From Karekare south there is a long (about 15km), wide beach all the way
down to Whatipu, at the entrance to Manukau harbour.

Chadsworth in Auckland

There has been a long-standing tradition that whenever I travel
Chadsworth travels as well. Usually there is a requirement that
photographic evidence is provided that the little guy hasn’t been left in
the hotel room for the entire stay. So here he is – enjoying the view
ftom the apartment window, rather than sitting in my bag the whole time.

There is also a photo somewhere of him on the boot of a hire car
at the top of Mt Victoria with the habour in the background. If I find
it I will scan it and put it up here and we can start a Chadsworth
Travel-logue

Auckland Evening

We are coming towards the end of our Trans-Tasman jaunt. Today we have some photos of the Auckland skyline from Mt Victoria in Devonport.
Auckland from MtVictoria.JPG
Rather than taking the easy option and driving the car up to the top, I thought that I would “enjoy” the walk instead. This may have been as a result of the belief that exercise is supposed to be good for you. I’m not sure if this is right or not, perhaps it is just a nasty rumour. The fifteen minute walk up from the town centre was rewarded by some magnificent views. I was up the top at about a hour before sunset, and the weather couldn’t make up it’s mind what was going to happen next – whether we were going to have a final blast of clear sky, or it was going to absolutely bucket-down. It made for a couple of good photos either way.
Auckland from MtVictoria 2.JPG

Takaparawha Point

Yes, I managed to escape and go sightseeing again. The problem has actually been trying to find some time at the computer to be non-productive.

Auckland is currently experiencing what they refer to as summer – today we managed something like a balmy 22°C. This sure ain’t Australia, there were actually Kiwi’s on the beach – not just tourists.

Takaparawha Point2.JPG

This photo is the pier at Takaparawha Point a little way down the Harbour Coast from Auckland – with unobstructed views of Rangitoto Island.

Rangitoto is the youngest of the Auckland volcanic cones, erupting around 600 years ago.

Rangitoto Isl - Mission Bay.JPG

Piha and Lion Rock

I managed to escape Auckland on the weekend; and ended up at Piha, one the West Coast beaches. In between the showers I got sunburnt – not quite lobster shade, but a nice shade of pink!  
Lion Rock, Piha 3.JPG
Piha is New Zealand’s top surfing Beach and only 40 Kms out of Auckland.  All of the published pictures that you see are of long white breakers and Lion Rock.  Lion Rock is a 100m high outcrop that splits North and South Piha.  You can take a climb up to about two-thirds of the way up, the rest of the path to the summit was closed due to erosion.  But even from here the view is good:

North Piha from Lion Rock.JPG

Lion Rock, Piha 2.JPG Piha Lagoon.JPG

There are some good photos on the Foto New Zealand website