18 Jan '09 6:44 pm Today we visited NZ's largest city,Auckland.It is built on an isthmus and on around 60 volcanoes,which are,hopefully,extinct.
Two of my children and their families live and work in Auckland.We drove up to the top of one of the (extinct) volcanoes-a beautiful view all over the city.
Cattle and sheep graze on the slopes and the whole area is a gorgeous park,with numerous specimen trees.I found it fascinating that volcanic rocks were gathered and used for walls,and even buildings.
In the distance is the central business area of Auckland.
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Mark
Home gardener & plant fetishist
Berkeley, California, USA
19 Jan '09 9:30 am The view from up there reminded me of the view from the old walled city of Rye. Both have old rock buildings and walls and look out over a bit of a plane. Gee, they're within walking distance of the park. Nice to have such wonderful stone for garden edging. And what is this .. a rare sighting of the gardener, photographer and matriarch herself. You're looking fit and strong. I guess hauling grandkids past the sheep patties will keep you fit. You're lucky they don't mind you posting pics of the grandkids. My much younger brother and his still much younger wife have a three year old whose pictures I'd love to post but they're concerned about cyber savvy pedophiles tracking her down. Over protective in my opinion but I've got to respect their decision. They have another due next month. Officially I'm the uncle but with no real living grandparents on either side I think that is my role. She will be a gardener if I have anything to say about it.
Thanks for taking us on your visit.
MacFlax
nominate your own title
Canberra, Australia
19 Jan '09 6:45 pm Looks like a lovely day out. I knew there were volcanoes but I didn't realise there were so many!
Dixie
garden enthusiast
Waikato-New Zealand
Day out
20 Jan '09 5:41 am I checked in a book for the actual number-most of the volcanic cones were flattened for building houses,and i wonder if that was wise,but there were some tall ones retained and they now have parks around them and you can drive to the top to see the 360 degree views over Auckland.At the summit there were several nationalities.
from inside the taller building in the previous photo 8.The wood panelling is NZ native Kauri-a very strong wood.Because it was plentiful here,great forests were cut down and this is regretted today.
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jack two
nominate your own title
The new improved Jack Holloway v.2
Something to brag about...
20 Jan '09 7:46 am Wow. Tonight is a bargain on Mooseys. Not only do I have relatively easy access, but there is so much to see - even, as Mark so eloquently put it, 'the gardener, photographer and matriarch herself'!!
But it is that island that really gets me. "Yes," says Dixie sweetly to the overbearingly grand visitor, " I suppose 1841 is rather recent. And yes, we don't have any medieval castle ruins guarding the harbour as you would in Europe. However, you see that island over there? The Dear Lord Himself created it 600 years ago to guard our harbour..."
I knew there were volcanoes but I didn't realise there were so many!
