NZ largest city

[Dixie]

NZ largest city

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.

from my daughter's home

At the park.My son and grandson.

volcanic rocks used for garden edging.

Me with my grandson who didn't like the sheep droppings.

my family picnic

This is a NZ Kauri tree grove.Some Pacific Islanders practising their rugby.

This is a popular place to stroll on a Weekend.Inside there is a screen showing the history of the area.

In the distance is the most recent volcanoRangitoto island-600 years ago it rose out of the sea and now guards the entrance to Auckland harbour.

In the distance is the central business area of Auckland.

[Mark]

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]

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]

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.

A busload of Asian tourists,and some English,American and Indian.

This is one of the first ever cottages built when Auckland was settled-it was built in 1841 and is preserved here.

Inside the cottage

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.

[jack two]

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..."

[Isabella8688]

Re: NZ largest city

28 Mar '12 7:40 pm

nice pic

[chal5oye]

Re: NZ largest city

11 Jan '14 9:26 pm

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.

[fenwillow]

Re: NZ largest city

12 Jan '14 12:24 pm

What lovely pictures! The sky looks so bright and clear. Is that because the city on on the isthmus? Our closest coastal city is Vancouver, BC and they always seem to have lovely clear skies as well. The pollution blows up to the end of the Fraser Valley. I love the houses in the pictures. They're very similar to the styles of houses built in BC. We have a lot of forests so wood has historically been the preferred building material. It's lovely to see the older houses still around. We have more of the older ones in interior of our province, where the weather is much drier.

During the Fall my daughter, granddaughter and I took a trip to Nelson and the surrounding area, the Kootenays. I've attached a picture of a little house, built on Zuckerberg Island near Castlegar. Castlegar, Nelson and Nakusp all have many beautiful older wood homes, still being lived in. Zuckerberg Island is a Heritage Park. The little house was so cute inside. My daughter and granddaughter are sitting on the steps.

It's so relaxing to have a family vacation in a beautiful spot. Thanks for posting your pictures!
June

Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park house

[MacFlax]

On Bumping Old Threads

12 Jan '14 8:10 pm

June, those earlier pics are from 2009.

Our new member chal5oye has bumped up this thread after two years to say what Mark said, how peculiar. Whatever next, advertising perhaps?

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.

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]

Zuckerberg Island

12 Jan '14 8:14 pm

Lovely photo, such a cute building.