We have just had 'Auckland Day' bank holiday Monday. The normal shops opened today and our first call was to the local pharmacist. After some discussion I decided on 'Beconaze' to dry up my nose.
We then drove on to Parnell Rose Gardens. This is only ten minutes drive to the city, where you take a couple of left turns before finding somewhere to park.
The gardens are beautifully laid out on top of a steep green hill, which drops down to Judges Bay. This was one of the first areas in Auckland settled by Europeans. Up the hill on the other side of the bay is the little church where the fishermen used to pray before going out to sea. They did not always return each time they sailed. The bay is now cut off by an embankment carrying the road and the railway line.
The girls enjoyed exploring the path ways and eventually looking to see what was on the beach.
On the way back home we stopped off at another beach and there was excitement over the discovery of tiny crabs, which appeared and disappeared just as quickly. After a few moments of watching this phenomenon we crossed to the large, flat park area (Orakai Domain), where there was a large, imaginative play area. There is a Maori cemetery here.
In the afternoon the girls went off to the hairdresser. Here are the results.
The next day we drove to Cornwall Park. This is a large wooded area which surrounds One Tree Hill. Zoe dashed off to her favourite climbing tree. Both girls enjoyed a good run around in this area.
At lunch time we went to the restaurant to indulge in Cornish cream teas. The building is colonial and the place setting is white linen. Please imagine two little girls sitting here. They were very good.
Irene and I explored the area. There was some nice art work in the visitors centre and opposite was the oldest wooden house in Auckland. Acacia Cottage was built in 1840 by two pioneers. It was moved from the Central Business District in 1920.
Ultimately we drove to the top of One Tree Hill. It was very crowded, but once Sally had parked I did a typical tourist shot where the beautiful view is obscured by people.
On Thursday we went to Butterfly Creek. I could count how many times we have been there, but I won't. The visit started with the usual walk through the butterfly cage. Zoe is always excited to have a butterfly land on her. Then we visited the crocodiles, which are really quite boring.
Once outside of this area we headed for the miniature railway which does two laps of the lake. At this point we became aware of small model dinosaurs. From the train we had glimpses of even larger model dinosaurs.
After the train ride Sally, Zoe and I went one way and Emily and Irene went the other. On the other side of a black rubber curtain was an amazing set. There were animated dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. The effect was augmented by the continuous roars of the beasts. Emily joined us and the girls had a fabulous time in this area. It would seem that this 'Dinosaur Kingdom' was new for January 2014.
We all had a walk in the farm area. This too had been smartened up with a 'goat mountain' added.
I had a huge burger in the restaurant, but was disappointed to find that there would be no milkshakes for half an hour.
We returned home with Zoe declaring this to be the best day ever.
On Friday the painters arrived early. They are doing the outer walls. After a lazy start Irene and I decided to drive to our seat at Glover Park overlooking Rangitototo. This was my first drive in New Zealand for two years. Over the first short drive I only made two mistakes. The first was a indicator confusion, but the second was a reminder that you never put the foot brake on with your left foot.
Having spent some time drawing our pictures we drove back, faultlessly, and were almost immediately driven off for lunch at MacDonalds. The aim was to meet up with Ian before going on to do shoe shopping at Sylvia Park. At last I got my milk shake. In fact this was a third attempt at getting one at a MacDonalds. I had made previous attempts in the UK when each time the machine had broken down.
Before tea Irene and I walked down to St Heliers library. While Irene chose her books I started reading the Frommer's guide to England and Wales. I began to learn so much about the English that I thought that I would borrow the book.
For instance I learned that 'the Queen herself still presiding with grace over a dysfunctional family' and that 'in her post-Di humiliation, she has had her privacy invaded with an intrusive movie and has had to open the doors of Buckingham Palace in August to raise extra funds from those willing to pay the hefty entrance price.'
I also learned that motoring is wandering about aimlessly and is best done in the Cotswolds.
The least recommended area to visit in England is the East Midlands (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire). It is said that 'This area encompasses some of the worst of industrial England ...'
And so back to New Zealand. It is getting really hot now and the sky is bright blue. Our Saturday outing was to the Parnell farmers' market. There was the usual tasting and buying of fun food. Strangely there was the sale of Stilton cheese which I was assured was imported from the UK.
I finished this visit with an ice-cream made from fresh boysenberries.
On the way back we stopped off for a round of miniature golf. Zoe beat me by one shot. She did get two hole in ones.
Ian had taken Emily for another visit to the dinosaurs.
In the afternoon Irene and I walked down to the sea. The tide was well out and it was necessary to walk over shells and a thick seaweed carpet to reach the waves.
After Irene had failed to identify a tree we returned home. Sally and Ian went out to a party leaving us with girls watching TV.
In the afternoon the girls went off to the hairdresser. Here are the results.
The next day we drove to Cornwall Park. This is a large wooded area which surrounds One Tree Hill. Zoe dashed off to her favourite climbing tree. Both girls enjoyed a good run around in this area.
At lunch time we went to the restaurant to indulge in Cornish cream teas. The building is colonial and the place setting is white linen. Please imagine two little girls sitting here. They were very good.
Irene and I explored the area. There was some nice art work in the visitors centre and opposite was the oldest wooden house in Auckland. Acacia Cottage was built in 1840 by two pioneers. It was moved from the Central Business District in 1920.
Ultimately we drove to the top of One Tree Hill. It was very crowded, but once Sally had parked I did a typical tourist shot where the beautiful view is obscured by people.
On Thursday we went to Butterfly Creek. I could count how many times we have been there, but I won't. The visit started with the usual walk through the butterfly cage. Zoe is always excited to have a butterfly land on her. Then we visited the crocodiles, which are really quite boring.
Once outside of this area we headed for the miniature railway which does two laps of the lake. At this point we became aware of small model dinosaurs. From the train we had glimpses of even larger model dinosaurs.
After the train ride Sally, Zoe and I went one way and Emily and Irene went the other. On the other side of a black rubber curtain was an amazing set. There were animated dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. The effect was augmented by the continuous roars of the beasts. Emily joined us and the girls had a fabulous time in this area. It would seem that this 'Dinosaur Kingdom' was new for January 2014.
We all had a walk in the farm area. This too had been smartened up with a 'goat mountain' added.
I had a huge burger in the restaurant, but was disappointed to find that there would be no milkshakes for half an hour.
We returned home with Zoe declaring this to be the best day ever.
On Friday the painters arrived early. They are doing the outer walls. After a lazy start Irene and I decided to drive to our seat at Glover Park overlooking Rangitototo. This was my first drive in New Zealand for two years. Over the first short drive I only made two mistakes. The first was a indicator confusion, but the second was a reminder that you never put the foot brake on with your left foot.
Having spent some time drawing our pictures we drove back, faultlessly, and were almost immediately driven off for lunch at MacDonalds. The aim was to meet up with Ian before going on to do shoe shopping at Sylvia Park. At last I got my milk shake. In fact this was a third attempt at getting one at a MacDonalds. I had made previous attempts in the UK when each time the machine had broken down.
Before tea Irene and I walked down to St Heliers library. While Irene chose her books I started reading the Frommer's guide to England and Wales. I began to learn so much about the English that I thought that I would borrow the book.
For instance I learned that 'the Queen herself still presiding with grace over a dysfunctional family' and that 'in her post-Di humiliation, she has had her privacy invaded with an intrusive movie and has had to open the doors of Buckingham Palace in August to raise extra funds from those willing to pay the hefty entrance price.'
I also learned that motoring is wandering about aimlessly and is best done in the Cotswolds.
The least recommended area to visit in England is the East Midlands (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire). It is said that 'This area encompasses some of the worst of industrial England ...'
And so back to New Zealand. It is getting really hot now and the sky is bright blue. Our Saturday outing was to the Parnell farmers' market. There was the usual tasting and buying of fun food. Strangely there was the sale of Stilton cheese which I was assured was imported from the UK.
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| Antique Tomatoes |
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| Bagel Tasting |
On the way back we stopped off for a round of miniature golf. Zoe beat me by one shot. She did get two hole in ones.
Ian had taken Emily for another visit to the dinosaurs.
In the afternoon Irene and I walked down to the sea. The tide was well out and it was necessary to walk over shells and a thick seaweed carpet to reach the waves.
After Irene had failed to identify a tree we returned home. Sally and Ian went out to a party leaving us with girls watching TV.
