Greek Lunch at Te Atatu Peninsula

We've tried out a few different foods since being here, and one day opted for a bit of Greek near the Te Atatu Peninsula. The food was good, but the views were wonderful!

One of the things I love about Auckland, compared to say Sydney, another harbour city I've lived in, is that the harbour is so accessible by anyone. Drive for 5 to 10 minutes in any direction from anywhere and you can see water.

There's some pretty good views from the parklands at the Te Atatu Peninsula as well.

They've made a great effort to make this area accessible for the people also, there's waterfront walks, parklands and car parking with a clear view to the Auckland city skyline, it's a great place to get outdoors and appreciate nature.

Afternoon at the Marina

There are 7 Marinas around this Twin Harboured City of Sails that is Auckland, and of course, one is close to us. Every now and then I head down to be by the water, watch the boats and view the city. It's lovely :)

Here's a few photos from the local Marina one afternoon.

 

Views and a 100 year old Cafe - Huia

Going to Huia is a wonderful drive, down through the ranges, along the edge of the harbour. As you drive you wind around the bends of the mountain, and catch a glimpse of the water, then back in along the mountain edge, and back out to see the water again, until you are driving next to the water, with the expanse of the harbour opening out beside you.

There are a few historic buildings still around, dotting the coastline, as well as a museum. The old school opened in 1894 and closed in 1961, and is now a Lodge.

We stopped in at the Huia Beach Store & Cafe, which had decent food for a reasonable cost, along with a list of every owner of the cafe in the last 100 years. There where also a few boat ramps and people heading out on the harbour.

 

I was also amazed by the volcanic rock along the shoreline, the landscape is so very different to Australia, just a reminder of how young this country is.

Snow Planet!!

Seeing as Taupo and the snowfields there is a few hours drive, and Snow planet is 20 minutes north of Auckland, we had to check out Snow Planet. Rob and Daniel went for a set of lessons and a day there, and came home thoroughly exhausted. Have to make time for the rest of us to get there :)

Here's a picture of Daniel all geared up, and some video of the day. The video is taken on a phone, so please excuse the quality.

Snow Planet, it's closer, and you can step outside the snow to warm up :)

Arataki Visitor Centre and Waitakere Ranges

Stunning, Mind Blowing, Peaceful, Beautiful, Inspiring, Relaxing these are just a few words to describe what is at the Arataki Visitor Centre on the Ranges.

We drove up not knowing quite what to expect, and the drive was amazing in it's own right. Skating across the tips of the range, in and out of the various mountain's shadow, views across fields and valleys, turn a corner and into dense forest, around the next corner and see across a valley nestled between the folds of the ranges. some really stunning stuff.

What was also amazing was the visitor centre itself. It's free to visit, and phenomenal, you could easily spend a few hours strolling around and taking it all in. Outside the centre on the edge of the range, looking out to a valley is a beautiful ornate picture frame.

Which is large enough to sit inside of and have many people in it for photo's.

The view behind the frame is amazing.

 

Up in the visitor centre itself, is a ramp which circles around into the centre and has a lookout point to see atop the ranges and the valley.

In the centre are an amazing amount of displays about the local area, there's a relief map, a display with the local magnetic sands, video presentation, a kids corner with a microscope, bird calls, local lizards, a walk through the forest, and more... but my favourite part was this huuuuge window which hung out over the valley, filled with a comfy cushion to lay back on and take all the view in.

 

When we were there we could see boats in the harbour.

 

We also went for a walk on the track through the forest.

 

We found one tree belonging to Australia... the Carmicheal, a NZ Broom.

If you have time and need to get back to nature without having to travel too far out of the city, this is a fantastic place to be doing it in :)