Auckland city centre from Torpedo Bay.
I have just spent two most enjoyable weeks in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. The first time I saw Auckland was in early 1973 when I travelled by P&O liner between Vancouver and Melbourne and had a day in port. I must have been back again about a year later as I recall a cruise in the Bay of Islands north of Auckland. The next time was 2000 when a Kiwi friend showed much of her country to my late husband, our son and me. This time Auckland was my first stop on a 4 ½ month trip that will include New Zealand, Australian and Asian destinations.
Cruise ship in port at Queen's Quay in city centre.
Auckland is green. The home where I stayed is located in a little piece of paradise with forest views from nearly every window. Park land abounds. While I also visited museums, I spent as much time as possible outdoors.
View from the home where I stayed.
Boardwalk in Le Roys Bush city park.
Auckland is hilly and most of those hills are the cones of extinct volcanoes. The city sits on the Auckland Volcanic Field which includes 48 extinct volcanic cones, most if not all once the sites of Maori fortified agricultural settlements.
Maungawhau or Mt Eden shows evidence of terracing by early Maori residents.
Auckland is shaped by the sea. Known as the city of sails, it hosts a huge regatta each year. Unfortunately I won’t be there at the right time to see it.
Approaching city centre by ferry with the Sky Tower on the right.
On one of many Auckland beaches.
Greater Auckland has many beautiful beaches and includes a number of islands. I visited two islands. Waiheke is home to 8500 people and a popular holiday destination. Rangitoto, Auckland’s youngest volcano, is a nature reserve that has been cleared of introduced species so native plants and birds can once again thrive. Rangitoto and the Sky Tower, an observation and telecommunications tower opened in 1997, are both landmarks visible from numerous points throughout the city.
Main Street of Oneroa, a village on Waiheke Island.
Lava field on Rangitoto Island.
View of Rangitoto from Mt Victoria, another volcanic cone that is now a city park.
Auckland has over 1.5 million inhabitants, about 1/3 of the nation’s population, and is continuing to grow. Unfortunately, housing is becoming ever more expensive. Auckland is a friendly city. On arrival I got a very good impression when a number of people helped me find my way and in the days ahead if I even looked hesitant or uncertain someone asked if I needed help.