Dove-Myer Robinson Park

Last Friday I had to go to Parnell to pick up a book so we took our lunch and spent a very nice couple of hours walking around Dove-Myer Robinson Park, better known as the Parnell Rose Gardens. The park is named after the popular and longest serving mayor who served Auckland for 18 years, there are around 5,000 rose bushes planted there and this is the best time of the year to see them. Wow, what can I say, I leave it up to the photographs to speak for themselves. Roses as far as the eye could see!

 

 

 

See what I mean? Then we walked down through the park to a little beach called Judges Bay that looks like it is cut off from the sea by the main road along the waterfront. However, the tide still comes in and out so I guess the road only goes over the top of it somehow.

Here we see a train going past with the container wharf behind that and then the bay with Devonport & the Naval Base on the north shore in the distance.

All of a sudden this helicopter came in to land on the helipad somewhere in amongst the container wharves.

And then this one took off, what a clatter!

This happened while we were walking up the hill to this beautiful old church that is still used today. St Stephen’s Chapel was one of the first Gothic Revival churches commissioned by Bishop Selwyn. The chapel was built in 1857 and has a Greek Cross plan. It was originally built for the signing of the Constitution of the United Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand. 

I was delighted to see the grave above is the resting place of Vicesimus Lush who I was reading about only recently.

While I was looking on Google I came across another photo of this tree taken during the winter, I wish I’d thought of framing the church with the tree, oh well we can’t all be great photographers!

Looking over towards the park we’d just come from, boy that was a steep hill!

With the Sky Tower in the background, it’s in the city a few kilometres away. The tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

The end of another lovely day in paradise (when it’s not raining).

More from Whitianga

This the old stamper battery that was used in the Moewai gold mine in 1908.

Then inside the museum we stepped into the 18th century and spent a wonderful hour remembering what we’d learnt in school about Captain Cook. This is his map of the area, didn’t do too bad did he?

View Larger Map

These two paintings depict the wrecking of the H.M.S Buffalo there in 1840 while collecting Kauri trees which were used for the ship’s spars, the beach was named after her.

An old butter churn that could churn out 200 gallons of butter in 1½ hrs.

And so that was our visit to Whitianga. On the way home I spied this beautiful sight and shouted stop! Luckily we were the only ones on the road at the time. Somewhere near Hikuai.

And no this isn’t the road we were on, NZ roads are slightly better, this is the farmer’s driveway.

Next time – the day of the Roses…..

Hot Water Beach

While we were in Whitianga last week we took a trip down to Hot Water Beach a few kilometres south. A popular surfing beach but mainly popular for the hot water that seeps up through the sand from underground springs in certain parts of the beach. The best time to go is 2 hrs either side of high tide so we went racing off after breakfast without packing up so we’d make it in time. It was another lovely warm day but the wind was cold coming off the water on the beach.

People take or hire spades and dig large pits to sit in although not many people were sitting this time because it’s not quite summer here yet. You have to be careful because the water can be quite hot in spots, I ended up with lobster red feet!

After our paddle we went back to the shop for a coffee and while Dennis sat in the sun and talked to one of the locals I walked over the road to the Moko Artspace shop & showroom in the artist’s home.

The lady in the shop was especially proud of this cactus that flowers for just one day and today was the day!

After I tore Dennis away from his new friend we walked along a track that runs along the side of the beach.

After that we drove back to Whitianga and it was still only lunchtime so we had Subway before we went for a walk along the estuary.

We found this delightful little Museum where we spent an hour or so pottering around inside.

Built in 1911 for the Mercury Bay Dairy Co. We watched a film about Captain Cook when he first stopped on 3 Nov 1769 in Mercury Bay, so named as ten days were spent here observing the transit of Mercury. Before leaving Mercury Bay, the date and the ship's name Endeavour were carved into a tree, and James Cook took formal possession of this area.

More photos coming…..

Trip to Whitianga

Last Wednesday we took a trip down to Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula to deliver some xmas lights to friends. They have a B&B right on the beach at Wharekaho Beach, the next one around the coast past Buffalo Beach. We had two days of perfect weather, hospitality and relaxation, not to mention a wonderful time. 

View Larger Map

About 30 mins from Whitianga on the way there.

Looking out towards Mercury Bay, so called by Captain James Cook when he landed here in 1769.

http://onthebeachwhitianga.co.nz/ – where we stayed.

Looking towards the northern end of Wharekaho Beach better known as Simpson’s Beach.

Looking towards the southern end, 3.8km long. We had the whole beach to ourselves seeing it was a week day, so peaceful.

At the southern end.

Grumpy!

The New Zealand Dotterel (Tūturiwhatu pukunui) is an endangered species found only in this country. It was once widespread and common but there are only about 1500 birds left. This serious decline in numbers is due to a combination of habitat loss, predation by introduced mammals and disturbance during breeding.

These two were obviously rather distressed as we walked by, they kept running backwards & forwards chirping to each other – or us – they are showing their breeding colours – orange breasts – so we think they must have had a nest nearby.

Looking from Buffalo Beach Esplanade towards the Estuary and Ferry Landing.

Buffalo Beach, Whitianga.

Next time – Hot Water Beach……