KT and Coffee: Auckland Regional Parks

Showing posts with label Auckland Regional Parks. Show all posts

Wake up and smell the roses

Walking around the roses always makes me think of my mum and then my nan. So it's a happy time, but I miss them so. This time I also thought of our first trip to Wellington where I sought out the rose garden in the Botanical Gardens. I took photos of nearly all of them to share and show my mum. Back in Auckland we have the Rose Garden in Parnell as well as the Botanical Gardens, so really never far from my mum and nan at all.

Auckland Botanic Gardens 2015

My 2008 Rose Collection. When sharing photos of Roses the names come to life in the same way the fragrance does when you walk by them. These are all from my Flickr photo stream, so you should be able to see the title if you hover or some internet magic thing. These were taken with a Casio EX-Z1000 and I can pretty much guarantee back then I would have been shooting on auto.

Onto 2012 and the Rose Garden at Parnell. Here I am playing with the Hipstamatic app on the phone. the phone has added a whole new world to my photography but in even in the short time since I took these photos so much has changed.

Week Four. Park Four.

Just getting though the weeks is good enough for me. Yep, at that point again. Switching off has taken a back seat (how pitiful am I), but the parks we've kept going. Week four has us at the Botanic Gardens. It was one of those oh so summer days, grey, damp and threatening full on rain that turned into a warm, blue skied day that I was of course completely incorrectly dressed for.

The Botanic Gardens is a very popular spot at the weekends, it is great seeing so many people enjoying the walk around the plants. We pick a different route each time, depending on the season, our mood, the weather, our energy. Today it was the roses (but those pictures to follow), plus a sneak preview of the sculpture going up ready for the start of the summer season Sculpture in the Garden which has become a annual blog feature.

Week Three. Park Three

Those habits just falling apart everywhere, how long will this one last I wonder. We chose a favourite on a windy Sunday. Murawai Beach is a newish addition to the the Auckland Regional Park group and has a bit of everything. Blimey was that beach busy. I was switching between being caught up in their energy and feeling terribly tired and lazy. We walked the beach, people watched, talked and had lunch. Re-energised by the sea and the breeze.

Is it one of the most places I write about the most? Just photos here, part of a long weekend, a place to walk, as part of a charity effort, when I said goodbye to night shifts with a sunset to sunrise drive, more sunset moments and as place for winter camping.

It was warmer than this looks

The surf guards paying their respects

Energy, motivation. Busy and brilliant.

Week Two. Park Two

Switch off fail. I can sustain a habit for about 3 weeks. Need help with that.

We did stick with the Regional Park Challenge though. After a Saturday of housework, shopping, job lists, BBQ and firework night with neighbours. Sunday was to be the first swim of the season. Waking up after the late night and the wine, I was wondering really?

But we went.

We choose a favourite, Mahurangi and packed a picnic. Just getting out of the city I started to unwind. Stopping at our usual spot for coffee en route, watching the clouds and avoiding the phone (so I failed but didn't mean I still wasn't trying).

That first dive, head under the water and then making a splash with the first few strokes, feeling alive and with energy.

Then there is the important lying in the sun (I hide in semi shade), lunch, reading, listening to the folks around us, enjoying the wonderful day.

Adam just lying and drying after the swim

I love it all. The anticipation, the dive under the water, the swim, the way my hair falls once it is sea soaked

It is rugby after all

Just the one from the South Island trip. More to come.

Not so much as switched off, not even slightly to be honest. Waking in time for the end of the wondrous game that saw The All Blacks winning the world cup for the second consecutive time, the only team to have ever done that and the only team to have won three times in total. When did I get to know so much about Rugby is the most obvious question. Well it's a kiwi thing and boy was I happy with a tear in the eye as the team collected the medals and raised that cup.

Needless to say there was early morning telly and chatting on Facebook to share the joy. I took the phone with us on our trip out, taking photos and even taking a phone call. But and this is a big but, I did not succumb to the game playing. This is one of my main goals of the switch off Sunday. Sitting here Monday evening, I still haven't played. So feeling pretty good about that.

Long Bay Beach at the regional park. Week one of the regional park challenge

Post holiday (more to come) we have taken on a couple of challenges to keep the fresh up and creativity alive. First up will be the Auckland Regional Park Challenge. Visiting one park every weekend, starting 1st November. Week one saw us at Long bay Regional Park. We weren't alone, the good weather and the starting of summer bringing the picnickers, ball players, and family groups having a very good time.

Moving onto another good time, we thought we stop for a drink, the rugby revellers were still going strong, and boy what a happy, joyful and just very contented crowd they were. New Zealand is an smiling all over.

A happy crowd, celebrating the rugby win
All Black Everything

Walk 35 - Waitakere Dam Walk


I don't know why, but I do find a dam rather fascinating. It may be the dam buster in me!

In the long long weekend we did manage some walking. Not so much as you'd notice or that the clothes are any looser, but let's not think about that just now. I wanted a walk that wouldn't kill me or depress me. I know I'm out of shape - no - I am a shape, I'm just not very fit at the moment. We are (as I frequently mention I know) blessed, there are walks for all sorts at our fingertips. So off west it was. Here to be precise. A road down, then heaps of steps, then along the old railway track. Quick stop for tea and cookies, then an amazing 'oh my I'm having an Indiana Jones moment' end of the track. Actually not the end of the track - we could have continued along for several hours. No, the turn around point for us. The steps up killed me - in that good way - the way that you know you are doing yourself some good but the end is in sight. The road up was a long and winding road. I kept my head down and kept breathing. Hurrah. Out of breath, soaked up the scenery. I think about 6km. I know, but it's better than the couch. Oh and it was so nice to be out walking midweek.

On the dam, it caught my eye, there were loads and it said 25 on all of them...what does it mean

The dam through the forest. Rather hard all this green.

There is really little need for a map on a walk like this, but it's a habit. I'm not apologising, I'm proud. I always have a map.

My autumn leave obsession.

The Indiana Jones moment

The bridges reminded me of our Otago Rail Trail adventure, but these were more slippy.

There is that dam again, less green this time.

Walk 29 - Auckland Botanic Gardens

Oh yes, it was a walk….

Sculpture in the Gardens
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Nov 2013-Feb 2014

Sculpture at the Gardens

In attempt to clear the self destructive mind games I play with myself here are the photos from our trip to the Botanic Gardens and the latest sculpture trail. Now which one did I vote for for the favourite prize and which photo should I submit to the photography competition? Answers on a postcard (but that would presume a readership, so really a question to myself).