Auckland and Waitakere

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We're here!

We made it through customs (they even let me in) with only a minor ding for Ivy trying to smuggle in an apple from the airplane. A fruit-sniffing dog went nuts over her backpack.

After we got the rental car, we survived my driving on the left for the first time. We got to our apartment along the Port in Auckland where we are staying just for one night. Fighting off the urge to nap, we headed west to check out the Waitakere Range Regional Park, a coastal rain forest. The drive toward the park was relatively uneventful, but the signage to the visitor center was not to be found. Also, on more than one occasion we thought we were following signs only to find a fork with no indication as to what direction to proceed. So we got lost...a couple of times. Eventually we caught a glimpse of a beach around Piha and started down a narrow winding round. The round meandered through green forests lush with ferns. The trees didn't seem to get too tall. We found the "car park" (parking lot) and surveyed the trail map to the beach. After heading about 50 meters the trail evolved into something suspiciously resembling a river. No canoe in my backpack, so we headed back to the car park.

I saw a local, extremely fit man with a high-wheeled stroller (one meant for trails and not streets) and asked him for advice. He said that he took an alternate trail down to the beach, admitting that there was "a bit of water" that forced him to carry the stroller over much of the terrain. I figured if he could do it with a stroller, we could probably manage until he indicated above the mid-thigh area as the high water mark. Fortunately, he pointed us toward a trail heading up toward a waterfall.

This was a nice, relatively short diversion through the forest. We found two waterfalls, each with nice pools below. It is late-fall here now, but they probably make for nice swimming holes in the summer months.

On the way back to Auckland, we stopped in Henderson to grab some supplies including a GPS and pay-as-you-go cell phone for emergencies. We got dinner supplies for Geddy & Theo but there was an Indian restaurant below our apartment so dinner plans were set for the rest of us!

We're heading north to Russell where we are staying the next four nights, so we'll be settling down for a couple of days.

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Photos

Ready to clear customs!
In Auckland airport..."Ivy, what's in that backpack?"

Posing with Native Statue
No, this wasn't punishment for the apple incident.

First Pool
Geddy is checking the depth of the first pool and waterfall on our hike.

Hiking in Waitakere
We took another trail toward a lake. It was a bit far and we didn't have time to go all the way.

Comments

[Nana Mary]

Looks Awesome
What great photos and what a beautiful spot you found. Thanks for the update, it looks awesome! Hugs, NM

[Pop]

You know the old Yogi Bara comment : when you come to a fork in the road take it...

[Asst. Prof. Levett]

Way to go!
Well you're there and it doesn't look too wintery. Take lots of pics. They all look great. APL

[Patty]

Absolutely beautiful!
Keep sharing! You should write a book. Good reporting of your trip and great pictures!

[Jill]

Ivy!
What a troublemaker!