A Week In Auckland...

 I've been staying with my friend Janeen in Auckland.

This is her garden by day... Looking north...

She has a little conservatory to enjoy the view

and the birds, especially the Tui's who love her trees
and perch and sing their hearts out. Do you know
that Tui's are the first birds up and the last to bed
so their songs echo in the garden all day. This morning

there was a flock of Starlings poking around with their
beaks and feeding on worms out of the wet grass.

 The conservatory is also fantastic place to sit  with

a glass or two of wine and enjoy the sunsets.

Brilliant colours... To the north...

 Reaching round to the west behind the trees.

Down in the valley behind the trees is the zoo...

The evening roars of the lions add sound effects

to the sunset.

 The sky darkens and the colours fade...

So quickly... The evening spectacular ends.

Russell... Time To Leave...

 It was a wild day... I had lain awake the night before

listening to the wind and rain. I was booked on the bus

from Paihia to Auckland. When the weather is too rough

the  ferries between Russell and Paihia are cancelled.

If that happened I would be going nowhere!

 But despite the weather the brave little ferries made it across

this strip of churned up water and didn't sink

under the pelting rain.

The ferry skipper was marvellous... "Hop on Board I'll look after

your bag"... And hopped off as the ferry rocked violently

leaving a chasm between the deck and the wharf!

 I took these photos from Paihia after I had arrived there as the 

next ferry arrived. I dashed out in the rain and cick, click, clink...

It was so spectacular.

At the end of the wharf is the Pier Cafe. I dived in there

out of the wind and rain. I had 45 minutes to wait for my bus

so coffee and a late breakfast was the perfect thing...

Then on my way to Auckland...

Russell - Kororaeka ... A Walk Up Flagstaff Hill...

This road  goes over the hill to Tapeka Point. Half

way up there is a smaller steeper road that goes up

Flagstaff Hill to the sun dial and historic flagstaff.

Spring was in the air... Beautiful sun-tropical Hibiscus...

Tall straggly Red Hot Pokers...

Scented climbing Jasmine - considered a noxious weed!

Up the road to the Flagstaff Hill Reserve. It was a beautiful day 

and after the rain the bush has a magical smell.

The sun dial... I don't know how to tell the time...

The amazing ceramic base...

And there is Russell...

The view back down to the village and to Matauwhi Bay

The Russell main street and the front beach... Pompallier Mission

House the last house along the beach...

Looking over to the town of Paihia...

From the top of the hill I walked down another bush track...

To Titore Way... Along here to the end...

Past more flowers basking in the spring sun...

An early Camelia...

A Magnolia rambling happily...

And all the stunning new red growth on the Photinia hedge...

At the end of the road is yet another track through the bush

back to Russell...

A seat for resting on...

And enjoying the view...

And here, depending on the tide it branches left or right.

I took the low road...

Down to the beach. It's not far so if the tide was too high

I could have gone back...

But there was enough dry beach left to walk this way...

Over the rocks...

And back to Russell village. Russell is a labyrinth of well kept

walk ways, all maintained by DoC. I could walk a different way each

day and not get lost... It's too small!

 

A Week In Russell... Bay of Islands

I spent a week in Russell with friends.

I love being there, although the weather was cool

and still winter. It's a small place so long walks

filled up lots of my days. In these photos...

I walked over the small hill to Long Beach.

It's always so beautiful there regardless of the weather.

Walking down the hill and the first glimpse...

And the last as I leave!

It was a beautiful warm sunny day... The tide's out

so lots of sand to walk on.

Some kayaker's and lots of seaweed washed up by the

recent storms and wind.

Looking out to more of the 144 islands that make up this

Bay of Islands area.

I walked right round to the far end. Tradition has it

 that the rocks at the far end must be touched... 

Then you can say you have walked to the end of Long Beach!

All the rocks that are exposed at low tide. There are

mussels on some of them  but quite small still.

I left them there to grow bigger.

I'm at the end, touched the rock...

Then sat in the sun and read my book and had a nap...

Before walking back.