Work & Travel New Zealand 2008/2009

August 30, 2008

Weekend again and nice weather! Means: out there and enjoy New Zealands treasures. This time we didn´t have to drive far because the "Hunua Ranges Regional Park" is at our doorstep, only 20 km away from Papakura.

Here you can see it at google maps:
Papakura - Hunua Falls

It is one of Auckland´s 25 Regional Parks. In fact it is Auckland´s largest forest landscape and includes a 30 m waterfall called "Hunua Falls". Of course I didn´t wanna miss that! And it has also Auckland´s only mainland population of one of New Zealand´s rarest birds, the Kokako.

Photos? Of course I took photos My camera had as much fun as we did!

On the way back to the parking lot we discovered another small path to the falls. And then I saw it, a huge picture frame! Great! We were having fun taking some photos there with autotimer

Even on the way back to Papakura there were several photostops in store for me!

Entering Papakura again I discovered the local "Marae", a meeting place for the Maori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. Here is more information on the Maori and Marae:

Marae New Zealand (Wikepedia)

Maori (Wikipedia)

Later in the afternoon the sun teased us. It was shining but as soon as we were in the city, were Andy wanted to show me some more sights, it disappeared again and it got really chilly...*brrrrrr*