Destination: West Auckland

French Bay, Titirangi

I am glad that we finally went here last week before we get into lockdown again this week after having freedom for more than 100 days covid-free! Why? same issues like what other countries are facing eversince. Now we are back to lockdown level 3 for 2 weeks then we’ll see what’s next.

ARATAKI VISITOR CENTER (above) it is just 40 minutes drive away from our place. Narrow winding roads, bush walks everywhere.

Trust Stadium

This is where I go for exercise and do some repetition of walking before the gym. In this tough times we need to be mentally healthy and fresh air plus a dose of sun helps a lot to boost your endorphins!

Auckland Zoo

Our zoo is also naturally beautiful. It serves like a mini paradise for all the animals living inside. So many natural landscape that you cannot help but to take some photos.

Friend’s house, Party time!

The moment we’ve always been waiting for! After missing all my friends for 3 months of lockdown / quarantine level 4-2 we had our “thanksgiving party” that we are all safe and healthy! Only now we will miss them again.

Hobsonville Point Walkway

This is just 30 minutes away from home. This also serve as a ferry terminal and every week end there is a Farmers market nearby and lot’s of homemade products to buy and dine in to. It is for the whole family plus this walkway is long enough for you and your dog to walk on and enjoy the view.

Riverhead Tavern (lowtide)

Brunching before cruising is nice for a week end away with the family (above) NZ oldest riverside tavern.

There are a lot of places whether hiking, horse riding, hunting, camping or beaches we had it all in the West. Wild West indeed. The featured image above is in Titirangi Village. They are housing 2 art galeries here and some restaurants with a wonderful view of nature.

These are some famous places that I have been in the past (bold) and some would like to visit. Check them out here below:

• Piha beach and the Lion rock
• Bethells beach
• Waitakere ranges – for bush walking
• Kumue wine country
• Muriwai beach – on top of the cliffs hundreds of gannet birds nesting here
• Crystal Mountain
• Skydiving in Parakai or if you’re a PRO then any cliffs will do
• Paraki Springs
• Extreme edge rock climbing in Glen Eden
• Kiwi Valley Farm Park
• Tree Adventures
• Hollywood Cinema – the oldest in NZ since 1915
• West Lynn Flower and Butterfly house
• Riverhead Cruise
• MOTAT
• Western Springs
• Helensville Railway Station
• And many more like this vlog as below from PinoySwiss abroad (Youtube) please watch, like, share and subscribe! 🙂

@PinoySwiss abroad Youtube channel

So many things to do and see plus so many old and new restaurants, coffee shops and malls to choose from. West is developing alright as the population in Auckland soars! Until next time. Thanks for reading.

Advertisement

Auckland Day Out

“Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. FREEDOM is the consciousness of necessity.” by Karl Marx

It seems we are now in a hurry to make the most of our covid free days since the country open up the border to it’s residents and citizens who were based or/and stranded abroad. We can basically say we are covid-free since June as we do not have a community transmission but we can never know since the last mishaps of some irresponsible people coming back and physically jumping out of the barriers of their hotel isolation recently (they have been caught up and going to be charged with their follies!) which is by the way the taxpayers are paying for them though it’s those people wanting to come home and be safe… ironically they are the one bringing the fear and unsafety back to the country or community by disobeying the law and safety. I wonder if we should close up the border now or continue to accept these people with covid-19 back into the country? So now is the right time to go and about on our own backyard asap while we still can!

The City, the tower, the wharf and street. Some photos for you to see this month of July. Life is good while we can still have the freedom to enjoy it!

Auckland War Museum. We have so many museums in the City and this is just a few minutes drive away from the city centre. It is inside the Domain Park which is also a huge park and full of beautiful nature that you will love to stroll or do some exercise since it is near residential places.

Mt.Rangitoto, active volcano AKL, vinneve

AklWarMuseum, vinneve

The food & drinks at the bar & restaurants, coffee shops, foodcourts at the mall, food trucks, farmers market etc. Yes we’ve been deprived of these while on lockdown. All open now to our hearts (& mouth) content.

Alleyway@AKL, vinneve

Auckland Zoo. The nature and their animals are such a wonderful sights to see. Families and friends came back to visit this wholesome activity and it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or drizzling people comes in hundreds and yes back to normal no social distancing and enjoying the life!

Arataki Visitor Centre. Located in West Auckland. Bush walkways. View of the Waitakere ranges. Sub-tropical rainforest. Flora and fauna. FREE entry.

@PinoySwiss abroad

I hope you enjoyed my post today and these are current photos here in NZ. We are now in the mood to travel. Our last week of school holiday. Thanks for your time!

Different FUN challenges to inspire you

This is in response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge as per the below words. Please click each word per photo to go to the link, BUT first finish this read, like or comment that would be great! 😉 Sorry, some word challenges are a bit late but it’s better to be late than never right? This also highlights my past travel and those photos that I am wanting to visit again in person if possible.  If not at least I have them in the archives of my past experiences and will remember always in my heart.

Vibrant Colours 

 

BaguioPH, vinneve

Visited this place two years ago in Baguio, Philippines.  I was captivated at their simple way of living and the vibrant colour of their houses.

Upwards

View to the top

AklZOO.sky, vinneve

Nice warm weather with a cool breeze surrounded us with lots of tall trees in Auckland Zoo (will post about this next time).  My son wants to come back here once we can go back to normal life or half of it as some say life will never be the same again… (sigh!) very sad indeed.

Tea time in Abu Dhabi

teatimeAD, vinneve

Those were the happy go lucky days. A time to indulge your sweet tooth and meet your happy friends making your life happier!

WestAKLSky, vinneve

And finally a view of the sky outside my house.  It somehow tells me that Life is still beautiful and more to look forward to the next day.  Do not be gloomy as what’s happening in the world right now.  Have faith and there’s hope!  See below (better late than never!) 🙂

CovideasterEggs, vinneve

I hope you like these photos.  You may also join the word or photo challenge as per those links to Cee’s blogsite.  The more the merrier!  Cheers!!

 

 

 

 

Back to home base in Auckland

Neststarlingeggs, vinnevefoto

After our July holiday in Abu Dhabi leaving hubby there to continue working, we went back to our daily routines including going places around Auckland to be reacquainted after long years of absence in Nz.  And yes this nest of eggs is just propped beside our house on top of an old garden mat, reminding me that this is where we started out as a family.

Western Springs – we love this Park. It brings old memories. This is just 20 minutes drive away from home with normal traffic. A big public park for everybody.  All the birds and other animals here mostly are tame and you can feed them with your leftover bread then they start to follow you that sometimes it can freak you out too haha! 

WesternSprings, vinnevefoto

Auckland Zoo – this is just beside Western Spring Park so it’s two in one either you go to the Zoo first or the Park then your whole day and night outing are full-on.  The Zoo is very big as well so wear a comfy shoes and your good spirit with or without a kid in tow.

AKLZoo, vinneve

Auckland Art Gallery – my son and I love museums and art galleries.  For locals, it is free to enter here so I just have to show my ID. It is located in the City Center and just a walking distance from the famous Queen Street just beside Albert Park.

AKLArtGallery, vinneve

Auckland City – yes the harbor is very busy in summer months from both tourists and locals alike.  To go across another island like Waiheke or if wanting a ferry instead of driving to Devonport or Coromandel you can get to ferry easily except when you have to go on a long queue when there are some cruise ships docked at the port. Most tourists coming from cruise ships tend to go to the little islands.  Unfortunately, an incident of a sudden volcanic eruption in the White Island (NorthIsland) the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas (we were there when it was docked in AKLport) some passengers were having their tour of the volcano when it suddenly erupted. Click the link above and this  (update: 8 now dead etc.) Condolences to those families who have been affected. So sad.

AKLHarbour, vinneve

Albert Park – Just beside AKL Art Gallery.  You will be amazed that there is a park-like this in the middle of the City.  They used to celebrate CNY (Chinese New Year festival) here and we had very nice memories with the whole family before our fate changed.  

MtAlberPark, vinneve

Auckland Viaduct – Families with children love to go across this bridge. There are some free entertainment here (free movie night & playgrounds) plus the restaurants and bars lined up so you won’t get hungry!  A free library in nearby giant benches if you want some reading in your spare time while in the City or just a walk for some fresh sea air or watch some rich people sailing their expensive yachts and big boats, or perhaps if you can afford to rent it.

AKLviaduct, vinneve

There’s a lot more to visit and for sure will post it here.  Follow me as I will show more of each place in my next post.  Soon it’s another holiday and yes another travel adventure awaits!  Guess where we will be for Christmas and New Year?… wait for it or better FOLLOW ME.  A LIKE and a comment would be great.  Cheers!