La Cigalle Market and Motutapu Island

We continued to explore more of Parnell, the neighborhood near the campus.

It took about 20 minutes to walk over to the La Cigale Market, Bistro and Cafe which is a French-focused gourmet area featuring eateries, a shop and a multi-vendor weekend market.

The market was a real mix of French stuff like eclairs, quiches and cheeses as well as the usual fruit, veg, wines, olive oils, and breads.  But what really caught our eyes were some stands with unusual products.

This fresh turmeric looked like caterpillar chrysalises

Edible flowers on top of sprouts

Sauerkraut made with carrot, turmeric and kaffir lime (no vinegar)

I posted other unusual doggie treats a few weeks back, but I couldn't resist showing some more:

Black pudding

Giant teeth cleaners

Earisistables

Crunchy clogs

This shot of the market isn't so special, but we loved the clouds.

Off to another island!  This time we went to Motutapu Island which is connected to Rangitoto thanks to the short causeway established during WWII.  At 178 million years old Motutapu is one of the oldest land masses in the Hauraki Gulf. (And some of you might remember from an older post that Rangitoto is the youngest).  

The island has lived an exciting life – it was intensively settled by Maori (when Rangitoto erupted 600 years ago, it destroyed the Maori settlements), it hosted massive Victorian picnic parties, and was a base during WWll. 

Today the island lacks the forest cover of Rangitoto and most areas are limited to grass and meadows with some grazing sheep and cows.  Following the world's largest island pest eradication program, it is now pest-free and a great place to see native birds, hike and camp.

 A historic bach (vacation home)

 Wind swept fields

 Up and over meadows

 Lone tree

 Emu Point

Cliffs along the shore at Emu Point

 Maybe this tree was struck by lightning?

Home Bay where we caught the ferry back to Auckland

 Bushy hills

 Centennial Bush Walk

Various colored hills and turquoise water

 Holding up Rangitoto

Parnell, Cornwall Park Concert and Trees

We explored the neighborhood of Parnell, about 10 minutes from where we live.  They have a lot of charming streets with interesting architecture and fun restaurants.  We wandered through the beautiful rose gardens (5000 varieties) and then around the Dove Meyer Robinson Park and Ayr Reserve.

Miles at the entrance of the rose garden

Roses

The colors were so pretty--smells nice, too

We are constantly amazed at the trees in New Zealand.  Some are tall and massive, others mossy and leafy.

This pohutukawa tree (the largest in Auckland) has many, many low branches--they look like huge octopuses.  I couldn't resist taking pictures of this one from all 4 sides.  Spectacular!

We joined our friends Goldie and Daniel at Cornwall Park for a Latin music concert at the rotunda.

 Goldie and Daniel

 The lawn was filled earlier with a dancing audience

As you faithful readers know, we are really enamored with the trees in New Zealand.  Cornwall Park is renowned for its landscape design and wide variety of mature trees. 

 My absolute favorite:  kauri grove

And now for one more tree:  This one is located at the Emily Place Reserve, a triangular park two minutes from our apt.  The branches are so long and low, they have to be propped up by poles.  So dramatic!

Rangitoto Island and Waitakere Ranges

George and Nancy Fohner visited us for 4 days during their month-long trip to New Zealand and Australia.  George and I grew up together in San Mateo and our families (4 generations) have been very close friends since before I was born. They were traveling with their two kids, Ben and Ally, and we had dinner at our apartment the night before the kids had to fly home.

Nancy, George, Miles, me, Ben, Ally

The next day, the four of us took the 1/2 hour long ferry ride from Auckland to Rangitoto Island.  This is a 5.5km wide volcanic island whose symmetrical cone is 260m high.  It is considered the youngest volcano in the Auckland volcanic field having erupted "only" 600 years ago.  We hiked for a few hours through the bush, along lava fields and up to the summit.

 

Rangitoto Island

Lava fields along the hike

With George and Nancy at the summit

View from summit of Rangitoto to Motutapu Island

Very sharp, moss-covered lava rocks

Lava cave

The next day, we drove about 45 minutes west to the Waitakere Ranges.  After visiting the Arataki Visitor Center, we were then equipped with maps to take us to three very special places.

View from the Arataki Visitor Center

Our first hike through beautiful bush was to get close to Cascade Falls.  I say "close" because access to view the falls is difficult and unformed.  (We heard them, though, and they sounded great).

Along the bush walk

Fern trees

Massive kauri tree

Miles and George walked very carefully up and over slippery rocks towards the falls.  Miles climbed down a rounded boulder but could not place his foot on the ground while holding onto the boulder so he pushed off to jump to the ground.  This turned out to be STUPID since he did not think that just under the boulder was the opening to a cave.  He fell into the cave, spun around upside down bouncing off a few rocks and landed in a mud pool.  FORTUNATELY, the cave was not too deep and he did not hit his head on a rock, but he did receive major bruises in a few places and was covered with mud. VERY LUCKY!   He could have really smashed himself up dropping into the unknown.  Whew!  He was able to continue our hike. The bruises on his butt are now a lovely shade of black, blue, purple and yellow and he'll be fine soon. 

Glimpse of the falls in the crevice on the left side of the opening

Maori forest guard--maybe he was watching over Miles and kept him safe

After Miles washed off his very muddy clothes and backpack, we had a picnic lunch and then went on a hike to Wainamu Lake.  What we passed along the way was AMAZING:  huge, black sand dunes.  It was like walking on the moon.  There were a few people with boogie boards and they had a lot of fun sliding down the dunes.  Climbing back up the steep dunes was a challenge.

Black sand dunes

View of the lake--see the tiny sand surfers?

Very steep!

Our last stop of the day was to the beautiful Bethells Beach also known as Te Henga. Big, wide stretches of beach and a favorite of locals.