It was getting down to my last few days in New Zealand and my mum asked where I’d like to head. Into Devonport, for picturesque villa houses and a sea breeze? Shopping at some of my favourite New Zealand designers? Or into the bush for one last dose of glorious New Zealand nature? Unsurprisingly given the dearth of it in London, I chose the last option. Her suggestion of the Cascades Kauri Park to the west of Auckland was absolutely perfect.
The Cascades is one of the best preserved native bush areas in the region, with lots of mature kauri, one of the most precious New Zealand trees. An easy 40 minute drive from the heart of Auckland city, going for a walk out here will make you feel a world away. There are tons of tracks, from 20 minutes to four hours, and you can marvel at waterfalls, viewpoints, or of course the kauri. The tracks are mostly very gentle so they are great for families or those who don’t hike a lot. However if you’re really game, the area is part of the Hillary Trail, a four to six day hike that takes in some of the best of the area. It’s named after Sir Edmund Hillary, New Zealand’s most famous explorer who was one of the first men to reach the top of Mount Everest. I would love to do the whole thing one day!
A beautiful kauri tree
Mum in bird-spotting mode
Just as when we visited Tiritiri Matangi Island, it was so great to be there with my mum. Not just to enjoy her company (although of course that was awesome) but for her bird-spotting prowess! The Cascades are also home to Ark in the Park, a mainland conservation project where mum had previously volunteered. The idea is to create a safe haven for birds and other wildlife, in so far as is possible when you’re dealing with over 1200 hectares of land.
Gorgeous tree trunk textures
A rare and friendly tomtit came to say hi
Although we didn’t hike for long, it was so lovely to get one last dose of New Zealand bush. It was peaceful, with only the soft twittering of birds and the occasional fall of a palm frond to disturb the quiet. I made sure to breathe deep and suck in the pure sweet air – quite the contrast to that of London!
This carved figure is a guardian of the forest and symbolises the importance of the area to the local Maori, New Zealand’s native people.
These frames are scattered all over Auckland – the idea is that they highlight natural masterpieces. Pretty cool, huh?!
Now of course after the morning’s exertion our tummies were starting to rumble, so we decided to head back home via an amazing local cafe Provenance. Part of the Hip Group which is starting to dominate Auckland casual dining, I still can’t knock it thanks to their incredible commitment to local, sustainable and ultra-yummy food. How good does that cheesecake and sorbet look?! For more Auckland yumminess don’t forget to check out my guide to Eating My Way Around Auckland, which I’ll be updating this week with this and all the other great eateries I visited on this trip.
So what do you think – with all my New Zealand posts, have I convinced you to chuck it all in and travel or move there at once?!
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