Exploring Auckland

We had a great breakfast at the Mecca restaurant and then got ready to meet Blair.

He drove us to Titirangi and then on the scenic drive to Arataki visitor centre.

 

We walked around the area and saw the views over a dam to Auckland and did a woodland walk, preceded by a boot wash to combat Kauri tree infection, before returning to the car and driving on to the Muriwai national Park to se the gannet colony.

 

 

Here the birds can be seen nesting on the cliff-top rocks, which is rare for gannets, which normally choose isolated rocks in the sea.

We had lunch at Riverhead, which is one of the oldest pubs in NZ.  Food was great, but service a bit slow, so we were there for two hours!

A rather unusual grilled lamb salad, a calamari Mediterranean salad and a chicken salad. We agreed to postpone the dessert course until later!

We then drove to a volcano at North Head, a gentle climb up past a wedding party, then on for great views of Rangitoto island and Auckland city. Ice creams at Devonport (Hokey Pokey, Boysenberry, ginger nut) . We took our leave of Blair and thanked him for the day out, returning by ferry to Downtown Auckland.