Views from Maungawhau

In early Autumn we visited parts of Auckland, this was one place I've been wanting to see for quite some time. I grew up in the suburbs of Auckland and when I was little my Nana and Grandad lived in Mount Eden which is very nearby. They use to take my up this mountain sometimes so it is quite special to me.  

Cars are not allowed to drive up to the top, you have to park at the bottom and walk up, this hasn't always been the case so I think it's probably because of the amount of walkers and cyclists.

Mt Eden (Maungawhau) is one of the most prominent volcanic cones remaining in the Auckland region. Erupting about 15,000 years ago from three overlapping scoria cones, it formed a huge scoria mound with a central crater from the last eruption. Lava flowed out from the base of the mound, and in some places the lava is more than 60 metres thick.

Maungawhau was a significant fortified pā, large enough to provide refuge for several hundred people. Extensive earthworks modified the steep upper slopes of the cone.  This particular monument at the top was erected in 1933 as a memorial to the pioneers who played a part in the transformation of the land which was once a wilderness.

From the lookout at the top there are views all over Auckland including Devonport, Parnell, Newmarket, the North Shore and Rangitoto Island. This is one of Auckland region's fourteen Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains). At 196m tall, Maungawhau or Mount Eden is the highest volcano in Auckland. 

You can see the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Auckland City and the Sky Tower in this photo - the land in the distance is the North Shore where I lived. Mount Eden got it's name from George Eden who was the first Earl of Auckland. 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

All's quiet in Auckland City

About 7 years ago I took this photo of the Sky Tower in Auckland City. Up until a week or so ago it has always been a hive of activity - now it is closed until further notice.

This building has been standing high for the last 20 years at 328 metres. It has panoramic views up to 80ks in all directions, 3 restaurants, cafes, gift shop and people can even skydive from the top.

So many businesses are feeling huge financial losses since the country has been in lockdown. Unless you're an essential service like a supermarket, doctor's, chemist etc then you can't open and thankfully the govt has been giving help to those who still have workers to pay.

I read this morning that one of our supermarkets has banned reusable bags being bought in, in the hope that people will be in and out of there more quickly. When I did our shopping 2 days ago I was allowed to repack everything into a new trolley after it all being scanned through. It doesn't bother me because bags I guess can be quite dirty anyway. I managed to buy some butternut, butterkin and pumpkin so yesterday I put a big pot of vegetable soup in our slower cooker which we enjoyed last night for dinner - so good as we are going into Autumn here with cooler temperates.

 I also read that our health minister was spotted out and about not just travelling a distance to go biking but on a separate occasion was found out to have driven over 20ks to a beach with his children. Considering the rest of us are doing our utmost to stay in our homes I feel these were not well thought out decisions - he should be setting an example.

After watching an update on the telly yesterday I learned we are now over 1000 affected people but the rate of infected people daily seems to have dropped slightly. I can only feel grateful that it isn't any higher and that our prime minister and chief health executive have been thorough and quite onto it.

Stay safe out there. Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.