Day 9 (14-Oct-2012) Auckland

Yet another leisurely start to the day, this time greeted by milder but colder weather. Suitably wrapped up, we headed back to Mount Eden for better photos and video of the city skyline. We then drove over the Harbour Bridge to Davenport on the other side of Waitemata Harbour for different view of the CBD. Following quick stop for coffee we meandered our way up Mount Victoria to grab photos and video across the Rangitoto Channel.

 

We then elected to head across the Waitakere Range to Muriwai Beach, where there are three additional Gannet colonies. Here the viewing platforms are sited above the colonies, allowing us to capture photos and video looking down onto the many birds hovering over the colonies and gliding along the cliffs. With the winds again nearing gale force the birds simply had to spread their wings to take off, and stayed almost motionless as they held station over their perches – a truly amazing sight.

After taking our fill, and filling camera and camcorder memory cards in the process, we departed for Piha Beach, a beautiful secluded beach nestled into the western flanks of the Waitakere Range, which has been designated a national park.  Facing the Tasman Sea, this quaint village is accessible by a single windy road through the mountains. The black volcanic beach, sandwiched between steep sandstone cliffs, and buffeted by an angry emerald green sea below a blue sky, made for quite a photographic setting.
 

We then headed to Titirangi via the Arataki Visitor Centre, the start of the Hillary Trail, created by Edmund Hilary, who grew up in the Waitakere Range. The visitor centre also affords fabulous vistas over Manukau Harbour, houses an amazing collection of Maori art, in addition to numerous wildlife exhibits. By now the weather had broken and so we decided to drive over to Saint Heliers Bay, which offers views of Rangitoto Island across the Rangitoto Channel and also the CBD to the west. Before at last heading back to the hotel, we drove further around the coastline to Achilles Point for views across Tanaki Strait.