A temperate rainforest separates Auckland city centre from its western coast. Hikers head to hundreds of kilometres of trails, while surfers grab their board and head to West Auckland beaches. Bird watchers, art lovers, and adventure seekers also make their way here. The list of things to do in west Auckland makes it an ideal […]
Celebrating my Birthday in Cairns, Australia
Cairns Australia, on my birthday. It was perfect. The Radiance of the Sea dropped anchor in Yorkey’s Knob, just north of Cairns. There are so many opportunities here. The ship offered options of rainforest tours, trains, markets and of course, the Great Barrier Reef. We made a better choice and spent the day with good […]
More Photos from the Great Ocean Road: Explore Australia (Part 2)
If my photos from the Great Ocean Road earlier in the week didn’t inspire you to hop on a flight to Australia, maybe the next portion of our journey will. Those were from Torque to Apollo Bay. These are from Apollo Bay to Point Fairy. It was my favourite portion of the Great Ocean Road. […]
Arataki Visitor Centre: Gateway to the Subtropical Rainforest in Auckland
Arataki Visitor Centre is the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges, the subtropical rainforest that is a half-hour drive from downtown Auckland. Here we found ourselves surrounded by the rugged natural beauty one expects to see in New Zealand. The landscape changed rapidly in the 30-minute drive, and with windows down, I enjoyed the fragrant aromas of the rainforest. Th […]
Visit Titirangi for the Rainforest, Te Uru Gallery and Great Food
As we drove along the windy road towards Titirangi, the landscape grew more lush, and I wondered why we don’t visit West Auckland more often. Our destination was Te Uru, a contemporary gallery nestled in this bohemian community that sits at the edge of a subtropical rain forest, only an hour from our home. By the time we arrived […]
Catlins Rainforest – New Zealand’s Often Missed South Coast
It’s been eight years since we drove through the Catlins rainforest along the southern coast of New Zealand’s South Island. We have done a lot of travelling since then, yet the Catlins is still one of my favourite spots. Reviewing old photos after moving all my images to Adobe Lightroom, I discovered two things. First, […]
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