Lewis the Lion looks over Auckland
As Lewis the Lion mentioned in his previous blog on New Zealand, Auckland, the most inhabited city in New Zealand, is surrounded by 49 volcanic cones, albeit that some of them are extinct. Well knowing that Lewis the Lion likes a good view from up high, one morning he decided to climb to the top of the most well-known of these mountaintops, Mount Eden or in Maori, Maungawhau.
Lewis the Lion sees that the sign to Mount Eden is written in Maori
It felt like an April morning as it was all sunshine and showers and Lewis had to watch his footing as he climbed up the slippery pathway. Even though this was September, it was the reverse of the seasons here in New Zealand, being the start of their springtime. All the signs were around him as Lewis noticed snowdrops growing on the slopes and trees pushing out their new green buds.
Snowdrops indicate that springtime is on the way!
He wasn’t one hundred percent sure of the pathway he should be following as his little map wasn’t all that clear but luckily, the walk was demarcated with little yellow triangles showing him the way. He discovered that this short walk was in fact part of a much bigger coastal route.
Arrows marks the walking paths
The path rose steeply in sections and in no time at all, Lewis the Lion started to have great vantage points over the city of Auckland. In its centre, the distinctive Sky Tower landmark shot up its 328 metres out of the grey,
A view of the Sky Tower, Auckland
whilst further along Lewis the Lion had a great view of Eden Park, the famous rugby ground of New Zealand’s national team, the All Blacks. He hoped that whilst he was in New Zealand, he might even get to see them play but was disappointed to learn that they were presently doing a tour of South America. ‘Never mind,’ he thought. ‘Perhaps, it’ll still be as much fun to watch a game on the telly with some local people?’ One thing was for sure though, whilst in New Zealand, he thought that he would love to see or learn the ‘haka,’ the kind of strange, intimidating, choreographed routine that these big, burly rugby players always did at the start of a rugby match and for which they were famed. (You’ll have to read on through Lewis the Lion’s blogs to find out if he was successful or not?).
Eden Park – where the All Blacks rugby team play
A little further along the path, Lewis the Lion with Helen took time to take in the scenery and had their photo taken by some other people who were out walking and enjoying the view. In spite of the constantly changing weather, one minute it was raining, the next minute it was bright sunshine, Lewis the Lion could understand why so many people chose to live in Auckland, particularly with its water close by and he could understand why sailing was such a big thing here.
Lewis the Lion look over the city of Auckland
A little further on, Lewis the Lion got a little surprise as he headed for the main look-out point. The seasons weren’t the only thing that seemed to be reversed in New Zealand but the magpies too! That is to say that the colours of the birds’ feathers seemed to be the other way around. In the UK, Lewis the Lion knows that magpies have a white breast and blackish-greenish feathers but here, the magpies had a black breast, black and white wing feathers, a predominantly white beak and white at the back of their necks! ‘Very interesting,’ thought Lewis the Lion and wondered why this was the case?
The magpies seem to have different markings in New Zealand
At the top, Lewis the Lion could tell that he was unmistakably at the top of a volcanic crater due to its bevelled shape. Luckily though it was covered in grass as it was an extinct volcano. Nevertheless, there were signs up stating that you weren’t to enter not surprisingly as the sides of it looked very steep indeed and it could be dangerous of you tried to climb into it.
The extinct volcanic crater at the top of Mount Eden
On reaching the look-out point at the top, Lewis the Lion noticed that there was a bronze dial at the top indicating distances and directions of various cities from around the world. London was in there too and it told him that it was 9939 kilometres away. Yet again, a famous Kaiser Chiefs song started to whirr around in his head: he really had ‘never been this far away from home!’ Nonetheless, he felt really happy to be here and to start his next new adventure.
Lewis the Lion realises this is the furthest he’s ever been from home!
He was fascinated too to look out over Auckland’s suburbia. It definitely had a colonial feel to the place probably due to the European settlers of the late 19th century who had arrived here bringing with them their styles and customs.
Lewis the Lion looks on the Auckland suburbs
As Lewis the Lion surveyed Auckland from above for one last time before heading down the hillside, he wondered what other surprises New Zealand would have in store for him as he journeyed here? For now, it was simply a matter of dodging the showers of rain on his way back to the hostel!
Clouds sweep in over Auckland Bay
Lewis the Lion realised just how British he was on that walk up to Mount Eden. A little bit of rain wasn’t going to prevent him from getting out there and exploring this new and exciting environment. ‘After all, that’s why raincoats and umbrellas were invented!’ he rationalised.
Would you have done the same? Why or why not?
