So I finally got here and I am enjoying the lovely new Zealand weather. So I started my time in Auckland and a few places I have visited include the Botanic garden, Harbour and Mt Eden Domain.

The botanic garden
The botanic garden in Auckland was a brilliant example of how to design a botanic garden. There were sculptures all around including my two favourites a polar bear in a hoodie (no I'm not joking, I thought the lady was taking the mickey when she described it) and a giant thistle made out of shovels.

$900 for one of these floating flowers

Shovel Thistle

Polar bear in a hoodie

There were loads of useful bits of information on how to garden in Auckland as well as formal gardens. There was of course the obligatory Hydrangia bed and rose garden always nice to see.







The Harbour

Lovely fish market on the harbour and Ralph did enjoy watching the bridge lift and the sailboat sail through into the harbour. I didn't get too many weird looks luckily as there wern't many people around in the rain.

 This is the Mt Eden crater at the top of the Domain I particularly
liked the sign at this point of the crater.

The view from Mt Eden domain was amazing and you could see the other extinct volcanoes in the chain.




Ralph again

It brings it home how far away you are when you see signs like this