Second Day - Piha/Auckland
|
| The second day we hopped into our rental car -- a Toyota Rav 4 -- and headed west across the Waitakere Range to the coast to see the Black Sand beach at Piha. |
| |
 |
|
|
We didn't really know what to expect. We had heard the black sands were really hot. But the day was actually very mild and it was no problem walking on the sands barefeet.
|
| |
 |
|
| The ocean was cold; the only people in the water were surfers wearing wetsuits. I wouldn't say the sands were black. But they weren't white either. |
| |
 |
|
|
That's Lion Rock in the background.
|
| |
 |
|
| Looking down halfway up Lion Rock. I felt like I was at Iwo Jima, sort of. |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
| The trail leads almost to the top of Lion Rock |
| |
 |
|
|
Maggie and Lynnette have gone as far as they can go.
|
| |
 |
|
|
After the strenuous Lion Rock climb we were hungry. Blair's on the Beach was the only place to get food.
They sold fresh local fish along with the usual burgers and sandwiches. I had fish fried in beer-batter along with fries. It turned out to be the best fish and chips I have ever had in my life! Lynnette had her fish on a salad which was good too. Funny how things work out sometimes.
|
| |
 |
|
| Lynnette and Maggie yucking it up while waiting for their food. |
| |
 |
|
| We drove back to Auckland and checked out "One Tree Hill" south of the city. You can see the Auckland Sky Tower in the background. It had started clouding up as we drove back from Piha. Our timing was impeccible; it started raining as soon as we stepped out of the car. |
| |
 |
|
| The "One Tree" is long gone, but they have this big memorial monument to the Maori at the top of the hill instead. The place is now nicknamed "None Tree Hill". |
| |
 |
|
| A closer look at Auckland city in the distance. |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|