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Ponsonby
We are on the corner of Auckland's favourite and most vibrant road, "Ponsonby Road". Minutes' walk from our front door and you are at some of Auckland's best cafes and restaurants. A small selection are:
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Additionally, Ponsonby has many small streets lined with historic Victorian wooden villas
and provides a great walk to discover (old) Auckland. Alternatively, if old houses are not your scene, check out the boutique clothing, art galleries and curio shops or just take in the street life.
Karangahape Road (Locals refer to it as K'Road)
"Alternative, fringe and edgy and a great nightspot"
K'Rd, minutes' walk from our front door, has a chequered past, and is often thought as the poor cousin of Ponsonby Road. Ask K'Rd locals and they will tell you this is the street with a soul! Up to the 80's K'Rd was the main 'Red Light' area of Auckland. Today most of these establishments have moved to other parts of the city. Now this precinct boasts 53 restaurants and food outlets, 30 bars/clubs, 30 clothing stores, 8 art galleries and design shops and 13 Adult Shops. Additionally K'Rd has some of the finest examples of Edwardian architecture in the country.
If you enjoy second hand shops then you will definately not be disappointed with K'Rd which has numerous second hand (recycled) book, furniture and clothing shops.
Every Saturday on the K'Rd motorway overpass is a small market with a excellent selection of Pacific Island (Tapa) cloths.
Western Park (Tuna Mau)
Western Park, which is in fact an extension of our own large garden, is best enjoyed from one of our verandahs. The park was one of Auckland's first civic beautification projects commencing in 1873. The Auckland Council put forward the considerable sum of 10 Guineas as prize money for the best park design submitted.
The winning design was entitled 'Lily of the Valley' and completion of the park occurred in 1874. The park was vested to the City Council in 1875 and in 1897 the Auckland Star reported that the city had followed the example of 'the civilised world' when the park was officially opened.
Several distinctive sculptures and some sophisticated park furniture have been added to the park. Recently a new pebble mosaic was completed at the entrance to the park, featuring a Maori net weave pattern, two eels and a flower design. The net weave reflects the importance of the harbour to Ngati Whatu (the local Maori tribe) during the early European settlement, the eels are a reminder of the early inhabitants of the park when a stream ran through it and the flowers represent the importance of the Pacific Island communities to the local area .
Auckland City
Take a 12 minute walk down Hopetoun Street and you are in Queen Street, the centre of Auckland City! Often referred to by Aucklanders as the 'Golden Mile' the street boasts the CBD and major entertainment and shopping centres. The street ends at the Ferry Buildings adjoining the world famous harbour, the America's Cup Viaduct and the Britomart Train Station.
In the centre of the city is also the Civic Theatre, Aotea Square (which has a market every weekend), Auckland Art Gallery and the imposing Sky Tower.
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