Isn't she a beaut? We only wish the doors opened vertically instead of horizontally (think DeLorean), but it never was a perfect world. Today's destination is a magical realm of enchantment known as Fairy Falls.
Fairy Falls is located just west of Mordor in Upper Gondor, and is therefore prone to orc attacks while the dark lord Sauron consolidates his power, but is otherwise one of Middle Earth's more...
...er, and by that we mean that it's about 25 minutes outside of Auckland Central in the Waitakere Range, a solid wall of verdant volcanic ridges just west of the city.
Learning to drive on the left-hand side has made us realize that a) we never gave much thought to driving at home, b) driving is both terrifying and tedious when you have to think about it all the time, and c) learning to ride on the left hand side can be an interesting and exciting test for any American marriage.
Screaming and premature hypertension aside, the scenic drive through the park provides some incredible views of the Hauraki Gulf, Manukau Harbour, and the Auckland isthmus. We pulled over a number of times to snap some pictures and admire our new home from above. The trailhead for the falls lies about halfway along this road, between the towns of Swanson and Titirangi. From there, immersion in dense rainforest is immediate. Any traffic sounds are quickly muffled by large palms and thick undergrowth. It was cool, shady, and quiet on the steep track that led us down to the land of wonder and fantasy. The series of pools and cascades that comprise Fairy Falls are watched over by two or three massive sentinel Kauri trees, and the platforms and bridges that span the falls give the place a singularly elfin quality. We sat by the pools, scrambled on the rocks, and wandered along the streambed all afternoon. Only in New Zealand could our urban home be so close to such splendour.
Next time (and we really mean it this time), we’ve got exclusive, behind-the-scenes coverage of the Kingdom of Tonga. We’re going island hopping in Polynesia’s longest-lived monarchy for a week-long sojourn we like call “Tongapalooza.”
Cheers,
K & B
Cheers,
K & B
2 comments:
Thanks for the update. I'm glad Nature Girl has amazing places to go that are also close to home. We worry about her adaptability to a totally urban environment!
The references to driving on the wrong side of the road are frightening -- this is one of those aspects of your adventure (along with, for example, the distance) that I try to ignore. I hope this doesn't mean that the two of you have to re-live your teenage years behind the wheel!
XXX E-Mama
You lucky kids! Sure looks purty over thar.
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