Five Photographic spots in Auckland - thanks to P & O Cruises

Five photogenic spots in Auckland

by P&O Cruises on May 2, 2011 · View Comments

Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is often associated with shopping, sailing and its busy skyline – but there are some stunning natural wonders in and around the city to explore.
We asked Shereen Moloney  –  Auckland resident and writer, director and producer in the New Zealand film industry for more than 20 years – to nominate her five most photogenic spots around Auckland.

1. Mt Eden crater

Photo by jemsweb, available under an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license

Mt Eden, or Maungawhau, is one of over 50 dormant volcanos scattered across the Auckland isthmus. It is the highest, and has a great view of the entire city, including the two harbours that border Auckland – the Waitamata and Manukau harbours, the inner city, the Harbour Bridge and many of the other volcanos that dot the landscape. It’s also a valued archaeological site showing the land formations of Maori occupation over the last 1000 years. From the top you have a unique view of the huge crater left in the mountain by the last eruption 20,000–30,000 years ago, a view that’s particularly special when someone has climbed down and spelled out ‘I Love You’ with the rocks at the bottom of the crater.

2. North Head, Devonport

Photo by Daniel Ngu, available under an Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license

Just over a 10-minute ferry ride from the city, North Head is another volcano that provides sweeping views over the harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. After a walk through historic Devonport and the lovely old streets of Cheltenam, a climb up the mountain delivers views of the islands of the Gulf to the south, the city to the west, the many beaches and coves curving up the coastline to the north and a close-up view of Rangitoto, Auckland’s largest and most recent volcano, to the east. Rangitoto, Maori for ‘Bloody Sky’, formed through eruptions as recently as 600 to 700 years ago. Within North Head there is a tunnel system leading to gun emplacements built during World War II, which can be explored by torchlight.

3. War Memorial Museum, Auckland Domain

The museum is set against the sky as Auckland’s ‘Acropolis’ and is one of New Zealand’s finest heritage buildings. It was built in the neo-classicist style in 1929, high on the rim ofthe dormant Pukekawa volcano within what is now the Auckland Domain. The Domainis Auckland’s oldest park and is made up of 75 hectares of beautiful walks, duck ponds,greenhouses of exotic plants, woodland and grassy picnic areas. There are also lovely views of the harbour and the city from the museum hilltop.

4. Cable Bay vineyard

Cable Bay, Auckland, Photo by Nick Jacobs

Cable Bay vineyard on Waiheke Island is a gorgeous 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland city. The experience of sitting on the terrace of the Cable Bay wine bar at sunset, with some of New Zealand’s best wine and food, a spectacular view across the islands of the Hauraki Gulf to the sun setting behind Auckland city in the distance is one of the highlights of a visit
to Auckland. Of course, this is after a day exploring the many beautiful beaches and views that the rest of Waiheke Island has to offer.

5. Kare Kare beach

Kare Kare Beach, Auckland, Photo courtesy of Tourism New Zealand

Kare Kare is the smallest, but most perfectly formed of Auckland’s magnificent west coast beaches. While Auckland’s east coast is characterised by languid stretches of sparkling white sand and calm waters, the west coast is anything but. On the edge of the dense bush of the Waitakere Ranges, the coastline here is raw and wild, with a primeval feel, with huge, dark volcanic cliffs towering over glistening black ironsand. The water boils in from the Tasman Sea, crashing onto the beaches in spectacular surf displays. The area is very popular with Aucklanders, but swimming should be strictly in patrolled areas as there are many vicious rips. While it is about a 40-minute drive from the central city, it is well worth the effort for the adventurous.