Thursday 17 June 2021

Views from Maungawhau

In early Autumn we visited parts of Auckland, this was one place I've been wanting to see for quite some time. I grew up in the suburbs of Auckland and when I was little my Nana and Grandad lived in Mount Eden which is very nearby. They use to take my up this mountain sometimes so it is quite special to me.  

Cars are not allowed to drive up to the top, you have to park at the bottom and walk up, this hasn't always been the case so I think it's probably because of the amount of walkers and cyclists.


Mt Eden (Maungawhau) is one of the most prominent volcanic cones remaining in the Auckland region. Erupting about 15,000 years ago from three overlapping scoria cones, it formed a huge scoria mound with a central crater from the last eruption. Lava flowed out from the base of the mound, and in some places the lava is more than 60 metres thick.


Maungawhau was a significant fortified , large enough to provide refuge for several hundred people. Extensive earthworks modified the steep upper slopes of the cone.  This particular monument at the top was erected in 1933 as a memorial to the pioneers who played a part in the transformation of the land which was once a wilderness.


From the lookout at the top there are views all over Auckland including Devonport, Parnell, Newmarket, the North Shore and Rangitoto Island. This is one of Auckland region's fourteen Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains). At 196m tall, Maungawhau or Mount Eden is the highest volcano in Auckland. 

You can see the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Auckland City and the Sky Tower in this photo - the land in the distance is the North Shore where I lived. Mount Eden got it's name from George Eden who was the first Earl of Auckland. 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

14 comments:

Tom said...

...the view is beautiful.

William Kendall said...

What a lovely setting.

Iris Flavia said...

Nice signs on the road. And memories, of course.
60 metres - wow!
Great views.... and sky :-)

Graham Edwards said...

Thanks for the memory. I only went up Mt Eden once (when you could drive up) but along with so much I did on that stay (with a friend with Napier connections who lived there) it was memorable. You see and learn so much more as a visitor when you are staying with a local.

Tigger's Mum said...

My Uncle lived on Mount Albert, and as that was the only place I ever stayed in Auckland it is the only one I went to the top of (and that was over 40 years ago so the memory is a bit hazy).

PerthDailyPhoto said...

So nice to have these lovely memories of your Nanna and grandad Amy 💙 New Zealand has so much fascinating history. I would so like to visit but the way things are who knows if that will ever happen ✨

Bill said...

What a beautiful view and nice memories of going with your nana and grandad.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

I love the colorful road signs. Such beautiful views! Interesting to see the crater with the city in the background.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

You always have the most interesting and scenic stuff!!

Pisi Prkl said...

I´m slowly getting better but am not out of the woods just yet. Have to take it easy for a while. Thank You Very Much for the last one. 💖

kwarkito said...

thank you for this little tourist trip and these memories. the photos are very beautiful, and make you want to be in these landscapes.

Light and Voices said...

Greetings and Salutations! What a beautiful area! I went back several times to look at what you see. Very nice.

Martha said...

Wow, such a beautiful place!

carol l mckenna said...

Awesome sky shots and what a beautiful place ~ Xo

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