Auckland

I take everything I might have said about Auckland back! My only memories of it were of its busy city centre and high- rise buildings, mainly because we didn't really visit the outskirts and beaches. I am so pleased I didn't miss them completely, as they have totally changed my view of our largest city, with about third of the country's population. Needless to say, I am not a huge fan of the traffic, but with good motorways, it seems to move fairly well and people are patient and do not speed too much.

It was great to stay with Rio , an ex student from about 20 years ago, and his family in West Auckland. He gave me a fantastic overview of the area, starting with a focus on forests - most appropriate as his line of work is forestry! Fortunately, he is involved in the use of planted forest and not native!

Very quickly we were at Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. This was the first spectacular view over this vast area of native forest.I had no idea there was so much forest so close to Auckland.

With its distinctive layers of bush, smaller trees and giants, it is a perfect introduction to New Zealand forests. Sadly, not all have these giant Kauri trees, which can live 500 years and are amongst the tallest on earth. Unfortunately, many Kauri were cut down for boats, houses, etc, but now they are protected and admired.

What majestic giants they are , providing a home to so many plants and animals.

It was an exceptional place to visit, and my first sighting of Kauri trees. Very special.

Although we both prefer being outside cities, we did visit Auckland briefly to enjoy its vibrant harbour area, in particular what was the America' s cup village years ago and wil almost certainly be the venue of the next America's Cup.

They have replicas of the boats used in the Auckland America's Cup. They were much smaller than I had imagined, but nonetheless impressive, and graceful in the water. The icon of Auckland, the Sky Tower, towers above the CBD.

Although it wasovercast, the temperature was perfect to sit outside and enjoy the advertised as 'best fish and chips in New Zealand".At 12 dollars it needed to be good and it was! I think that it is possibly equal first with Akaroa fish and chips. Delicious and super fresh fish.

Then it was time to explore the bays not far from city centre, Mission Bay to be precise. With perfect weather, just the right amount of good weather clouds and warm water, what else could you ask for. The views of Rangitoto Island with its still active volcano were stunning.

The next day we set off northwards, about 60 km out of Auckland to Matekana Farmers' Market. What a lovely setting it is in and there was a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, music, delicious food and tastings and wonderful local produce.

When it got too hot, you could walk along the river and into the cool, shady forest above the water. It was a haven!

Even people's dogs were well looked after and seemed perfectly at ease with the young girls who were evidently enjoying the task of minding all sizes of dog! There were 9 there in total as I went past. Very cute!

Just out of town we drove into a Regional Park and down to Tawharanui open nature reserve, where i was amazed to learn that they have reintroduced two rare birds, the Takahe and one species of Kiwi,  neither of which I saw. Of course, no kiwis during the day anyway, and takahe are shy birds and I am sure there are not many of them there. They were thought to be extinct till the 1940s so they must have made a good comeback!

I did see dozens of pukeko, an extremely successful bird species, surviving against the odds it seems, when so  many other species failed.I guess tge fact that they are not fussy eaters makes survival easier.

 The road down to the reserve was longish and winding, but boy, was it worth it! It was an absolutely fabulous area with long sandy beaches, bespattered with volcanic rocks and with NZ's Christmas trees, pohutakawa, providing a colourful backdrop. It was not too hot thanks to the clouds. When they moved off, it was too hot and it was great to paddle in the shallow waters. Fantastic. Wish I had had my swimming togs with me.

I am not sure what the island in the distance was, but I think it could have been White Island, another very active volcano, one of over 40 in the Auckland region.

It was so lovely to explore the beach.

Here, one of the particularly large Pohutakawas providong some very necessary shade at times.

The flowers are very special and again attract myriads of insects and many native bird species.

It was not just a sandy beach. It seemed to have everything!

I so enjoyed a good paddle up to my knees while Rio and family spent some time together.

I was beginning to get so excited about the upcoming concert in the evening so took my mind off it by exploring some of the most colourful rockpools. 

This was not a lake. As the tide came in, it left very shallow pools of water which created the most beautiful reflections and colours on the beach. It was stunning.

 Hours later I stood impatiently awaiting the Paul McCartney concert at Mount Smart stadium.  28 years ago I was at his last NZ concert, sitting on the grassy embankment. Nice to have comfortable seats this time and right in front of the stage, though right at the back. I was so thrilled to be there to see the popstar I had loved most as a teenager and have always admired. It was a perfect evening, with very pleasant balmy summer temperatures.

What a sensational concert it was! Three full hours of Paul and his very talented band at the end of their World tour which started April 2016. What stamina this 75-year-old music phenomenom has. He still looks gorgeous and I still adore him.. I have to say I spent much of the time with binoculars focussed on him so I could most appreciate the time we had watching and listening to this remarkable man. We had tried to guess what he would sing, and in the three hours he more or less covered everything, from pre Beatles to Wings and to his most recent songs which are just as fantastic as the Oldies. 

It was not just about music. It was often very moving as he talked of John and George, and played a new song he had written for John, with lyrics saying things he had never told him and wished he had, plus a stint on the ukelele George gave him. 

The crowd was great and we sang along with so many of the wellknown Beatles songs. It was a great workout! The encores went on for a further 20 minutes and included two of my favourites, Yesterday and Mull of Kintyre. Watching this maestro singing Yesterday was the most memorable moment for me, remembering when he sang it, 50 years ago, at the Royal Variety show! Mull of Kintyre had special significnce as I had intended to go there this year but only got close! As the concert closed and Paul waved farewell, I felt rather sad knowing pretty well that that was probably the last live concert of his I would see. So many years on from the screaming days at the Beatles' Christmas shows. It was so good to hear the words and lyrics this time!

So, Dad, you were absolutely wrong when I was eleven and infatuated by the Fab Four. You said they were a 3-month phenomenom. How wrong could anyone be. 

I am so grateful to Paul for his energy and enthusiasm to give us such a memorable evening in Auckland, and for the 55 years of music and pleasure. He was a massive part of my youthful years and I am sure he will remain a huge part of my retirement years. That concert was certainly the highlight of a year filled with highlights. I hope I never forget it.