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Travelling with Lyn

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Travelling with Lyn

Category Archives: New Zealand

Tranquillity in this Beautiful Sanctuary, New Plymouth, NZ.

03 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by Lyn Douglas in New Zealand, Tūpare Gardens, New Plymouth

≈ 39 Comments

Tags

Friends of Tūpare, New Plymouth, New Zealand, NZ, Photography, Russell Matthews, The Chapman-Taylor House, travel, Tupare Gardens, Tūpare

Only a short drive from downtown New Plymouth is the charming property, Tūpare. We parked in the car park and walked down the wide path with lovely over hanging branches of all colours to a lovely English type cottage. The Chapman-Taylor house. It was like turning back the clock – lovely wooden beams with that British feel, looking out onto a glorious garden.

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Overlooking the Waiwhakaiho River, Tūpare which means garland of flowers is a premier landscaped garden with a unique homestead, originally developed by Sir Russell Matthews and his family from 1932.

 

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Although this beautiful house was closed when we arrived as they were setting up for a private high tea, we were invited in for a personal tour. We were so fortunate as our friend Betty who took us to Tūpare is one of the Friends of Tūpare Her knowledge of the house and the gardens was exceptional. We had the pleasure of about an hour of a personalised tour of the house and gardens.

 

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The Friends of Tūpare host free public tours at 11am on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from October to March and group tours can be organised on request.
This hidden gem is probably one of New Zealand’s best privately-established gardens, which has now been passed on to the district council for preservation. The council continue to do an awesome job, replacing trees and plants as necessary to maintain its splendor.

Established in the 1930s with over 50 years of family effort, the grandeur is awesome, with maples, fragrant roses, rhododendrons, lilies, hydrangeas, redwoods, grasses, there is so much to admire, irrespective of the season.

In 2002, the land was purchased for the New Zealand Community to enjoy. It is indeed a work of art, with such well manicured gardens, a public park with impeccable barbecue facilities where people can enjoy a picnic. There are four walking trails with differing levels of difficulty especially with regards to incline. The original gardener’s cottage is a delight to see and has much historical and photographic material on display. Truly fabulous. What is even better, there is no charge to view and partake in the walking trails

 

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Gardeners Cottage
Gardeners Cottage
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Tūpare is an absolute safe haven of stillness, tranquillity and botanical beauty. It radiates serenity and peacefulness

Tūpare was the home of the Matthews family. It is now owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council and is a Garden of National Significance.

It is terrific as you can walk as little or as much as you want. The walk down to the river is worth it and then up to the top. It would be fun to take a picnic and enjoy it down by the river.

A Natural Wonder that Dominates the area of New Plymouth, NZ.

20 Wednesday Jun 2018

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Mount Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand

≈ 40 Comments

Tags

Mount Egmont, Mount Egmont National Park, Mount Tarananki, Mt Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand, NZ, Photography, travel

This mountain sneaks up on you. Driving in towards New Plymouth, suddenly we saw a beautiful snow capped wonder ahead. Viewed from a distance this spectacular volcano dominates and provides a spectacular back-drop. The summit was often covered in cloud but then when the clouds cleared the snow-covered “peak” (cone rim) was revealed and its true majesty could be seen. During the week that we were staying in New Plymouth I became mesmerised by this spectacular sight and found myself taking many photos of it from almost everywhere I was in the area.

 

 

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It sounds like the locals mostly refer to this mountain as Mount Egmont, however, I was introduced to it as Mount Taranaki. I could see immediately why this beautiful mountain with its resemblance to Mount Fuji, provided the backdrop to the movie; The Last Samurai

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On the day we visited Mount Taranaki and the Egmont National Park we stopped for a coffee at Inglewood on the way up.  The weather was very cold which prompted a couple of folks in our group to purchase gloves and beanies. However, when we did arrive at the mount late morning the day had warmed up and the weather was glorious.

Upon arrival we were met by a local volunteer guide who specialises in bush walks in Egmont national park. John took us for a nature bush walk close to the visitors’ centre where he pointed out many of the trees and plant species, plus explained to us the need for so so many possum traps. In New Zealand the possums are a huge problem and unlike here in Australia they are not protected, in fact they are hunted/trapped and killed for different purposes. Possum fur is a  big industry in NZ.

 

 

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After about an hour of exploring many of the walks through the bush we then stopped by the cafe at the visitors centre for lunch and to buy some local gifts.  The visitors centre has plenty of parking, information, including a model of the mountain and surrounds, and toilets. There is a water bottle filling station in front of information centre.

 

 

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After lunch we made our way up towards the summit from the visitors centre.  There were great walking tracks and beautiful views even without climbing all the way to the summit. We weren’t up for the summit hike so we opted instead for some of the shorter walks around the visitors centre. The walk ways are well laid out which makes the walking so easy and pleasant.

 

 

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First up was the Nature walk with the viewing platform on the way. This was a lovely quick 15 minutes walk through gorgeous forest and with great views looking up the mountain and also down towards the coast.  This walk was glorious in the sunshine. We loved the views, the birds and the flora diversity. There is trailhead signage indicating both distance and anticipated time durations. The mountain offers spectacular views, the more you give it, the more you will get in return. But don’t push yourself too hard, the mountain can be very tricky and treacherous.  The locals will tell you many people died because they underestimated it.

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The clouds came, the clouds went – Taranaki was stunning.

 

A Disused Quarry To A Paradise – Te Puna

01 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by Lyn Douglas in New Zealand, Taraunga, Te Puna Quarry

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

Monarch Butterfly, Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, NZ, Photography, Te Puna, Te Puna Quarry, travel

Well what a lovely surprise Te Puna Quarry Park was. The transformation of this disused quarry to spectacular gardens and walking tracks was commenced in 1997 and all work and maintenance was carried out solely by volunteers. Now there is something for everyone to enjoy: picnic lawns, panoramic view, sculptures, bush walks, a butterfly house, specialized gardens and much more.

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This park is a credit to the dedicated volunteers who have created a very special attraction for the community and visitors to the area. There is plenty of parking including overnight for self contained vehicles and caravans.

If you are a lover of gardens, nature and art I highly recommend Te Puna. There are ponds, tree ferns, cymbidium orchids by the thousand, native tree plantings and exotics such as vireya rhododendrons – a wild garden rich in spectacular contrasts. Special garden areas include irises, cacti and succulents, an Australian area, a native Arboretum, a Bonsai corner, a South African area and a Palm Grove. There is a butterfly garden where monarch butterflies happily fly free.

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Monarch Butterfly

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The track was steep in places so I was pleased that I was wearing sneakers/walking shoes. Definitely worth making the time to visit Te Puna with it’s wonderful panoramic views, from the gentle walk on the formed pathways taking one through all sorts of flora suitably grouped into their botanical origins and backgrounds which includes areas specifically devoted to orchids, fuchsias, herbs and much more.

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The many fascinating sculptures crafted out of stone, wood, metal and ceramics situated throughout the gardens make for an interesting cultural touch as one meanders round the different pathways and comes across these works of art or man-made surprises.

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The quarry park also has divine views of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. We soaked in the great views at many places but they were best as we climbed higher.

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This is where I saw my first “Silver Fern”growing.

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The park is dog friendly too, but only on a leash. There are plenty of benches and grass areas to rest throughout the park; there are also a few drinking fountains and toilets.

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It is free to enter this lovely spot, but worth while leaving a donation when you leave. Take a picnic and make a day of it.

From ponds to panoramic views, from gardens to butterflies, this old Quarry has become a magical place of distinctive beauty. You will love this place. I did.

A Stroll through the Beautiful Shire

23 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Hobbiton, New Zealand

≈ 55 Comments

Tags

Hobbiton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, New Zealand, NZ, Peter Jackson, Photography, The Hobbit, travel

Lyn, the Happy Hobbit

I went to Hobbiton. Although I have not read any of the books nor seen the movies, when I had the opportunity to visit, I was excited. And, I was not the slightest bit disappointed. It was 3 hours of awesomeness.

We drove from Rotorua through lush countryside to Hobbiton in Matamata which took about an hour.

We arrived with enough time before our booked tour to enjoy a simple but delightful lunch at the Shire’s Rest cafe. After lunch we lined up to wait for our bus which swept us off to the Shire. On the way to the site, we watched a feature presentation on the television in the bus.

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We drove through beautiful sheep grazing countryside of the Alexander farms to the location of the set. It is virtually impossible to see the set from the road as it takes several minutes drive in to Hobbiton after passing through security gates.

We were overwhelmed by the beauty of the place.

 

 

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The sets are beautiful, and the amount of detail that was put in to them is mind boggling. If you’re a photographer, there are an infinite number of great shots waiting for you here. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. She had a great sense of awareness of when to share her information and when to set the group free to explore an area on their own. She was happy to take photos for us. She told us the details of building the set, how Peter Jackson came to find it and stories about the filming.

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Hobbiton itself is magical and it makes you appreciate what a genius Peter Jackson is. The attention to detail is incredible and it doesn’t feel like a film set in any way. It really felt like we had fallen into middle earth. It was a fantastic trip through the world of J.R.R. Tolkien and you don’t need to be an extreme fan to enjoy this.

During this guided captivating 2 hours tour, we felt transported to the Middle Ages amongst Frodo, Sam, Gandolff and Bilbo Baggins in Bags End Shire and the Green Dragon.

The mill and the Lake look so picturesque and the views are stunning

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Hobbiton is simply stunning – beautiful gardens, gorgeous flowers, huge trees (one of them is fake) and the fascinating hobbit holes which feel so real and authentic that you could easily believe people are still living there and that it is a real community.

 

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An absolute must do, the set is amazing. The whole place makes you feel like you are part of the movie. Meandering up & down seeing all the hobbit holes all the way to the Green Dragon Inn where we were treated to a choice of either a cup of ale, cider or non alcoholic ginger beer or in my case a dark alcoholic ale.

 

 

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We loved every second of the tour. It truly was magical; like stepping into a different world. We strolled around the shire like happy little Hobbits for an afternoon. And, if you are not already a fan, you just might become one.

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Heavenly Beautiful Devonport

17 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Auckland, Auckland Harbour, Devonport, Devonport NZ, Esplanade Hotel Devonport, Hamilton, New Zealand, Photography, travel

We arrived in Auckland late morning by coach from Hamilton.  After enjoying a light lunch, we then had a free afternoon in the city.  We explored the Auckland waterfront before deciding to see the harbour and foreshores from a boat. We enquired at the ferry terminal and were told about the short ferry ride to Devonport.

We purchased our tickets, which were $12 round trip and hopped on to the next ferry to take the 15 minutes ferry ride across Auckland Harbour to the seaside village of Devonport.

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Auckland
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Auckland

Not only is the view spectacular as you leave the city but it gets even better when you arrive at Devonport with its beautiful little bay where you are met with enchanting buildings and parks on the waterfront

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Auckland Harbour
Auckland Harbour
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On arrival in Devonport the views across to Auckland city are spectacular so don’t forget to take the camera.

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You can spend a couple of hours here, or all day, whether you’re into relaxing with a picnic on the shore front reserves and beaches or exploring North Heads history and the Navy museum (free). All are easily accessible, with a flat walk from the ferry building.  If strolling around is too much there’s always sightseeing in the horse drawn carriage as a novelty.

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There are lots of cafes and shops right in the quaint downtown high street of Devonport centre. Or you can take a leisurely walk along the shoreline (approx 1km) to the museum (has its own cafe). If you’re into exploring, you can walk up to North Head where you get amazing views of Rangitoto Island and the Waitemata Harbour.  At the base of North Head is the beautiful Cheltenham Beach, which can be accessed by steps down from North Head, or a flat walk along the road. It is a very safe beach for a swim, or just sit and enjoy the view of the Harbour.

After we finished exploring we popped in to the Esplanade Hotel which is set in a landmark 1901 building overlooking Waitematā Harbour and only a minute walk to the ferry terminal.  A delightful way to finish our short time in darling Devonport.

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Esplanade Hotel

Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel

And then we enjoyed the spectacular ride back to Auckland.

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The town of Devonport has plenty of character and history and as soon as you get off the ferry it feels like you’re on holiday. I absolutely loved it and can see myself returning.

Come Fly with me to Wellington, New Zealand

01 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by Lyn Douglas in New Zealand, Wellington

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, North Island, Photography, The Sounds, travel, Wellington

Just a short 3 and a half hour  flight from  Brisbane is New Zealand .

Today I  flew into Wellington .  Wellington, the capital of  New Zealand sits near the North Island’s southern most point on the Cook Straight.  It is a compact city ,  encompassing a waterfront promenade,  sandy beaches and  a working harbour .

As we were descending into Wellington, here are some of the magnificent views taken from my window .

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I commented to a fellow passenger how stunning the views were and he told me that was The  Sounds .

After a little investigation I learned that the Sounds are Marlborough Sounds which are a collection of ancient sunken river valleys filled with the waters from the Pacific Ocean .  Today the Sounds are popular for kayaking and hiking ,  there are many tent camping sites ,  also walking tracks ranging from short trails of an hour or two to overnight hikes .

Tomorrow I will be exploring Wellington city.

 

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  • Singapore
  • Snapshot of Japan
  • Snow Monkey Park, Japan
  • Solar Plane – Hawaii
  • Solitary Islands Coastal Walk
  • South Australia
  • Southbank Parklands, Brisbane, Qld
  • Spectacular Spahats Creek Falls
  • Spello
  • Spring Bluff
  • St Francis Blessing of the Animals
  • Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada
  • Steveston, Vancouver, Canada
  • Story Bridge, Brisbane, Australia
  • Stresa
  • Student Travelling
  • Summerland Camel Farm, Qld Australia
  • Sung Sot Cave, "Surprise" Cave
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Supermarket in Italy
  • Swim between the flags
  • Tamborine Botanical Gardens, Mt Tamborine, Queensland.
  • Taraunga
  • Te Puna Quarry
  • Terme – Thermal Baths in Bagni di Lucca
  • Termoli
  • Thailand
  • Thank You
  • The Apartment in Lucca
  • The City of Lanterns
  • The Hilltop Town, Orvieto
  • The Road Trip
  • Tofino – Life on the Edge
  • Toowoomba
  • Torre Pellice
  • Train travel in Italy
  • Travel tips
  • Travelling through the Rockies
  • Truffle Hunting
  • Tuscany
  • Tūpare Gardens, New Plymouth
  • Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
  • umbria
  • Uncategorized
  • Underground City Tour
  • Urbino
  • Vanuatu
  • Venice
  • Vernazza
  • Verona
  • Viareggiio
  • Vico Pancellorum
  • Vieste
  • Vietnam
  • Villa Grabau
  • Vinci, Tuscany
  • Viste
  • Volcano National Park
  • Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda and Buddhist temple
  • Wagging School
  • Water Fountains
  • Waterfront Tauranga
  • Wellington
  • Western Australia
  • White Kiwi Bird
  • Wilderness River Cruise, Kalbarri, Western Australia
  • Wildflowers trail of Western Australia
  • Wine Tasting in Tuscany
  • Woolgoolga NSW
  • Yamba, NSW, Australia

Recent Posts

  • Christmas 2020
  • Charlesworth Bay, Australia
  • Swim between the flags. Australia
  • Coffs Harbour – Australia
  • Woolgoolga, NSW

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Blogs I Follow

  • View from the Back
  • Top Education Hub
  • The Roving Gypsy
  • CLARK MOMENTS
  • In Chloe's Kitchen
  • Travelling with Lyn
  • Michaels Reiseblog
  • Healing Your Heart From Within
  • TRAVEL FOODIES
  • https://www.adifferentworldaltogether.com
  • Sue's Fabulous Travels
  • JKRoaming - Travel Blog
  • PhotoBlography3
  • Total Sardinia
  • BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES
  • Gulf Coast Poet
  • journey-junkies.com
  • DogsRealty.com
  • The Tiny Potager
  • Travel Dreckly

Blog at WordPress.com.

View from the Back

Ramblings of a retiree in France

Top Education Hub

School For Life

The Roving Gypsy

(Where in the World is The Roving Gypsy?)

CLARK MOMENTS

Appreciating them all ...

In Chloe's Kitchen

Travelling with Lyn

My experiences in Italy and the world

Michaels Reiseblog

Immer mal wieder unterwegs!

Healing Your Heart From Within

Decided to dance a little deeper in life, and wow can spirit dance!

TRAVEL FOODIES

Your Worldwide Food Guide

https://www.adifferentworldaltogether.com

natural farming

Sue's Fabulous Travels

around China and other countries

JKRoaming - Travel Blog

John and Karen in: Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

PhotoBlography3

Photography, Travel and Retirement

Total Sardinia

BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES

Follow us as we follow the road

Gulf Coast Poet

gulfcoastpoet.com

journey-junkies.com

Travel Site

DogsRealty.com

For Dog Lovers Only

The Tiny Potager

Artist inspired by my garden, the seasons and a smidgen of make-believe

Travel Dreckly

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