Friends of my brother decided to give him a special treat to celebrate the significant birthday they couldn't share with him last year due to covid restrictions and I was lucky enough to be invited to join them. The plan was to surprise him, so with a good deal of subterfuge, and vague promises of lunch at a beach on the west coast of Auckland, he and his friends headed off from downtown. I was to meet them half way, to surprise my brother who wasn't expecting me.
 |
| The Nihotupu Dam and Manukau Harbour from Arataki Visitor Centre |
Auckland is a beautiful city ringed by golden sand beaches to the east and framed by a glorious rain forest and wild, black sand beaches to the west. The Scenic Drive, through the bush clad Waitakere Ranges to the west coast, is famous and is reached within 30 minutes of downtown Auckland. I was to meet my brother, sister in law and their friends at the the Arataki Visitor Centre half way along the drive. The centre, located at a spectacular vantage point with wide views of the bush, forest and ocean, has as its aim the education of the public about conservation and how best to protect our native bush. You can also get information there about the numerous hiking tracks in the area. It is very interesting, beautifully laid out and well worth a visit.
After exclamations of "What are you doing here?" etc, from my brother, and a nonchalant "Oh well you might as well join us for lunch", from his friends, we all set off to the west coast surf beach of Piha for lunch. It had been quite a few years since I had been there and I was taken, once again, by its wild beauty. Lion Rock, which really does look like a crouching lion looking out to sea, is the major feature of the beach. A jaunt along the length of the beach and then it was time for a lunch of hearty pumpkin soup and bread fresh from the oven at the very warm and welcoming Piha Cafe.
Piha Beach and Lion Rock
Driving back along Scenic Drive, with my brother thinking that his surprise was completed, we took a detour to The Waitakere Resort and Spa hotel. Its beautifully maintained, and very long, driveway winds down through native trees, ferns and bush. It is a sublime entry to the hotel and I couldn't stop myself from repeating "Wow", "Wow" out loud.
 |
| Waitakere Resort and Spa |
The resort has a large hunting lodge type lounge where we enjoyed drinks before surprising my brother with the news that we were all staying the night. He was thrilled and taken aback, so it was a perfect surprise.
 |
| The cosy lounge where a fire is lit every evening |
We had a wonderful afternoon and evening. Our rooms had spectacular views out over the bush and right across to the city in the distance. We strolled the lovely gardens, had champagne and nibbles in my room and dinner in the restaurant. The meal and service was faultless. As if that wasn't enough when we went back to our rooms at the end of the evening we had a panoramic view of a large fireworks display on the outskirts of Auckland. The perfect end to a surprise birthday.
 |
| View from my room. Downtown Auckland in the distance, centre right |
The next morning we awoke to drizzle so, after a leisurely breakfast, set off for home. If there is one thing covid has done it has opened our eyes to what there is to explore close to home. I had been on the Scenic Drive and to Piha and other west coast beaches countless times but I never knew of the existence of the Waitakere Resort and Spa. It is such a lovely, peaceful sanctuary in the Auckland rain forest, so close to home, that I have no doubt I will go there again.
No comments:
Post a Comment