NZL: Auckland Domain
Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
Right in the heart of Auckland lies the city's oldest park, which is one of its largest green spaces. Spanning around 75 hectares, the park was developed around the crater of an extinct volcano. Beyond its expansive lawns and walking paths, it's also home to several notable attractions, such as Auckland War Memorial Museum and Wintergardens.
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NZL: Auckland Domain <YOU ARE HERE!>
... (more to come!)
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Auckland Domain was established in 1843 by Governor Robert FitzRoy. It's been formally designated as a public reserve since 1880.
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| Pukekawa is the traditional Maori name of the volcanic hill that forms part of Auckland Domain. |
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| Installed in 2004, 'Promise Boat' was sculpted by Louise Purvis. |
Lovers Walk is a scenic 500 m bush path that leads to a pond.
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| A calming sight of tranquil stream cascading through the lush native forest canopy~ |
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| Mallard ducks are the most abundant wild ducks in the world. |
Wintergarden Pavilion, which houses Wintergarden Café, was built in 1913.
Wintergardens is a botanical complex designed in the early 1900s. Let's start with a glasshouse that houses seasonal flowers.
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| The barrel-vaulted steel and glass structure relies on natural sunlight without artificial heating. |
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| Did you know that hyacinth bulbs contain oxalic acid, which makes them toxic to dogs and cats? |
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| Cyclamen is a striking winter and spring-blooming perennial with unique, upswept flowers. |
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| Spider chrysanthemums don't make for a particularly pleasant drink. |
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| Although ornamental cabbages and kales are technically edible, their leaves are intensely bitter. |
There's another glasshouse that's artifically heated to replicate a tropical rainforest ecosystem.
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| The temperature of the tropical glasshouse is maintained at 28 degree Celsius. |
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| I thought those were red chilis at first, but they're actually long, fuzzy red tassels of chenille plants. |
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| New Guinea Impatiens opens a brand new flower bud every 72 to 96 hours throughout its active growth cycle. |
The fernery is situated inside a former scoria quarry carved into the side of one of the small volcanic cones of Pukekawa.
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| The overhead timber slatted pergola seen in your photo is mathematically spaced to simulate the dense, dappled shade of a mature New Zealand rainforest canopy. |
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| Traditionally, the tender, young fronds of this fern were harvested by the Maori as a valuable forest vegetable. |
Opened in late 1929, Auckland War Memorial Museum is perched on the rim of the extinct volcano.
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| Engrave with a silver fern frond, the granite Remembrance Pool bears the words "Lest We Forget". |
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| That BL 4-inch Mk VII naval gun was part of the historic HMS New Zealand battlecruiser. |
I didn't have the opportunity to enter the museum, which costs NZ$28.00 (~S$21.20) per adult and half of that per child at the point of writing. Residents of Auckland can enter for free with a proof of address.
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