Playgrounds, Playgrounds, Playgrounds!

I just love the 'Auckland for Kids' website. I'm a mum who really loves to do things with my little ones. We like to be out and about exploring and our Big Backyard of Auckland is absolutely perfect for that exploring.

Late last year they put out this list about the best playgrounds in Auckland and in good Kate fashion I took it as a personal challenge. Tough challenge it is too. Poor Leah had to play her socks off!

So far we have visited 7 out of the top 10 (recently) and two we have visited in the past so we're taking that as 9 out of 10 from the initial list, although we would like to visit Barry Curtis Park and One tree hill again. The only one we haven't visited is Gladstone park as, in comparison with the rest, looked a little lacklustre. I'd like to visit the rose gardens again, as well as the Parnell Baths, so who knows, we may go there in the near future.

We also visited a few of the recently opened or refurbished parks that are outlined at the bottom of the list. There are still a few more here that we'd like to play at, but maybe when we're in the vicinity. Keith Hay Park looks primo! 

Here's our little write up on each of the parks.

Our first trip saw us knocking out a tonne of West Auckland parks in one day. Luckily we took our lunch AND happened to see Mr Whippy on the way or it may have been melt down central. Tough day. We took our friend Maddie on this trip.

Olympic Park:
Our first stop. What I like about Olympic park is there's a mix of an old style playground as well as the newer stuff - climbing frames, the giant swing and twisty turny numbers. The sand underfoot on the one side if pretty cool too, if you're little on is into that. This day Leah was all about the swings, and mummy has about 1001 photos of Leah on swings so I didn't get many shots at this one. 

 
Parrs Park:
Parrs park didn't make it to the top 10 but is recently refurbished so you can find it at the bottom of the link I shared earlier. How cool are these water play bits and bobs that they're popping in at new parks? Leah's favourite thing at the moment is climbing so the tower got most of her attention this day, but the water play was definitely mummy's favourite part! The tower was a weeny bit scary for mummy as I couldn't see Leah the whole time, and that thing is taaaall. But she managed herself. I'm by no means a helicopter parent but when she's a good few meters upwards I'd like to be able to see if she's OK and hasn't frozen on one of the ladders! I do have to giggle at how different older kids react to her pace on the ladders in these things - some barge straight past her and hear, "hey! that's not berry nice" from bossy Leah while others wait patiently, getting a glazed look over their faces when they realise what they're in for.

Tui Glen Park:
Tui Glen made it to spot number one on the Top Ten list, and it's quite clear why. It's just plain cool. Different to any of the others and in the coolest of ways. It has pyramid towers with giant swings, a cool flying fox and a tree house! Little Miss Climber particularly loved the towers and bridges. She also really likes the space net style climbing frames but isn't quite confident enough for them yet (and neither is mummy).

Coyle Park:
What an awesome setting for a park, absolutely beautiful. Especially in the time of year we went (December) when the pohutakawa were out in full bloom, stunning.What I noticed about all these choice parks that got a place in the top ten was they had things that stood out. Coyle park has one of those sweet push and ride trains (that they also have at one tree hill) and the main part of the playground had some musical instrument boards that Leah really liked. She also loved the dragon sculptures at one of the entrances. Variety is the spice of life they say - enough of those kit set plastic playgrounds and more of these original ones please Auckland Council!

Rocket Park:
This was the last of our parks on our big journey that first day. It doesn't really seem like anything special on the surface, but again, it's different. The cool space theme with the space ships and castle in the middle with binoculars for spying allow children to use their imagination in addition to using swings and rocking toys the way they're intended. Again, Miss Climby Pants needed to get to the top of the rocket a couple of times.

Our second trip saw us venturing over the shore with our friend Eli, our first stop was...

Onepoto Domain:
This is the kind of place I'd want within walking distance of my house. The playground isn't really the drawing attraction at this place - it's the wicked cool bike trail! Lovely setting too. Leah had a great time on the giant slide and running along the board walk.

Swell Park:
Swell park is a new park in a newly developed area of Long Bay. It's got some cool, quirky little bits and pieces. Eli loved the boat and the way the stairs and tunnel slides are organised are pretty clever. The little houses and bridge are super cute too.

Our third trip was in central Auckland, we took Daddy on this trip. Yay for the holidays!

Myers Park:
Loooooved the look of this playground. Great for photos. Again, Leah liked all the new things that she doesn't see at every old playground. Everything is a great climbing frame in her mind too, so winning! The giant swing is pretty damn cool.

Daldy Street Playground and Wynyard Quarter Playspace:
You could almost say these are pretty much the same park. Leah loved the giant slide and didn't want to leave the water play area. Great climbing parts at the Wynyard Quarter space and it's close to a little water feature that all the kids like to play in too!

Potter's Park:
 You can't get cooler than a water park, except if Mr Whippy turns up. I swear that guy follows us around. Great time had by all. So.Much.Fun!

And then one day in between somewhere we made it to the Snakes and Ladders Playground...

Snakes and ladders playground:
Such a cool concept and great use of otherwise dead space. Leah didn't play the snakes and ladders game as such (she's not quite old enough to understand that she was the counter. Well, either she didn't understand or she just wanted to play!), but she had a great time playing on the slides and climbing the steps nevertheless.

Most recently Leah and I had a Mummy/Daughter day and one of our stops was....

Roberta Reserve:
First and foremost - what a stunning little spot. So beautiful, especially on the lovely day we went. This is a brand new playground and has some great little features. Leah especially liked the spinning top and the balancing stumps.

And one last one which is worth a mention. This one is worth a mention not because Leah loved it so much but because I think Willow will in a few month's time.

Little Town Green Playground:
This playground is most suited for younger toddlers and even friendly for crawlers. Leah found it a wee bit boring because there were no high things to climb on, the daredevil.  It certainly is a cute little spot. The in ground trampolines are clever and I thought the sandpit (with toys!) was a cool addition to bring in the older kids (as well as the littlies).

Auckland City

This is inspired by Mama Kat's weekly prompts.

1.) 5 things to do in your town during Spring Break.

OK, so it's no where close to being spring here in Auckland, but I thought the idea of doing a post on 5 fun things to do in Auckland City would be primo. I wanted to focus on free places, so sorry, but no big touristy places like the Auckland Zoo or Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World (although these are great!).

Source

We've got a tonne of incredible places to visit too - beaches, parks, reserves - you name it, we have some spectacular examples.

If you don't know, Auckland City is an awesome place. We've got around 1.4 million people which is the biggest city in New Zealand. We have a moderate climate, a cool banana sky tower and boast top ten places in the EIU's Global Liveability report, Mercer's quality of living survey and Monocle's most liveable cities index. Now that's some credibility right there!

The Auckland Domain and Winter gardens is a logical start. It is a stunning park on the outskirts of the Auckland CBD set on 75 hectares. There are some fun things to do here - huge sports fields, Winter gardens, lovely picnic areas surrounded by huge, beautiful trees. The jam packed Auckland Museum is also here and well worth a visit.

Here are some more photos of our most recent visit.

The Auckland Botanical Gardens is a park that is close to home for me and I've been there a million times...and I keep on going back time after time. It's a great place for a walk, by yourself or with the dog (huge off leash area),  a super fun kids garden and an incredible assortment of flora and fauna.
You can read about our adventures at the Auckland Botanical Gardens here.

Exploring the children's garden at the Auckland Botanical Gardens

While I'm on the subject of botanical gardens. Hamilton has an amazing example, and for only an hour and a half drive out of Auckland it's well worth the Tiki tour.

There were so many beachy locations I wanted to include, but after much deliberation I finally settled on Long Bay. What I like about Long Bay in particular is that there is ample grassy area and ample beachy area alike - good for those of us who do not like toooooo much sand in their undies when they go home! The grassy area has some picnic tables and BBQ areas as well as sun shades and flat areas shaded by towering trees with giant roots (good for my photography brain!).
I've heard also that the Restaurant is pretty awesome - would love some reviews!

I get to go at least once a year as my dad's side of the family have our family picnic there every February. Awesome place to waste  purposefully relax the day away.

Wynyard Quarter is set on 37 hectares of land and has 3km of water frontage. It was envisaged and created mainly for the Rugby world cup visitors - but lucky us! Aucklanders have got to keep and enjoy it for many moons to come! There are green spaces, an amazing playground, the water front, fishing spots, cafes and restaurants as well as tonnes of places to just sit down, chill out and enjoy the area. There are always things going on there too - two that I can think of, that I've attended or enjoyed in the last little while are the Busker's Festival and the huge Christmas Advent Calendar.

What I like about Omana Beach and Reserve is the variety. You can be on sand and then a quick walk and your petting the sheep up on the grassy area. I love the animals too, they're so friendly and kids love them - well my kid does anyway, pointing at the piggies and oinking, patting the sheep and shrieking with delight. It has a great park and an incredible view at the top of the hill.

Sneaky 6th - Western Springs regional park is a lovely setting. Lots of spots for picnics and wildlife to see - ducks, swans, pukeko, fish, eels, geese. Also host to many cool events throughout the year including this year's Teddy Bear's Picnic.

If you've still got a hankering for more Aucklandy goodness you can check out the culminating post that I did about our Big Backyard here. It repeats some that I talk about in this post but has some other gems!

Avocado Orchard

Today we went for a little drive to the Avocado Orchard at Otuataua Stonefields. I heard about it from a work colleague and being only a 20 minute drive from somewhere I've lived all my life it was a strange experience to explore somewhere I didn't even know was there!

We only really looked at the Avocado Orchard (as I was on the hunt) but it is a beautiful looking place with walking tracks and even backs onto a beachy back drop.

Now, I was hoping that I would have a more concrete reason for crossing this off my list and be able to bring in some avocados.

I technically did go fruit picking... it's just.....

...it's not quite November and there weren't any Avos yet!

I'm going to take it as a cross off anyhow...I will most likely be returning. And well, I did go fruit picking, right? Hehe

We had fun, the sun was out and we were enjoying some of the beauty NZ has to offer, what more could we ask for?

How are you spending your long Weekend NZers?

"Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees."

Yes that's right...I completed this challenge a month ago.  Just haven't blogged about it. In fact, I decided to register to plant a tree for Leah on the suggestion of one of our lovely coffee group ladies and at the time of registration I thought 'woohoo, another thing to tick off my list'. Then after doing it, I promptly forgot that it would tick this off. Whoops.

Not to worry, here I am! Leah was lucky enough to receive a Matai tree to plant in the Children's Forest in Papakura. I didn't so much plant it as Damien did (more daddy kinda work) but it's the thought that counts.

Can't wait to come and visit it when Leah is older. We might make it a yearly thing to see how much her tree grows each year.  Such a cool idea! <3

More of the same :)

I've been loving having my husband home so much that I've forgotten about you all, my adoring fans. Lol yeah right.  All 3 of you!

But... not all has been lost.  I've been pretty busy. Getting out making the most of my holidays with friends - had another lovely trip to the Botanical Gardens today - see photos below.  Most taken by my wonderful photographer friend Lynn. But unfortunately haven't been able to get out to any of the other Parks I have in mind because of our stupid wet Auckland weather at the moment - boo.

I've also been meaning to write about the 101 challenges as my entry each day but as I said - have just been too busy makin' memories, so I'll update ya today (:

There are a few items on the 101 list that I've begun but will not be crossing off until they're done because of the nature in which I've worded them.  Eg: 2. Get the family together consistently on a monthly basis for dinners & 5. Write in my journal on a regular basis.  The words 'consistently' and 'regular basis' mean that I have to be doing those things for a good chunk of time before I consider them 'done' but I have made a dent.  October of 2011 was our first official family dinner that I got everyone together for and we've had one each month since - October was at our place, November was at Mums, Christmas day was December's and my birthday will be this month's get together. I even created a timetable so that we won't forget...or at least I won't and then I can annoy everyone and make it happen.  So we're doing well there.

I've also started a journal.  It took me ages to figure out what I wanted to use.  I have wanted to be able to keep a journal for as long as I remember.  I used to write one between the ages of 13 and 15 and they're funny bone tickling to read now. But try and try as I may - keeping a handwritten journal NEVER seemed to stick.  So it took me a very long time to figure out how I was going to keep a journal digitally.  There are some cool apps for iPad but I don't have a wireless keyboard and didn't really want to buy one so that was out (finger tapping a whole journal entry would be death as far as I'm concerned).  After many weeks of thinking I finally decided on a blogger blog - just one that I keep private.  Have since made 5 entries and it's so easy to just tap away while I watch TV.  Yes I know last nights entry (shown in pic) is a slight cop out :P.  I love it.  Fingers crossed this is the way that keeps me going with journalling - I'll be damned if I don't finish this list!

For challenge #11. Learn to say hello, goodbye and thank you in 20 different languages. I have made a little table of the languages I want to learn and these 3 things said in those languages...now to study.....

For #12. Write a bucket list I've taken huge inspiration from tumblrs like this and this and have begun a board on pinterest with some of these things on. In the style of the first linked tumblr I have begun to make little cards and will then attach them to a frame I make (see both the cards I've begun to make and the idea for the frame below).

I think I've found my poem for #76. Find a favourite piece of poetry – frame it, hang it, but will wait it out and search a little longer before I decide it's my framer.  It might be used for my other challenge of choose a poem to memorise but me thinks Shakespeare might have to appear for that one. This is the poem I adore.

I promise myself…

to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind;

to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet;

to make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them;

to look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true;

to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best;

to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own;

to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future;

to wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet;

to give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others;

to be too large for worry,

too noble for anger,

too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble;

to think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds;

to live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

Christian D. Larson

And lastly, I've made a fairly sizable dent in #69. Read 20 new books. And a few old and dear ones. In fact my friend Lynn who took most of the beautiful photos at the top of the post blogged about reading yesterday and got me to thinking about what I have left and what to read. So far I've read 4 ology books which I blogged about here (I only counted this as 1 off my 20 as they are such an easy read). I read the whole 'Hunger Games' series after being recommended it by a work friend as well as the fact that it looks like the movie is going to be the next best thing and I really like reading books of movies - before I watch if I can. I loved the series - couldn't put the iPad (with kindle app (recommend!!!)) down. I'd read it if I were you :)

I've just begun to read "The Land of Painted Caves"....again.  I started earlier in the year when Mr. Man bought the book for me but didn't get into it. It's the 6th and final book in the 'Earth Children's' series which I've read all of.  I think I'm in a better head space to finish it now (read:not pregnant and uncomfortable when reading in bed) so that will be #5 of 20 down. Which begs the question (and hopefully fulfills Lynn's request) what to read for the remaining 15 and what are old favourites?


These are some I know I will need to include in the 15;

• Seriously I'm kidding - Ellen DeGeneres
• The Green Mile - Stephen King (A movie I love but a book I haven't read) and possibly more Stephen King depending on how this goes - I really like 'Misery' (both movie and book) and enjoy many of the movies based on his books.
• The millenium series (The girl with the dragon tattoo, The girl who played with fire and The girl who kicked the hornets nest- Stieg Larsson
• Room - Emma Donoghue
• Storm Born - Richelle Mead
• The True Blood series

I also want to attempt the first Harry Potter book again to see if I can get into it - based on last times attempt it's highly unlikely, but you never know. And 'The Whitcoulls Top 100 books" will help me with the rest.

And old favourites?
I'll have to go with 'Bridget Jones's Diary' by Helen Fielding, 'The Clan of the Cave Bear' by Jean M. Auel some Marian Keyes and possibly even the first novel of The Hunger Games series again - that's how much I liked it.  Think I might read 'The Witches' by Roald Dahl again too (:

Tapapakanga - DONE!

One of the things in my 101 challenges list is to explore the Auckland Region a bit more by having a look around it's regional parks and things. 

Not heading away this Christmas season, opting for day trips, and with this list in hand, we chose Tapapakanga Reserve for out little excursion today. It was a nice little place which seemed fairly unknown - maybe only 10 other groups of people there. It's situated about 10 minutes drive from Kawakawa Bay, which is a nice drive through the South of Auckland. It's also quite close to the famous Kaiaua Fish and Chip shop if you're feeling a bit peckish after your long drive. (:

We had a nice little time there and I challenge you to get out and explore your 'backyards' - great fun! Tomorrow, a spot a little more known and a little closer to home, the Auckland Botanical Gardens.