Word cloud

This is a word cloud of all the words on our blog - check it out.

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/6911775/Auckland

Things indoors: Alberton house

Alberton house is one of many historical homesteads around Auckland, and takes us back to a simpler time when Auckland was just finding its place in the world. It looks fantastically gothic and victorian and is furnished in traditional victorian era decor. It's a building that few people have even heard of, let alone been to in Auckland despite it belonging to NZ's historic places trust.

The timber building began life as a farmhouse in 1863 in present-day Mt. Albert, and was later expanded into the 18 room villa that you see today. It has been expanded into a house that you could only imagine of in fairy tales, with an elaborately decorated verandah and tower.
It was originally owned by the Kerr Taylors family, until it was left to the trust in 1972. Allan Kerr Taylor was a prominent landowner and politician, while his second wife, Sophia, was an outspoken women's vote advocate and mother of ten children. The family retained the property for another 80 years after his death until it was given to the trust.

Although Alberton is not well-known today, it was relatively famous in the 19th Century for its balls, parties, musical entertainment, and hunts. Today, it retains a lot of its original 19th Century wallpaper and possessions which are available for public viewing.

Alberton Hall is still open to the public and can even be hired out for special events.
It is open every wednesday to sunday 10:30am-4:30pm, and is closed on Christmas and Good Friday.
Children are free and Adults are $10. You can buy an $18 Auckland passport which allows you to enter Highwic, Alberton and Ewelme for one year just by bringing your pass along with you.
It is also free to enter if you are member of the NZ historic places trust or the national trusts of a number of current and former commonwealth nations.
It is advised when you visit the hall that you do not wear stilettos as they can scuff the wooden flooring.

You can drive here and park on Mt albert road, or you could take the train to Mt. Albert train station and walk, or you could take any of the buses that go down mt albert road.

100 Mount Albert Road
Mount Albert
Auckland 1025

Kiwiana treats: Pavlova

The Pavlova is a sweet treat that the Kiwis and the Australians have been trying to take claim for since it became popular over 90 years ago. Though, as we have adopted NZ as our home here at Liv in Auckland we think of it as a kiwi icon.
Topped off with cream and a few slices of kiwi fruit on it's pearly white crunchy exterior, it can be a great option if you need to bring something over as a dessert.
This recipe has been tried and tested by our team, and we love the taste of the marshmallow-like centre melting in our mouth.
Check it out:

A Small Pavlova 

Ingredients (double to make a large pavlova):

4 eggs

1 cup of sugar

3 heaped dessert spoons of Cornflour

1 tsp of Vanilla essence 

1.   Beat 4 egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff
2. Then add 1 cup of sugar. Beat again till dissolved into the mixture.
3. Add 3 dessert spoons of Cornflour and 1 teaspoons of vanilla. Beat till the mixture is stiff.
4. Pre-Heat oven to 110 degrees celcius (105 degrees if oven is particularly unreliant) 
5. Lay baking paper upon a flat metal tray. Leave it to cover the whole tray.
6. Put mixture onto the tray and mould into a cake like shape. Bake for 2 hrs.
7. Leave to cool and top with beaten cream and fruit.

      Tips: *Do not let any water be present in the bowl*If any yolk gets into the bowl start from scratch*Look up or ask someone how to separate egg whites beforehand if you're not sure*

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Make your own Maori Poi!

We came across these easy step by step instructions on how to make your very own poi!!!!!

This is a simple easy to make Maori practice Poi.

To make you will require : 

• Newspaper or Tennis Balls
• Colour paper or fabric,
• String/Cord
• And Scissors

1. The cords should be about 800mm long, so you can also tie around the paper ball.

2. # You can if you wish plait different coloured wool together to make a nicer looking Poi cord. 

 

3. Push the newspaper into a ball (or use tennis ball) and tie one end of the cord around the ball.

4. Cut the coloured paper into a square about 400mm x 400mm. 

5. Place the ball in the middle of the paper and gather the material over the ball. 

6. Cut another piece of cord to tie the opening in the material up.


7. You can also add a layer of plastic over the Bag Poi and tie as before. This will make them last longer when used outside.

8. Trim the gathered paper with the scissors. 

9. Tie loops or knots in the ends of the cord to hold onto as handles.

10. Make another one and you have your first set of Poi.


This is a very basic bag Poi. You can easily add to and decorate as you wish. 

Maori Kapa Haka (performance) Poi are fairly light and you may want to use seeds or rice to make them heavier. Be aware that if you hit yourself you may want it to be soft and light enough not to bruise. 

The heavier you make it the slower you can spin and the less likely the Poi will be effected by any wind.

NZ recipes: with locally sourced ingredients: Anzac biscuits

Although these biscuits usually are only seen around Anzac day on April 25, they can be baked all year round with locally grown ingredients. Traditionally these biscuits were sent during the war by the wives of army personel, and were sent overseas because they don't spoil. So they are great if you want a treat to nibble on along the week.
This because it lacks eggs (which was scarce during the war), so if you're allergic to eggs this is perfect for you!


Anzac biscuits

• Serving size: Serves 10 or more
• Cooking time: Less than 60 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup plain flour, sifted
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 125g butter, chopped
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Method

1. Preheat oven to moderately slow, 160°C. Lightly grease 4 baking trays.
2. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar and coconut.
3. In a small pan, combine butter and golden syrup. Stir over low heat for 2-3 minutes until melted.
4. In a small jug, combine water and bicarbonate of soda. Stir into butter mixture. Pour into dry ingredients. Mix well.
5. Roll walnut-sized pieces of mixture into balls. Arrange on prepared trays, leaving a 4cm space between each biscuit to allow for spreading. Press lightly to flatten.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Recipes with NZ ingredients: Feijoa biscuits

Now that it's getting cold and miserable out on the weekends, you may be finding yourself with nothing to do but curl up under the blankets. Sounds great, but it would be even greater with something nice and sweet to watch those movies in front of the TV on the freezing grey day. How about a feijoa biscuit recipe that we came across on the internet. It would be a great way too, to use up the rest of those feijoas on the feijoa trees at the end of your garden. YUM! Here's the recipe:

• Feijoa Biscuits

• Serving size: Serves 8
• Cooking time: Less than 30 minutes

• 
  
• 100g Butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 4 feijoas
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg, then add sifted flour, baking powder alternatively with peeled, mashed feijoas and vanilla.

Drop spoonsful onto a cold tray and bake at 180C for 15-20 mins.

Leave to cool, and serve!

Mt. Hobson

Mt. Hobson is one of the least modified of the 50 volcanic cones in Auckland and is located right in the heart of Remuera. You can access it via the Remuera Road entrance (181 to 225 Remuera Road, Remuera), though you may have to park down one of the side streets on the opposite side of Remuera Rd. 

Mt. Hobson is visible from various parts of the big little city. Mt Hobson has a long history of Maori occupation, though today it is a public park with various walking tracks. On these walking tracks there are a number of benches to rest on along your way to the top, and drinking fountains if you're parched. You can also use it as an opportunity to walk your dog. On the top of the hill you can get at 360 degree view of most of central Auckland.

Today, most of Mt. Hobson (like Mt. Eden) is currently grazed by cattle. Though most of the mountain is used as a public reserve, and is used for a number of different past times. Most people that visit the reserve are there for sightseeing of recreational walking.

The hill's ancient maori name is Ohinerangi, 'the dwelling place of Hinerangi'. Later the hill became known as 'Remuera', meaning 'the burnt hem of a garment'. This was due to Hauraki woman who was killed and eaten at the pa in 1700's.

A mixture of foreign and native plant species occupy the land next to the track. Pohutukawa trees scatter the reserve, as well as traditional English oaks on the summit ridge. Also on Mt.Hobson is the long established commemorative planting of daffodils in a war memorial on the lower northern slope. On the memorial is a plaque dedicated to those lost locally in the wars of the 20th Century. The vegetation on the reserve provides an important habitat for native wildlife.

Auckland's art gallery

Well, as you have noticed it is starting to feel a bit more like winter. Everything is wet, damp and soggy. Hanging outside isn't really an option in this on & off drizzly rain. Feel like you don't have anything to do? Why not check out Auckland's art museum.
The Auckland Art Museum borders Albert Park and you can enter the gallery at the centre of Kitchener and Wellesley st. The best part about the art museum is that it's free (except for the special exhibits)! It's open 10am-5pm everyday (except Christmas), so you can go anytime this winter.
It was opened to the public in 1888 as a gallery, and has recently been renovated and extended in 2011. The architecture of the gallery itself is an artform, and as a historical landmark.
Getting there is easy. It's only a short walk from Symonds street down Wellesley st. to the gallery and a short walk up Wellesley from Queen st. There is also a car park across the road on Kitchener street and on the weekend it's $4 to park all day at the Victoria Street carpark when you pick up your discount coupon from the front desk.
However, the annoying thing about going to the gallery is that you must check your umbrellas and backpacks in at the cloakroom.The staff say it is to protect the displays from getting damaged and knocked over.
There are range of art works in the old and new part of the gallery. In the main foyer there is a beautiful visual art piece in the shapes of flowers hanging from the roof. It opens and closes every few minutes. There are a range of New Zealand artists on display from contemporary installations to traditional oil portraits of nz historical figures including artworks painted by Lindaeur. There is also a number of foreign works (kindly donated) displayed throughout the four levels of the gallery. Every once and while there are limited time exhibits that you usually have to pay for. In the gallery's collection there is over 15,000 artworks. These include not only well-known European artists (paintings, sculptures and prints) but also local maori and pacific island artists.
Generally you will be able to take as many photos as you want for your personal use. However tripods and flash photography is prohibited, and taking photos of maori portraits.
At the end there is a gift shop where you can buy reproductions, artwork and gifts to take home. There is also a cafe if you want to eat there, but there are a number of cafes and restaurants just down the road on Queen Street.

Mt. Eden

Auckland is built on over 50 volcanoes, with Mt. Eden being one of tallest in Central Auckland. It is great for a 360 degree panoramic view of Auckland, and taking photos on.

Mt. Eden is only a 5 minute drive from Downtown (during non-peak hours), an has an array of cafes and restaurants nearby after you visit after your walk or drive up to mountain. If you're in a car you can access the road to the top through the mt. Eden road entrance, and there are a number of walkway entrances on all sides of the mountain. The vehicle entrance opens at 7am each morning and closes at 11pm. 

On the base of the mountain on the North Eastern flank there is a large section of native bush. Some of the trees on this walk include puriri, karaka, titoki, rangiora and whau. These plants and trees grew on what was the area where the lava flowed during the eruption of Mt. Eden. This are was alos once home to maori villages before the Europeans settled in Auckland. The maori in this area, used to cultivate the lower parts on the hill and planted many of their gardens near this native bush.

The city council runs it as of it was a park, so it is free to the public to visit. They lease out lower parts to grazed by a herd of cows (about 15-20), but no fear - they are fenced in most of the time and will not hurt you unless you provoke them. Cows have been a common feature in the lower parts since the 1890's. 

At the top not only is the view spectacular on a fine day, but also the 50m deep crater cone that is visible at the summit. Though this is now a dormant volcano, it is still a fascinating site and stop on your tour around Auckland.

If you happen to go past, it would be worth your while to drive up to the top and grab a few pictures. Wherever you are in Auckland, don't forget to bring your camera!

NZ animals: The Kea

Although New Zealand is famous for the Kiwi bird, their are a number of other other native birds that dwell our native forrest. Despite many of our bird species being endangered, you can still see a glimpse of them in NZ zoos and sanctuaries. You may even be lucky enough to see one in the wild during your travels. If you are traveling through the South Island alpine and forested areas you may be lucky (or unlucky depending on the way you see it) to see the native green parrot known as the Kea. The Kea is a now protected species, but before it became protected it was hunted by the farming community as the bird was seen as a pest. They feed on berries, roots, bugs and insects in the wild.
They are very social animals and live in groups of up to 12 birds. They are very mischievous social creatures that will come right up to you and your car. They are especially attracted to shiny objects such as mirrors and keys, so leaving them in the open on an alpine trip would not be wise. Kea's enjoy rummaging and exploring, especially through camping gear and shoes. They have long sharp beaks so be cautious of them if they fly up to you.
However, the Kea is still a vulnerable NZ bird species. Only 10% born live to age 20, and the oldest captive Kea has be estimated to be around 50.
Though they can sometimes be 'cheeky' creatures, who are known to come up close and personal, they are an amazing creature to see in the wild. So if you do catch a glimpse of one, don't be shy to take a picture - just make sure the Kea doesn't try to take the camera.