Mt Wellington At Last!

 We have booked my 1st weekend in New Zealand for the South Island, so Mt Wellington is near and yet so far! (I have posted the day view of Mt Wellington in the previous post). That makes it more elusive, more interesting and more coveted. So eventually, after "a feeling of eternity", i was able to hike to the so cute mountain in my vicinity. Actually, it was just opposite the train station we normally use, just walking distance from home. It only takes a few minutes from our house to the gate, but i waited for my sister to join me. It is nothing more lonely than going up there in the cold without anybody to talk to, to reply to my so many questions. Finally, that afternoon after work she declared our hike to Mt Wellington.

So down we go, with thicker jackets and beanies on our heads scarves on our necks! I need complete cover as i came from a very hot tropical country, with just a few days of acclimatizing to the weather of Auckland. This time is the start of their summer, but i still feel cold.

Mt Wellington is just 135 meters, the youngest volcano in the Auckland Volcanic Field, has a near circular base with a flattish rim, a three small fire-fountaining craters. Much of the old lava flows are not visible anymore as they have been quarried for industrial aggregates.

This is the view of Mt Wellington from our house in the early evenings.  It is the most obvious horizon i have, so it feels my consciousness all the time. 

The incline road to the mountain is lined with this Pohotukawa, an endemic tree in NZ that flowers around Christmas town, so it is called NZ Christmas tree. However, they are not yet in full bloom when we hiked up.

 We used the right side of the mountain in going up, facing our residential areas. Grasses sway to the cold winds as we went up. The view on the way up is lovely, but i can't walk fast for the photography subjects i see on the road.

 The swaying grasses are lovely to watch, alhough very difficult to photograph.

 Wildflowers are also everywhere, a lot of them are blooming and with different colors. I am so attracted with this dainty, cute, white flowers.

 Again the weeds are in full bloom and fruiting, because December is the summer in the south hemisphere, opposite that of our countries at the north of the equator.

 This is the view of where our house is, somewhere out there. I even had a difficult time finding it. My sister had to point out to me the tree near our house so i can have an easier landmark to locate our house. It is so organized yet so chaotic when viewed from this area.

Another view of the other residential areas, and industrial sites at the top left.

At last, we reached the walkway to the summit. After a leisurely walk, we are almost near, but it is really cold at least to my temperature standards. Don't laugh at me you people from the temperate countries, this is their summer and i still feel cold. But of course, it is colder up there on the higher elevation and the fast wind even made it colder. 

 My sister walked ahead of me as she was not taking photos.  We are now on top of Mt Wellington, one wish already granted. The top is flat and wide, and we cannot walk fast because of the strong wind.

This is the structure they put to mark the highest point on the summit.  Having climbed some other mountains in my country, this mountains seems to be just a knoll, a hill, a cute mountain.

 Grasses and weeds are mostly the vegetation, with very few trees. In fact this is a lonesome tree we saw while going down the north side.

This could be the main crater of the volcano, looking like a small valley surrounded by those ridges. A few people walk those paths in probably just brisk walking exercises. They have their kids and dogs playing there too. I suddenly quietly prayed "oh God please don't let the volcano erupt now"!

 On the way down at the north side we glimpsed the Auckland Tower in the horizon.  It seems so near, but our distance is 10 km southeast of Auckland City Center.

Of course we took turns in taking our touristy photos, as we are going down now.

It was already real cold and foggy when we reached home.  Mt Wellington seems to say goodbye to me now. At least i will not be always looking at you anymore. 

With a bit tired feet we cooked the most wonderful food for dinner, baked mussels. We ate as much as we can, but we still were not able to finish the batch. I had a good night sleep, and a contented heart. Tomorrow i will think of the next place we will be visiting!

Stay tuned. 

Our World Tuesday

Through My Lens

Nature Notes

Outdoor Wednesday