Laingholm

While in Auckland we're staying with hosts through a work exchange program called helpX.  In exchange for work, we get room and board, and hopefully learn some new skills in the process.  The plan was to stay on farms, but to ease us into it we are staying in a suburban home first.  These hosts appealed to me because of their sustainable home:  rainwater collection, solar electricity, solar hot water, organic gardens, sustainable forestry, etc.  We're staying in a suburb called Laingholm.  After working for our four hours, we went for a walk around the neighbourhood, which was quite spectacular.

Found this cool tree at the end of the street.

Calla lillies grow wild on the side of the road here.

That's me looking up at a huge tree.  We're on our way down a long and winding road to reach a beach and a little store for an ice cream.

One of the big old trees we found along the way.  Hard to believe this whole area was cleared for sheep and cattle farming only 100 years ago.

The beach was almost completely made up of broken seashells, and you could walk for ages at low tide.

On our way back up the very long, and windy road.

At the top we had water views in both directions.  This is east to Manukau harbour with Auckland city in the distance.

This is the view west towards the Tasman Sea.