17/08/2013

t127

Fairy Falls

WAITAKERE WONDER: Fairy Falls - An excellent circular tramp passing delightful Fairy Falls along the way. Lots of variety ,hills and stream crossings, on well formed tracks. Passing large kauri and rimu en-route and having panoramic views of  Auckland cityand Rangitoto in the background.

Fairy Falls(仙女瀑布)並非壯觀但卻是一非常迷人的優美瀑布 尤其是在大雨之後 被喻為Auckland最美的瀑布 幸運的是昨晚下過雨 今天的瀑布將更為迷人...
Eric, Spiritual Tramping Group founder, 15年前到紐 向visitor Centre詢問 Auckland最美的步道是那一條? 被告知就是這一仙女瀑布步道
今天要行走的是雙8版本 也就是會走兩個8字形 每一條步道都會走兩次 但不會重複 因會從不同方向行走每一條步道 感謝Eric的精心設計...

 
 
 
DOUBLE 8 Fairy Falls loop - starting from Old Coach Road Track per blue marking for 1st loop and return per purple marking. Walking twice for each track but in going and coming directions. Thanks Eric for his delicate planning. 15 persons turned up today's walking.
 
 
The walk consists of gravel and clay underfoot and lush forest
 
 
a bit "mushy" underfoot
 

 

 
lush forest
 
 
a grove of Kauri trees
 

 
a glimpses of Auckland cityand Rangitoto in the distance
 
 
walking along the stream
 

 
stream scenes
 


 
encountering several stream crossings - about four for each loop and total about 8 stream crossings
 


 
rock bed track near the Fairy Falls
 
 
a flat bed stream beneath the falls
 
 
Fairy Falls is a multi-tiered (層層疊疊的) cascade. The large slanting drop at the base is the most impressed one.
 
 
viewing from the flat bed
 
 
good photo spot
 
 
group photo
 
 
close-up
 
 
excellent view from a high point
 
 
several tumbling tiers up top with a few smaller plunges in between
 

 
water flows in between the tiers of falls 
 

 
several tumbling tiers up top with a few smaller plunges in between
 

 
having morning tea and lunch (during 2nd loop) at the deck
 
 
group photo
 
謝華達邦 Chamras Saewataporn - Butterflies Flowers

06/08/2013

t126

Auckland Zoo
 
上週末沒去爬山 我倆返老還童 學小小朋友逛奧克蘭動物園 奧克蘭動物園幅員不大 動物也不多 但規劃不錯 我們共費時4.5 Hours
看動物憑機緣 有些動物躲在樹叢裏或是夜行動物很難看到 有些動物在籠子裏可以看到 但很難拍攝到
 
Home to 138 different species and over 875 animals, Auckland Zoo has the largest collection of native and exotic animals in New Zealand. Including trails of Tiger Territory, Aussie Walkabout, Primate Trail, Hippo River, Pridelands, KidZone, and Te Wao Nui.
 
 
Tiger Territory
Come face to face with Oz
Sumatran tigers are the smallest and stripiest tiger. There are only 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild!
大型動物如獅虎豹在動物園裏都是懶洋洋 不愁吃不愁住看似好命 但動物本身又是怎麼想?
 
 
Aussie Walkabout
close some of Australia's indigenous animals
 
 
the emu - the second biggest bird in the world
澳洲Emu 僅次於駝鳥的禽類
 
 
parrots - use bright colours and loud voices to communicate with each other
 



 
American alligators, a wetland wonder - they can swim underwater and keep their eyes out of it!
 
 
Galapagos tortoises - 這種巨龜 若未遇天敵 壽命可達120歲
 
Japanese Garden
This traditional Japanese Garden was constructed as a joint venture by the Auckland City Council and its sister city of Fukuoka, Japan.

 
 
elegant garden
 


 
good photo spot
 
Primate Trail
see some of the Zoo's most fascinating primates (靈長類動物)
 
 
Golden lion tamarin
Hunted for their beautiful golden fur and with 95% of their rainforest habitat destroyed by humans, golden lion tamarins are an endangered primate.
 
 
Spider monkey
 
a spider monkey tail is  grasps like a hand.
 
 
squirrel monkey
 
 
ring-tailed (尾部有環紋的) lemurs soaking up the sun
 
 
Siamang gibbon 似在沉思 狀似老僧 但吼起來卻是非常嚇人
 
 
Meerkats - ‘dark sunglasses’ the meerkats are wearing!
站得筆直 是為警戒敵蹤
 
站得筆直像是在尿尿
 
 
雖無敵蹤 但已成為本能
 
Hippo River
a reminiscent of Africa's marshy wetlands
 
 
難得看到河馬走出水面
 
 
Cheetah are the fastest animals on four legs. They can chase their prey at speeds of over 110 km/h for short distances.
 

 
flock of flamingos (紅鶴)
 

 
beautiful reflection
 
 
Pridelands
a mini safari, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of Africa
 
 
African lion - Lions are the largest carnivore in Africa. Lionesses hunt together
Lions sleep about 20 hours a day –that makes 4 hours for eating and everything else
 
 
New Zealand's only Asian elephant
 

 
rhino (犀牛)
 
 
羚羊
 
 
giraffe (長頸鹿)
 


 
zebra
 
KidZone
a fun and fascinating place for children to explore the world of the Zoo's domestic animals

 

 
遊樂區
 
 
這隻豬也矕漂亮
 
 
可愛小動物 小朋友最愛
 
Te Wao Nui
Offering both locals and tourists a truly unique and immersive experience of New Zealand's animals, plants and culture in a way. Including zones of Rainforest, The Coast, The Islands, The Wetlands, The Night, The Forest, and The High Country. Except of seeing some animals, enjoying beauty scenes.
 
 
tuatara
 

 
Antipodes Island parakeet
 
 
Otago skink
 
 
Kea are the world’s only mountain parrot.
Kea 有高智商 但卻是好奇寶寶
 
 
longfin eels - it's one of the largesteels in the world. They are a truly remarkable fish, able to travel overland for up 2 days by breathing through their skin!
 
 
quite beautiful scenes at Te Wao Nui...
 








ABBA - Fernando