Friday, July 1, 2011

The Arataki Visitor Centre in the Waitakere Ranges.




Views from the Arataki Visitor Centre, a geko and the wooden path among the native trees

A little note from New Zealand today: 15 minutes drive from my house there is the beautiful Arataki Visitor Centre. We come here often when we have guests and wwoofers, to enjoy the beautiful views of the Waitakere Ranges.

11m high pou (guardian post) o Te Kawerau a Maki and more Maori carvings inside the Visitor Centre

The Centre is open to all and has beautiful carvings, artifacts, a kids' area and displays about the history and nature of the Waitakere Ranges. There is also a tourist information desk and a shop.

Bush walks around the Arataki Visitor Centre, brush and spray your boots before entering the forest to protect the Kauri trees from disease. 

From the centre there are some easy trials in the forest, including a plant identification loop. Come and visit me and I will probably take you to this place :-).

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©




27 comments:

  1. Ecco queste sono le cose che io amo del tuo blog, le fotografie. Tu ci fai vedere cose, che io sicuramente non vedrò mai dal vivo, (non penso che verrò in Nuova Zelanda) invece è un territorio che mi affascina per la sua natura estrema e quando tu posti le foto delle spiagge, dei fiumi, delle cascate, inizio a viaggiare...un abbraccio

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  2. Perche' dici che non verrai mai Tam, magari un giorno cambierai idea :-), dai che ti porto nella foresta!!! Magari i tuoi figli faranno un giretto qui, vengono tanti ragazzi italiani qui, sotto ai 30 anni possono avere un visto lavoro.

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  3. Awesome panoramic view...I like the statue

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  4. davvero!! devo partire subito allora, e poi mi porti anche in qualche negozietto di caccavelle e prodotti da importare?? ciauzzzzzz
    P.S. oggi tralascia il mio post non è per te ;-)) buon WE.

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  5. ne ho semore sentito parlare sarebbe un sogno venire fino li, intanto grazie delle immagini

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  6. I miei figli può darsi, io no, perché è fuori dai miei pensieri, lontana, troppo lontana, è un luogo che amo vedere in fotografia...un amico di mio figlio è partito in questi giorni con i genitori a Brisbane, si sono trasferiti, e il ragazzo è andato con loro, hanno fatto la cena di saluto....però è bella...
    tu hai sposato un neozelandese, vero?

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  7. Oh my goodness...how beautiful. I am in love with that idea of a huge frame to stand in to take a photo....brillant!
    Handfuls of weekend joy to you my friend. xo

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  8. It looks like a marvelous spot to take out of town visitors. I do hope you'll share your photos of the nature trails with us. I'm looking forward to seeing the vegetation in the area. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  9. Ciao Alessandra, grazie tanto per visitando il mio blog. Wow! Looking at your site again, you are so much more than a blogger, you are an entire industry. You should have your own show on the Travel Channel! Il mio nonno in il Latoya di mia madre era italiano. His name was Felipe Rosetti. He died before I was born so I don't know much about his origins. Visiting Italy was wonderful for my wife and I. We will never forget it. Thanks again for visiting my little blog. And thanks for the comment. We bloggers love comments. A presto.

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  10. che bello, sembra di essere lì Alessandra!Grazie per queste belle foto! buon we...

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  11. There are so many reasons I would love to visit you, as well as your part of the world. Now you've added another! And if I can ever return the favor, please let me know :)

    Thanks for the beautiful photos!

    xoxo, eggy

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  12. @ Mary, will do, but I am so behind with my posting, even if I post almost everyday now I am still behind... I think is because of the iPhone, I take too many pics now, and I feel like posting everything :-).

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  13. Hi Alessandra,
    thank you for visiting my blog.Follow you too.The photo so beautiful, I like the frame.

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  14. Great to see your photographic talents being used to showcase beautiful NZ!!

    Have a great weekend - what's left of it ... I have no answer to why the 6 blogs I chose to highlight were all owned by people with names starting with A or M ... but it really was a coincidence!!

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  15. Beautiful NZ photos!
    Have a great weekend!
    Angie

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  16. I would indeed love to come and visit you! NZ is one of my must-see places in the world!

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  17. Yes it is a must see, I know that it is far form most places, but it is worth it!

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  18. hermosas imágenes bello post,gracias por mostrarnos,abrazos grandes.

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  19. Alessandra ciao, volevo dirti che finalmente ho aperto il mio secondo blog: Il Pane, era tanto che volevo farlo e adesso si sono presentate le condizioni, e l'ho aperto, avrò da fare moltissimo, farò solo pane e lieviti, mettterò a disposizione degli altri le cose che ho imparato, ma ho bisogno di tanto sostegno...un abbraccio

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  20. don't we live in a beautiful place? I'm just about to post about Community planting in Muriwai this weekend.

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  21. Ciao! Sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Sono bellissime queste foto ^__^ verrebbe voglia di fare subito la valigia e partire. Bacioni, buona settimana

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  23. I have just discovered your blog and wanted to let you know how much I enjoy it. We have travelled to Europe many times and I would really enjoy heading in the other direction now. New Zealand has always been at the top of my list. My husband is not thrilled with so many hours in a plane. Maybe I can convince him to reconsider after showing him your beautiful site.

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