Content > Auckland Car Rental > Grandpas Guide to Driving in Manukau

 

Yes, I have a huge feeling that it’s going to be a beautiful day. The sun is starting to climb up the horizon and the birds perching on the trees around the neighborhood are starting to sing their sweet tune. The dews in the leaves and grasses are slowly evaporating as the sun’s rays starts to warm the surroundings. Ah! The sweet melody and existence of nature.

 

Before I start my jogging session for this morning, I’d like to share with you first about another wonderful trip. It’s the time when I visited the charming city of Manukau.

 

Manukau City is a large territorial area in Auckland, New Zealand. The city is also sometimes referred to as South Auckland but the term had not possessed official recognition. It also did cover areas like East Auckland, which was previously within the official boundaries of Manukau City.

 

Manakua is a relatively young city in term of legal status and large scale settlement even if it has a population of about 375,600 —but it is said to be the country’s fastest-growing city. The city existed from 1989, when the entire Auckland Region was merged into a single city authority.

 

Manukau City was named after the Manukau Harbor which is in the western area of the city.

 

Hmm. When I went there, I had a car rented from vroomvroomvroom.com.nz. And guess what, I had the best car at the cheapest price. They also have the best customer service a company could offer. And it surely added zest to my trip.

 

1. Tropical Butterfly House

 

The Tropical Butterfly House is located on Tom Pearce Drive and is just a few minutes from Auckland Airport. Yep! An astonishing butterfly paradise in just a few minutes!

 

The TBH is Australasia’s beautiful tropical butterfly house! 700 free flying exotic butterflies, tropical fishes, birds, and lizards. Darling, flying, swimming, crawling creatures that you won’t expect to see everyday!

 

Aside from the exquisite butterflies, you will also encounter Giant Australian Saltwater crocodiles which are the largest predators in New Zealand. You will also see many displays of the Giant Weta Punga, tarantulas, cockroaches, and many other crawlies. The place also has New Zealand’s largest marine coral aquaria as well as New Zealand’s largest fresh water tropical aquaria.

 

The place I believe can be a perfect venue for weddings, seminars, and functions. They have lovely rooms and spaces that can host 5 to over 1000 guests. They also have a conservatory deck, a café, a garden bar, and wetland platform for increase capacity for special events.

 

2. Stardome Observatory

 

The Observatory is located near the Manukau Road entrance of One Tree Hill Domain, alongside Cornwall Park.

 

When you visit Stardome Observatory, be ready to experience the wraparound sky and special effects of a planetarium. During the evening, you might be able to see planets, double stars, glowing gas nebulae, or lunar craters through their powerful telescopes.

 

Manukau is one of the few cities in the world that has an astronomical observatory and a planetarium. The foresight of early local astronomers has secured a position within Auckland’s largest centrally located park area thus giving them readily accessible dark skies.

 

A wonderful way to look at the heavenly bodies “up-close”.

 

3. Eden Garden

 

Yes, one of the loveliest and most tranquil inner city gardens. Who would have thought that a very scenic place is only a few minutes from the Gillies Avenue?! The Eden Garden is one of Auckland’s best kept secrets —you won’t easily find it if you don’t have a map *chuckling*.

 

Eden garden is a product of enthusiasts who began converting wilderness and junk in the old quarry into a garden. The quarry itself is interesting because it is an old volcanic cone that was a source of building materials for colonists in the 19th century. 

 

The garden today is mainly the product of volunteers over the past forty years. 

 

The garden boasts the largest and most varied collection of camellias in New Zealand; a large number of vireya rhododendrons, rhododendrons and azaleas, a host of bromeliads, some magnificent hibiscus and a wide collection of New Zealand native plants, making this an important and interesting garden for the plants alone. 

 

If you are planning to find a peaceful refuge in the heart of the city or if you have an interest for special plant families that Eden Garden is home to, then you should get on that car and drive to the captivating Garden!

 

Ah yes. The beautiful surroundings and the power of the mind to create new wonders, a perfect combination! Truly a rare gift.

 

 

Hmmm. I think that’s about enough for now. The sidewalk’s waiting for my jolly feet to jog at them. Wanna join your Granddad Ben? A daily dose of exercise will keep your body healthy. =)