Auckland Airport
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A New Year's Day view out over Auckland Harbour under dramatic skies, our next stop on our cruise. We decided to take a bus tour around the city as we had limited time. While the girls went to the museum I went with my father-in-law to the top of the Auckland Sky Tower
Photo taken in NZ Auckland Botanical Park..South African Gardens....
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of South African flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes or fynbos. In local tradition, the protea flower represents change and hope. Wikipedia
Proteas first captured the attention of botanists during the Europeans' exploration of South Africa in the 17th Century.
Auckland Castle, also known as Auckland Palace and locally as the Bishop's Castle or Bishop's Palace, is located in Bishop Auckland, its neighbouring town in County Durham, England.
Owned by the Church of England for the prince-bishopric of Durham for more than 800 years, Auckland Castle was originally established as a hunting lodge. The principal seat of the Bishops of Durham from 1832, it was transferred in July 2012 to the Auckland Castle Trust, a charitable foundation to restore both the castle and grounds and also establish permanent exhibitions on the history of Christianity in Britain and the North East.
In appearance more like a Gothic stately home than a medieval fortification, Auckland Castle remains a working episcopal palace being the residence and official headquarters of the Bishop of Durham and its Scotland Wing. It currently serves as the administrative offices of the Durham Diocesan Board of Finance.
Its Long Dining Room houses 12 of the 13 celebrated 17th-century paintings, by Francisco de Zurbarán, of Jacob and his 12 sons. These paintings have hung for 250 years in this room specifically designed and constructed for them. In 2001 the Church Commissioners voted to sell the works of art, then estimated at £20m in value, but relented after a review in 2010.
On 31 March 2011 the Church Commissioners announced that plans to sell off the paintings were shelved following a donation of £15 million from investment manager Jonathan Ruffer, placing the paintings, along with the castle, under the Auckland Castle Trust.
The castle is surrounded by 800 acres (3.2 km2) of parkland, which was originally used by the bishops and their entourages for hunting and is today open to the public.[14] The Castle and its grounds contain seven Grade I listed buildings. These include a Deer House in Auckland Castle Park which was built in 1760, a large castellated-stone building to shelter the deer, which nowadays has a viewing room for visitors.
Just a simple minimalist image from the amazing Auckland Art Gallery. On our way to one of their exhibitions, through the corner of my eye, I noticed how beautiful the light was reflected from the windows to the end wall. In itself a 'work of art' albeit very brief as the light quickly changed. Often beauty can be found just next to where you are.
Auckland from the west in the early evening. it had just rained hard so afterwards came the rainbow.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history, natural history, as well as military history.
The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist style, and sitting on a grassed plinth (the remains of a dormant volcano) in the Auckland Domain, a large public park close to the Auckland CBD.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_War_Memorial_Museum
Thanks to all who take the time to visit and comment on my photostream....it's greatly appreciated. Also for all of the invitations to join or post my photos into groups!