A couple of the Auckland 365’ers – Andy and I – decided to take a couple of hours on Saturday and do some exploring and take some photographs.
We had planned to find some nice lines under the Auckland Harbour Bridge but the threatening rain clouds changed our plans so we headed to the Auckland Domain and the Wintergarden.
We didn’t have long – the Wintergarden closes at 4:30pm during the winter months.
The Wintergarden has existed in the Auckland Domain since just after World War I and is a national heritage site.
The 1913 Auckland Industrial Exhibition generated funds for the city of Auckland and the glasshouses are just one of the results. Sir James Henry Gunson was the Mayor of Auckland responsible for the Wintergardens as well other well known Auckland landmarks – the War Memorial Museum and the monument on One Tree Hill.
There are two glasshouses – one containing temperate plants and one containing tropical plants. I didn’t get a chance to see the second glass house or the fernery so I will be back.
The statues were donated in the 1920’s and 1930’s by William Elliot – who also donated the Art Deco gates on Park Road.
After the Wintergarden closed, we headed down to the pond past the old Tea House.
I will be back to visit the Wintergarden again soon – the time I had there was not enough!
