With more than 120 parks in the Ōrākei Local Board area, it can be difficult to choose where to go! We’ve been catching up with local board members to share their favourite spots.
Two board members have chosen Waiata Reserve in Remuera, and share its finest aspects and their memories below.
Troy Churton:
This meandering green space is the solace between Ōrākei Road and Victoria Avenue. It has many mature trees, room for dogs and yet spaces for quiet picnics.
Another pleasant aspect of this large green space is it has a number of ingress and egress points winding down the valley. There are some lovely spots on the eastern embankment for quiet picnics taking in the afternoon and setting sun. One of the things I like most about it is the natural amphitheatre of the valley environment. This is a park with real tranquillity; you won’t hear or see a car.
There is a winding pathway and a lot of rolling hills but is accessible for all ages and disability-friendly.
Penny Tucker:
Fifty years ago, it was a semi-wild place with patches of dense scrappy bush fringing a muddy stream/stormwater channel which wound its way down the Remuera ridge.
Small fish which jumped like streaks of silver out of the water were probably being chased by eels of which there were a number. Wider parts of the stream had a thick carpet of watercress and some of the nearby residents would regularly harvest it.
An abandoned tennis court added to the mystery of the place and a couple of fetid water stores covered in thick surface weed were crying out for rocks to be thrown into them.
The Remuera Primary School Junior Rangers went on organised expeditions to plant non-native trees to beautify the place and received a badge to encourage further colonisation of deciduous trees down the far slope.
Fast forward 50 years and the reserve is still beautiful although a lot more manicured and well-tended. It is a great place to walk and the tracks that were once stamped into place by Roman sandals and large whacking sticks are now paved.
Anyone wanting to find out exactly how many types of dogs can have “oodle” affixed to their breed need only to go there in the early evening when the “oodle” canine fanatics case their territory with exuberance.
Like so many of our parks, water quality is a perennial issue and the work of a few dedicated people to monitor and manage it is assiduous and demonstrates a true love for our green spaces and their utility in moving water.
Waiata Reserve is always worth a walk.
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