New Zealand Maratime Museum & Art Gallery

 

Celebrating the explorative spirit of a seafaring nation, the New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa in Auckland showcases the country's rich maritime history, from the first Polynesian explorers and settlers to modern day triumphs at the America's Cup. Its collection includes more than 130 watercraft representing a variety of different subjects, including vessels used for whaling, European exploration voyages, Polynesian and Maori navigation, lifeboat services and so much more. The organization's Māori language name, Hui te Ananui a Tangaroa, means "the Dwelling of Tangaroa", the atua of the oceans. 

A very special exhibition acknowledging the deep blue world teeming with life in 'Ngā Huhua: Abundance', was an immersive exhibition celebrating the lifeforce of Te Moana-nui-a-Toi, the outer Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, just beyond Auckland’s shores. The exhibition focused on the surprising and spectacular creatures that call this place home, from tohorā (whales) to honu (turtles), with a sad commentary how this ecosystem now faces new threats — an exhibition that gives us pause to consider the health of our fragile planet.

After visiting the Maritime Museum, we visited the Auckland Art Gallery, established in 1888 as the first permanent art gallery in New Zealand, and includes major holdings of New Zealand historic, modern and contemporary art, alongside works by Māori and Pacific artists.

Sema Makawa, meaning 'Old Links', is a sacred sailing canoe fit for a chief,

is a Fijian Drua used for ocean voyages and warfare

Stick Chart from the Marshall Islands where 4,000 years ago locals voyaged 

over their vast archipelago in 'walaps' or large outrigger canoes

Carving of a Bonito Fish on the hull of a 'Lisi' or fishing canoe

from the Solomon Islands, where Bonito fishing is significant

NZL32, also known as Black Magic, is the legendary International America's Cup Class yacht 

that won the 1995 America's Cup for Team New Zealand

Stunning photograph of Black magic wining in 1995, the first of New Zealand's legacy as a modern sailing powerhouse, winning the America's Cup five times in total -1995, 2000, 2017, 2021 & 2024

'Ngā Huhua: Abundance' celebrates the lifeforce of Te Moana-nui-a-Toi, 

the outer Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, just beyond Auckland’s shores

www.maritimemuseum.co.nz

The Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tāmaki

A series of fine “tree-like” canopies define and cover the entry forecourt, atrium and gallery areas, creating a memorable image related to the beautiful overhanging canopy of Pohutukawa Trees

Artist Louise Bourgeois by Robert Maplethorpe

Louise Bourgeois with Spider IV, 1996

Spider VI made of bronze by Louise Bourgeois, 2002

Louis Bourgeois's striking 'Maman' which we saw in Bilbao in 2014

'Danseues Mettant son Bas' by Edgar Degas c.1890's

The Holiday by James Tissot, 1874

'Bowl of Apples' by Pierre Bonnard, 1930

'Les Pistons' by Fernand Léger, 1918

'Le Guérdon' by George Braque, 1938

'Espagnole' by Henri Matisse, 1922

'Femme a la Résille' by Pablo Picasso, 1938

'Te Hira Te Kawai' by Gottfried Lindauer, 1874

'Karaitiana Te Rango' by Gottfried Lindauer, 1885

'Mrs Haromi' by Gottfried Lindauer, 1885

'Heta Te Haara' by Gottfried Lindauer, 1896

'Departure of the Six Canoes from Raratonga to New Zealand' by Kennett Watkins, 1906

'Pitch Blue' (alkyd on aluminum) by Richard Killeen, 1981

'Polynesia Migration Aotearoa' (acrylic on barkcloth) by John Pule 1992, born in Nieu, New Zealand

Closeup detail of the piece

'Mother Tongue' video by Jasmine Togo-Brisby, 2022

www.aucklandartgallery.com

Taronga Zoo: Australian Natural & Exotic Wildlife

 

Set in a vast 74-hectare estate of hilly bushland nestled on the cliffs at Mosman, Taronga Zoo is the largest zoo in Sydney and home to 2500 animals from 340 different species, including native Australian animals such as koalas, Tasmanian devils and kangaroos, as well as rare and endangered exotic animals. With stunning views across Sydney Harbour and beyond, we arrived by ferry and strolled to the top of the hill to Taronga Zoo, with fabulous views across the water to Sydney, for a spectacular day exploring all the zoo had to offer.

Arriving by ferry at Mosman Island, home of Taronga Zoo

Entrance Gate to Taronga Zoo

The New Zealand Fur Seal is the largest of all fur seals and the world's fourth rarest seal species

Winding elevated boardwalks and walkways allow visitors to walk through natural 

Australian bushland and interact with animals

An Australian Pelican resting in the shade

Colourful Nicobar Pigeons, a striking, iridescent bird in the Tropics Trail aviary at Taronga Zoo, 

known for its metallic blue-green plumage and white tail, it's closely related to the extinct Dodo

Aldabra Giant Tortoise is one of the world's largest tortoises

A Sumatran Tiger taking a nap having just been fed

An Australian White Ibis in Taronga's free-range immersive habitat

with unrestricted bird movement - they wander wherever they wish

Taronga Zoo's giraffes are iconic, and offer breathtaking views 

against the Sydney Harbour backdrop in their new African Savannah habitat

The Zoo's giraffes Jimmyu, Keito and young Ebo

Giraffe being fed by children

View of Sydney from Taronga Zoo

Family of chimpanzees

Taronga Zoo Sydney houses a renowned, large community of over 20 chimpanzees, 

representing one of the most successful breeding groups in the world

The troop includes multiple adult males and females with offspring, 

allowing them to live in a naturalistic social structure

Nestled in the fork of a eucalyptus tree, Koalas sleep typically for 18 to 22 hours a day

Australia's iconic Emu

Established in 1928, this is one of the few traditional mechanical floral clocks remaining in the world

Salvia growing at Taronga

Barry, the Silkie White Rooster, often described as looking like "puffy clouds with legs"

And Ken with his fluffy fur-like plumage, blue ear lobes and dark skin

White Silkies are the 'fashionistas' of the rooster world 

Elsa the lovely miniature goat

Australian White Sheep 

The Indian star tortoise is a critically threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka 

Chinese Three-Striped Box Turtle, often called the Golden Coin Turtle, is a critically endangered 

semi-aquatic species originally from Southern China and surrounding regions

Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon is also critically endangered,

and was thought to have been extinct until a Canberra farmer found a family living in his field

This tiny little Booroolong Frog is an endangered species and Taronga

is trying to restore this frog from extinction 

Rhinoceros iguanas are endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, 

meaning that they are found nowhere else on earth

Frilled Lizzards use their huge collar for defence

An Alligator Snapping Turtle is named for their alligator-like scales

Taking the ferry back to Sydney after a fabulous day at Tonga Zoo

taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo