 Within
Walking Distance of Stafford Villa
Chelsea Heritage Park
Chelsea Estate Heritage Park was transferred into city ownership
from Chelsea Estate Sugar Company in June 2008, and was
officially opened on Sunday 8th March 2009 with a public
open day to celebrate the transfer. The opening celebration,
a traditional fair day, showcased the unique diversity of
heritage and environmental aspects of the park.
Mayor Williams says the Chelsea Sugar Company factory and
estate holds great historical significance for North Shore
City. “This is the only Victorian era industrial estate
in New Zealand and has many historic features, including
the 1884 factory building, workers’ houses and manager’s
house from the early 1900s, as well as four lakes,”
he says. Chelsea Estate Heritage Park is a public reserve
of natural and historical significance both regionally and
nationally. It is also part of the longest continuous stretch
of coastal bushland on the Waitemata Harbour and provides
a natural habitat for over 50 varieties of native and exotic
birds. Just 10-15 minutes walk from Stafford Villa.
Le Roys Bush Walk and Local Heritage
Area
The valley in which Le Roys Bush lies
was known by the Maori as Te Uruwao. In the early days the
Maori people followed an old trail down to the ridge to
the shore line of Mangrove estuary, Wai-manawa and out to
Shoal Bay for Pipi and fish. Edward Le Roy bought much of
the valley in 1918 and as an enthusiastic collector of plants
and a keen gardener established lily ponds, culverted the
stream to prevent flooding and enriched the flora with indigenous
species collected from other area of New Zealand. The reserve
protects Kauri, Totara, Taneka, Puriri, Taraire, Kohekohe,
Nikau and many kinds of ferns as well as several species
not found in other North Shore Reserves.
Exiting on Hinemoa Street (Opposite Biba-Boutique Salon)
with its selection of cafes. This is time for a coffee!!!
Hinemoa Street has an eclectic selection of cafes, restaurants
and boutique shops all housed in heritage buildings dating
back to the 1800’s.
1st block of shops in heritage buildings are: Biba/Dentist/Embroidery
Shop/Grace/Villa
2nd block Houses: Gumdiggers restaurant that was the original
drapery store.
3rd block Houses: Children’s boutique/Dairy/Primrose
Cottage that was the original general store. Across the
road Ravenhill was the first Hellabys Butchers shop, next
to it Flavor café and Romantique. At no 82 you will
find the award winning restaurant eight.two housed in an
original Villa but it has been totally renovated inside.
As you walk back to Stafford Villa you will see a large
selection of Edwardian and Victorian homes, Birkenhead Point
has the largest selection of homes of this type in Auckland.
All cafes have won awards for their food and coffees. Pop
into the dairy and order New Zealand’s most popular
ice cream hokey pokey! A double scoop!
Kauri Point Centennial Park and remains of Maori
Pa
( By car 2.6 kilometers, a six-minute drive from Stafford
Villa)
Kendall Bay (Rongohau) with its sheltered anchorage close
to rich fishing ground and Kauri Point were a major focus
of Maori settlement for hundreds of years. Historically
the land was settled by the Kawerau tribe with three pa
sites on the area. Kauri Point was a superb site for a fortress
but although a few area leveled for housing and cooking
can still be found it was probably never used for continuous
settlement. It was valued however in time of warfare. The
Pa on the point itself is the only remaining example of
fortified headland pa on the Waitemata Harbour. When you
reach Kendall Bay, the remains of the pa is to the left
of the beach area ( take the track to the top of the rise).
Unfortunately the Kawerau were no match for the well-armed
Northland tribes who traded with the Whalers and Sealers
for muskets and drove the Kawerau south and they occupied
the Tamaki Isthmus on the other side of the harbour.
The vegetation is typical of early regeneration of native
bush. Birds commonly encountered included tui, kingfisher
(kotare) eastern rosella, blackbird, thrush, grey warbler(
riroriro) silvereye (tauhou) fantail (piwakawaka),and morepork
(ruru) By car 2.6 kilometers, a six-minute drive from Stafford
Villa. All up give yourself about 1.5 hours, it is a lovely
walk and you can experience an inner harbour beach with
its safe swimming. There are no cafes in the area and with
our compliments we offer an energy pack for you both, two
energy snack bars, bottle of water and fresh fruit.
To check availability
and for secure reservations book here:
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