The park is so BIG!  It’s like the mouse under the queen’s chair. Or, a mouse lost in a rugby field! 

 

After seeing Burt Munro’s old flimsy Indian motorbike in the Hayes store (www.ehayes.co.nz).... we drove over to see Queen’s Park.  

You can check out that post I wrote on Burt Munro and the store if you like: https://steemit.com/travel/@artguru/burt-munro-and-his-amazing-motorbike 

Queen's park is in the centre of Invercargill, a town near the bottom end of New Zealand’s south island. 

First the museum:

We cruised round the park until we found parking. It was by the park’s museum. And because we were right there, we thought we might as well go into the museum to see what was happening inside the building. 

There were lots of displays. I can't remember them all now, but there are some fascinating displays of Invercargill’s past history and a few lizards living in their natural habitat setup, behind glass enclosures. 

We were in the museum some time, because there was so much to see, even some paintings. Then coming out another door from the museum, we started out wondering through the park. 

How we got lost:

It’s so easy to get lost. First you are looking at this and then turning around looking at that, around here and there, wondering around until you have lost your bearings. You don’t know if you are north, south or whatever! 

Anyway in the process we saw a lovely big pond area with ducks. The park was laid out with vast open lawn areas. Trees and flowerbeds were dotted here and there down along wide pathways.

I was particularly captivated by this tree full of red foliage, see in the following collage: 

The very modern toilet hut:

Not long after seeing the red tree, we came across this contemporary toilet facility. 

Where you press buttons to get service and wait for it to respond to your needs. We had never seen a digital toilet facility before, so it had us in its grip until the tricky system was completed!  

And when we eventually got out, we burst out laughing. It’s such a learning curve, when you don’t have much time with your legs crossed! 

The Greenhouse surprise:

Seeing a greenhouse close by, we went in. And there, right in the entrance, centre hall, was a sinking boat! Yes, a boat. 

It was actually half of a boat. It was used as a fountain prop and set in a cemented pond, with water running down its rusty sides and plants surround it. 

Sorry I didn’t take a photo of it. But I did take photos of two little greenhouse rooms lending off that centre pond court. Because one of our daughters back home in South Africa was studying horticulture at the time. And thought she would like to see how beautifully they had arranged the flowers. 

The exotic bird aviaries:

After that were found a special area specially assigned for bird aviaries. The large cages were oddly cluttered in a semi-curved formation, giving it a modern appeal. 

We loitered there looking at the variety of birds, sheltered from the change of weather under its overhangs. After that we wondered passed the toilets again, and down some path ways until we came across… 

A small zoo setup:

I’m sorry I didn’t get a clear photo of the kangaroo, but the crazy roaster was on a mission to run past just then.

A cozy tearoom:

By now it was beginning to rain, so we were glad to go into the tearoom and sit down to have something to drink and eat. I really enjoyed my cake. New Zealand certainly bakes different things than what we find on the menu back home in South Africa. 

Finding our way out of the park:

The rain had stopped, and so we ventured out of the tearoom. And there close by was a children’s little play area. I suppose to entertain children while the parents would be having tea in the tearoom. 

Going through this, in and out of pathways, we landed in a huge circled area. Here our family went off on their own to find their car.  

We on the other hand trudged down a very long, long avenue leading off the circle. Hoping it would lead us out of the park. 

Hooray there was the outer gate!

And thankfully there was the gate, and it wasn’t too long before we were picked up. 

I was very exhausted and so pleased to see the car I can tell you. So, I’m telling you, if you ever go to that enormous laid out park, please remember to take takkies or proper walking shoes with you! Oh, and maybe a compass!