Views From the Sky Tower Auckland

The Auckland Harbour Bridge

The opening of the Auckland harbour bridge in 1959 opened the North Shore area for residential expansion.

Prior to the bridge being constructed the only methods of reaching the North Shore was either by vehicular or passenger ferry or by road through West Auckland, River Head and Albany, a distance of over 40 klms.

When it was first constructed the bridge only had 4 lanes which catered to 2 lanes of traffic in each direction. During times of congestion the number of lanes open in a given direction could be changed. 

It didn’t take long before the bridge reached it’s capacity and in 1969 two large box sections were added by the Japanese firm Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. These add-ons were referred to as the Nippon Clip-ons. The clip-ons only have a life span of 50 years and will need to be replaced in 2016.

When the bridge was originally built there was a toll of 25c (2 shillings & 6 pence) which was later reduced to 20 cents (2 shillings). This toll was removed on 30 March 1984 in line with the polictical committment of the time that the toll would only apply until the cost of constructing the bridge was recovered.

Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto Island is the largest and youngest of the approx 50 volcanoes in the Auckland volcanic circle. It erupted from the sea approx 600 years ago and is now extinct.  Rangitoto is 260 metres high.

The islands distinctive shape is a landmark that can be seen from most parts of Auckland and it has probably the largest Pohutakawa tree forest in New Zealand.

Rangitoto is Maori for ‘Bloody Sky’ and the island derived its name from the phrase “Nga Rangi-i-totongia-a-Tama-te-kapua” – the day the blood of Tamatekapua was shed. Tama-te-kapua was the captain of the Arawa waka canoe which arrived in New Zealand in about 1350. He  was badly wounded when he engaged in (and lost) a major battle with the Tainui  iwi at Islington Bay.

 Looking down to the streets below. 

The next scene is taken through one of the 38 ml glass panels that are strategically placed around the tower floor.

This is suppose to be reasurring but looking down through the glass plays with your mind.

Val was loathe to stand on the glass and I guess I was also a bit apprehensive. Your mind thinks straight away “Ohmigod, what if this breaks”.  But of course it won’t and once you get over the initial scary bit, it is quite exciting to look down past your feet to the streets below.

 Here are Val’s shoes as he looks down  through the glass panel

And being even braver, stepping further onto the glass

Here I am on the glass and I think the look on my face says it all. Hmm not too sure about this.

Filed under: Auckland • New Zealand

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