Miriam Dunningham has lived in Glendowie for 36 years. She tells Catherine Smith why this suburb on the edge of the Tamaki river is so special - in between volunteering for the Rugby World Cup and as a Auckland Wise Guide.
When we were first married we lived out in Hobsonville in the country but my husband really wanted to move back, he's from Panmure. When we bought our little section, Riddell Rd wasn't even curbed and channelled. Most of the houses were for war rehab [people] so they were modest little houses then. People fall in love with the area because it is out on a limb, you don't have to go through here on your way to anywhere else.
The main drawcard in the area for me is Tahuna Torea Reserve - it's 25ha and absolutely stunning. At low tide you can take the 1 1/2km walk to the end of the sandspit. you can see the godwits leave for the Northern Hemisphere. I walk there a lot, it's a destination and there is so much wildlife.
Churchill Park runs beside Riddell Rd and it is 40ha of farm park, with 60 grazing cattle, it's very natural. There are lots of little streams and rivers to walk along. My children spent a lot of time in there building huts - and only the other day, I noticed that there are a couple of new huts that kids have made. I think we're in the start of a flush of new young families - now as we're getting older there is a flood of young people coming back to where they grew up, the area is well served with schools. My son has moved back here, and young folk have just bought the house next door.
I'm only 15 minutes from Queen St, but I can look out my kitchen window at cows grazing, or at stunning views of the Sky Tower and the city, or out to the Tamaki River.
