Karl Zohrab is a film and television producer who lives in Pt Chevalier. He is currently working on a documentary based on the life of one of New Zealand's unsung Gallipoli heroes.
I have been living in Pt Chevalier for only about six months, a relatively new recruit to the area's charms, but I'm sold on the place.
At night, from home, I can hear the lions roaring and the monkeys screaming, from the zoo presumably. Combined with the chugging steam engines coming from Motat on a Sunday, it's a soundscape reminiscent of how I imagine colonial Africa might have been.
When I get the chance I like to take a walk and there are some great tracks to choose from. You can go along the water from Eric Armishaw Park, there's a great path from there that leads to the sea and, when the tide's out you can walk along the beach to St Michael's Ave. Of course there's Pt Chev Beach too, which is very pleasant at high tide, on a summer sunset with a crisp beer. There are also off-road, boardwalk-type bush-clad paths that lead to Westmere and Western Springs, either round the back of Pasadena Intermediate or through Jaggers Bush off Meola Rd. Weaving alongside streams and creeks, it's so peaceful, you wouldn't know you were 15 minutes from the CBD.
Living in a property that backs on to Moa Reserve, one of the off-leash dog parks, I like watching Meola Creek rise and fall with the tides. I've always wanted to see what's round the river bend so, just last weekend we borrowed a couple of kayaks from the neighbours and popped them into the water and headed towards the sea. We set off about three hours shy of high tide, paddling for an hour or so up to the open water of the Waitemata Harbour. Passing through the mangroves we saw some wonderful gardens, the odd private jetty, swings and bird sculptures. Not to mention the real birds; despite the swampy conditions, or perhaps because of them, the birdlife is plentiful with kingfishers and other feathered things flitting through the trees. Word of warning though, don't go at high tide, otherwise the water'll be too high to get under Meola Rd on the way home, and if the tide's too low, you won't get anywhere either. Not that it was entirely delightful; the water is pretty grotty in parts and there's a fair bit of rubbish, but all in all I'm pleased we went round the bend, and will happily do it again, though probably when the weather is warmer.
