Daytripper: Mt Eden

The Eden Garden is a treat at any time of year.Photo / Doug Sherring

Elisabeth Easther seeks out some shade in the heart of Mt Eden.

It was so hot recently we couldn't bear it a moment longer. The tide was wrong for a city swim and we didn't care for a long drive or a public pool so, to beat the heatwave, we had a brainwave: we'd go to Eden Garden.

These award-winning gardens, occupying 2.2ha on the border of Epsom and Mt Eden, are shady, gorgeous and there's a tumultuous waterfall that makes you feel cooler just looking at it.

With a variety of walking tracks, the boys tore off and weren't seen again for an hour. The adults dawdled around the lower paths before settling into the Eden Garden cafe for cakes with fabulous names and pots of tea.

Feeling suitably chilled, we rounded the trip off with a visit to Mt Eden village to Time Out Bookstore, where the kids colonised the junior reading room, and whoosh went another cool hour.

Finally we poked our noses into The Candyman a few doors down, arguably the finest sweet shop in New Zealand and small eyes lit up at the sight of so much prettily packaged sugar.

The real scorpion lollypops proved a hit and the charming chap behind the counter was full of good advice - for example, if you fancy a Big Hunk (how could I resist), take one home, pop it in the freezer and snap bits off by banging it against the kitchen counter. Done.

Altogether a perfectly pleasing adventure for a hot, hot day.

IF YOU GO

Eden Garden is at 24 Omana Ave, Epsom. Phone: (09) 638 8395. Admission to the Garden and Cafe is $8 per adult, $6 for senior citizens and students, children under 12 are free.

If you have an adventure you'd like to share, email elisabeth.easther@nzherald.co.nz