Colourful Karangahape Road offers everything for visitors
Thursday, 12 February 2015 by Mark Sandiford
From a European colonial
perspective the establishment of K'
Road on the Karangahape ridge dates back to the 1840's.
To Maori, who used it as
part of their access to Manukau Harbour, it was known as Te Ara o
Karangahape or the Path of Karangahape. For decades it was the only street in
Auckland with a Maori name.
Many aspects of colonial
Auckland remain, among the highlights are:
Symonds Street Cemetery - Auckland's
oldest
Grafton Bridge - then the world's largest
concrete arch bridge
Baptist
Tabernacle
Pitt Street Church
Hopetoun Alpha
Mercury Theatre building is down Mercury Lane
and there are the buildings of department stores George Courts and Rendells.
(photo courtesy of Mercury Theatre Auckland)
To really gain an historic
appreciation take one of historian Edward Bennett's tours. For more
detailed heritage information and booking details for any of the
five (free) guided heritage walks visit this
site.
K' ROAD By day
K' Road offers a diverse shopping
and retail experience. As one progresses from the Queen Street end,
restaurants, banks and convenience shops give way to a fascinating
variety of retro and vintage stores where you can find that
one-of-a-kind piece, galleries, second hand shops, more restaurants
- and ultimately to evening style outlets. Walk through St Kevin's
Arcade with its interesting array of shops and down the steps into
the Myer's Park.
K' ROAD By night
Restaurants of course are
plentiful - a wide variety of Asian, Japanese and European through
to Iranian and Turkish. One of our favourites is the busy
Coco's Cantina with a limited but excellent menu and plenty of
"unplanned street theatre" out front to keep you
entertained.
New to K' Road is the wine
bar and restaurant Apero. The friendly staff and relaxed
atmosphere belie an impressive culinary standard, although this
shouldn't come as a surprise given the owners are ex Baduzzi and
Meridiths.
COLOURFUL NIGHT LIFE ON K' ROAD
K' Road is also known for
its colourful nightlife - cabaret style restaurants, karaoke bands,
gay bars and clubs.
Stepping off K' Rd into the
legendary Caluzzi Bar & Cabaret one can enjoy NZ's most awarded
drag artistes in an interactive cabaret show, dazzling costumes and
disco dance music (not to mention those impressive stilettos) -
it's an unforgettable experience.
And on it goes to the wee
hours - wine bars, late
night bars, nightclubs, music venues, adult clubs & stores -
there's something for everyone.
And then the sun comes
up…
For events, comprehensive
information and everything that is K Road visit the K' Road
dedicated site here.