A Trip to Australia and New Zealand
Auckland
Ponsonby is a popular entertainment neighborhood in the center of Auckland that is known for its upper middle class art galleries, cafes and night clubs. No one knows for sure which famous person the neighborhood was named after, but there are several likely contenders for the honor. (My personal favorite is Major General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, who distinguished himself in numerous battles during the Peninsular War at the start of the nineteenth century and was the person who told Wellington that Napoleon had abdicated after Waterloo.)
Ponsonby is located on high ground above the center of the city and was originally a well-to-do neighborhood for wealthy persons who wanted views of the harbor from their residences. In the 1950s, changes in the city resulted in the wealthier individuals moving out of the neighborhood and an influx of what was then called "creative persons" moving in to replace the former residents and their quiet life style. The community was remade as an art colony of sorts and obtained something of a risque reputation for it's gay and lesbian activities. In about 1980 the community of artists began to be bought out by commercial interests and Ponsonby was transformed into today's upscale entertainment center. For Americans who know the history of Mendocino, California, the story of Ponsonby will be somewhat familiar.
The Queen Street Backpackers is not in Ponsonby, but at least some of the residents are obviously sympatico with the Ponsonby spirit. Here in Auckland, we again found a good hotel well located in the center of the city catering to backpackers - another confirmation of our theory that backpackers are the chosen people of New Zealand.
