New Zealand's second largest burial ground, Karori Cemetery is the final resting place of about 83,000. It was established in 1891 and replaced the Bolton Street Cemetery as the primary burial ground. It was an interesting walk. The cemetery operates Australasia's first crematory which opened in 1909. Where some cemeteries are "lawn-style" and some are "park", this one has some park-like features but some of it towards the middle are simply jungle. You'll find a number of war service sections, headstones neatly laid out with areas to sit. There is a prime minister, a number of mayors and high level judges, explorers and social reformers. I was specifically here to visit the grave of Harry McNish who participated on Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917 and the tribute to Mrs. Chippy, his cat that joined on the journey. Not all pathways are marked and since I entered from one place and wanted to leave through the main entrance, it was a bit of reckoning to find the way. Don't miss the memorials to those who were killed in the Tangiwai disaster (a railway bridge collapse in 1953 that killed 151 people) and the SS Penguin (an inter-island ferry that sank in 1909, causing 75 deaths). [Review 496 of 2024 - 145 in New Zealand - 21528 overall] read more

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