Trifter

If you tell your children the family outing this weekend will be to the Museum, don’t be surprised by the glum faces and the groaning. Adults like museums, kids do not. The only time children like museums is when they go on a class trip and it is the fun of doing something other than sitting in class that will get them excited, not the vases from the Ming dynasty.

The Auckland museum however holds a deep and mysterious secret, known only to a select few. The museum harbors an ancient challenge that few have accomplished. A challenge that is a huge amount of fun, is essentially safe, kids love and it is free. Not only that, it can take a couple of hours out of your weekend.

The museum building which was opened in 1929 contains a ledge that runs around the entire building from front step to front step. The challenge is to start on one side of the front steps, and follow the ledge all the way around without falling off. If you do fall off, you have to return to the start. It is a given you will do this a few times but eventually the balance and technique will evolve until you are an accomplished ledge traverser. And when and if you do make it around, savor the win, it is sweet and rarely tasted.

The museum acts also as a Memorial to those soldiers from the NZ Military who gave their lives in the campaigns of the wars before. The campaigns are chiseled into the archways above the windows around the museum. Pay some respect to these memories. But if those soldiers could hear children laughing they would probably feel the sacrifice was worth it.