Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 5 May 2015 | Page 62

6am to just before 7pm on a weekday and
can cost anything up to 60 SEK per day (just
under R90). Cycling in the main cities is a
much cheaper alternative and is also a safe,
convenient and an extremely popular way of
getting around.

and supplied by hydro electric power, this
place affords panoramic views of the forest
and nearby Lule River and is a perfect spot
for those in pursuit of the magical and myths
of the Northern Lights.
Wish upon a star

Staying up in the skies, the heavens above
the Aurora Sky Station at the Abisko National
It is hard to escape green living in a country Park in Swedish Lapland, northern Sweden,
that prides itself in being sustainably aware is one of the best spots in the world to see
and a number of amazing environmentally the Northern Lights. This fantastic natural
friendly attractions extend to the tourist light show appears around the beginning
sector too. Take Augustenborg Ecocity of September and can be best viewed,
for example. Just a short walk or an even provided there is a cloudless sky, in the town
shorter bike ride from Malmö city centre, of Kiruna until it moves over to Swedish
the place is home to the world’s biggest roof Lapland towards the end of March. A chairlift
gardens, boasting 10, 000 msq² of green takes star gazers to the observation tower,
roof vegetation and marrying the flowering where there is an informative exhibition
perennials, native trees, fruit trees and and souvenir shop, while the coffee shop
provides much-needed respite from the
wetlands of 30 gardens into one.
bitter cold.
The lively and attractive small town of Växjö
in southern Sweden is another great place Things to Know
to visit for some green inspiration. Staying
true to its accolade of ‘Greenest City in •Despite its northern latitude, Sweden has
Europe´ by the BBC in 2007, it is well on its a fairly temperate climate, with four distinct
way to becoming fossil fuel-free by 2030. seasons and mild temperatures throughout
Have a look at the passive housing and the year. As a general rule, the country can
buildings developments, which are heated be divided into three types of climate: the
almost entirely by body heat and electrical southernmost part has an oceanic climate
similar to that of Cape Town, the central part
appliances as opposed to costly electricity.
has a humid continental climate and the
northernmost part has a chilly sub-arctic feel.
Nestling in for the night
•The official language is Swedish, followed
For a truly green experience, check into the closely by Finnish and English. Swedish is a
Tree Hotel. Located deep