We saw the rural way to go over a fence,
The bridge at Balclutha,
Some more of the southern island locals,
The fish at Gore,
... and plenty of open road.
Showing posts with label NZ Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NZ Nature. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Overland from East to West... via Gore
We headed off to the next coast, passing through a few towns on the way.
We saw the rural way to go over a fence,
The bridge at Balclutha,
Some more of the southern island locals,
The fish at Gore,
... and plenty of open road.
We saw the rural way to go over a fence,
The bridge at Balclutha,
Some more of the southern island locals,
The fish at Gore,
... and plenty of open road.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Otago Peninsula Dunedin
Another place well worth making time for, we were up here often, just driving through the scenery, the views, the wildlife... the sheep.
It's very gusty of the ocean side, so bring jackets! We loved how the area is designed to be user friendly for tourists while maintaining the space and environs for those who live in the area. Sadly we didn't see any penguins, but we felt connected with nature, it's great to be 'removed' from the city, even if just for a short while :)
http://www.otago-peninsula.co.nz
Someone needs to help this poor fellow get the twig out of his face... I wonder if he even realises it's there?
It's very gusty of the ocean side, so bring jackets! We loved how the area is designed to be user friendly for tourists while maintaining the space and environs for those who live in the area. Sadly we didn't see any penguins, but we felt connected with nature, it's great to be 'removed' from the city, even if just for a short while :)
http://www.otago-peninsula.co.nz
Someone needs to help this poor fellow get the twig out of his face... I wonder if he even realises it's there?
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Dunedin - Larnach Castle
There are gems all over this island, and Dunedin holds a great many, we visited so many things while in town... if it was only 10 degrees warmer... there may be more residents, but then you would lose the charm.
We loved the peninsula, driving along the ridges of the landscape amongst the sheep, looking over a harbour on one side and the ocean on the other. Then on the top of the peninsula a real slice of history - Larnach Castle. www.larnachcastle.co.nz
The effort involved in shipping the materials from all around the world in the 1860's is truly remarkable, and the end result, astounding!
The gardens were beautifully kept, and we enjoyed a devonshire tea in the ballroom. A real treat. If you get to this part of the world, make the time for a visit, you won't regret it.
We loved the peninsula, driving along the ridges of the landscape amongst the sheep, looking over a harbour on one side and the ocean on the other. Then on the top of the peninsula a real slice of history - Larnach Castle. www.larnachcastle.co.nz
The effort involved in shipping the materials from all around the world in the 1860's is truly remarkable, and the end result, astounding!
The gardens were beautifully kept, and we enjoyed a devonshire tea in the ballroom. A real treat. If you get to this part of the world, make the time for a visit, you won't regret it.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
From the Water, Aurora australis?
This was an unusual sight we saw on the East Coast of the southern island.
Rays of light heading UP from the ocean, the sun was behind us, so it was nothing to do with the sunset... we actually are very unsure of what we were looking at... was it the Aurora Australis?
Because the location of the light was so close to the water, rather than in the upper atmosphere, and the rays of light were straight rather than arcs or bands, it's very hard for us to tell. Regardless, it was an amazing and beautiful sight.
Rays of light heading UP from the ocean, the sun was behind us, so it was nothing to do with the sunset... we actually are very unsure of what we were looking at... was it the Aurora Australis?
Because the location of the light was so close to the water, rather than in the upper atmosphere, and the rays of light were straight rather than arcs or bands, it's very hard for us to tell. Regardless, it was an amazing and beautiful sight.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Kaikoura Seal Colony
I am going to be using the words - amazing, astounding and beautiful a lot for a while.
The south island of New Zealand has some of the best natural features of anywhere in the globe in an extremely compact space. Fjordlands? Forget Norway, head for Te Anau. Glaciers? Go to Fox or Franz Josef. Outstanding Rock Formations - go to Punakaiki.
Wild colonies of seals by the roadside? Kaikouri is you destination!
This was a great surprise for us, one of the things we hadn't researched and had the fortune to stop at. We were following the ocean road on the East Coast and simply stopped at a lookout for a break and a view.
We got out of the car, looked over the water and said... hey... there's a seal out there... and another one... and another!! Then we realised what we were looking at and went a little crazy watching the antics of this purely wild creature so close by.
They were noisy, and they stank, and they frolicked in the rock pools with every wave that came in. Amazing!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Mount Maunganui - before Rena
I was fortunate enough to visit Mount Maunganui and Tauranga a few weeks before the current disaster that is Rena.
I feel for the people of the area, this idyllic tourist town which relies so heavily on visitors, visiting ships into the port as well as the tourists for the summer season, and this disaster has happened just before that season is going to start... as if there aren't enough economic troubles for this country as it is.
I'm not going to talk about Rena, and the ecological disaster that has occoured, I simply want to share the beauty that was... and one day will be again.
At the time I visited, it was a clear day, with beautiful blue skies shining off the crystal waters, and making the white sands shine. The shells on the beaches added that touch of nature, and the unusual Moturiki island that is attached to the beachfront adds to the individuality of the foreshore.
The cafes are doing a booming trade, with amazing salads and fish meals and the people are out enjoying the sun, the surf and the wind. Here are some pictures of the area on that day.
I feel for the people of the area, this idyllic tourist town which relies so heavily on visitors, visiting ships into the port as well as the tourists for the summer season, and this disaster has happened just before that season is going to start... as if there aren't enough economic troubles for this country as it is.
I'm not going to talk about Rena, and the ecological disaster that has occoured, I simply want to share the beauty that was... and one day will be again.
At the time I visited, it was a clear day, with beautiful blue skies shining off the crystal waters, and making the white sands shine. The shells on the beaches added that touch of nature, and the unusual Moturiki island that is attached to the beachfront adds to the individuality of the foreshore.
The cafes are doing a booming trade, with amazing salads and fish meals and the people are out enjoying the sun, the surf and the wind. Here are some pictures of the area on that day.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Northland: Kawiti GlowWorm Caves
While in the Northland we also visited a glowworm cave. Again, slightly smaller and cheaper in the North, but still a great experience, the kids were fascinated and all coped well when the lights got turned off so we could see the worms glowing.
Kawiti Caves have been in the one family for around 6 generations, and only having walkways and public access in the past 20 years or so. T
he story of the caves goes... some farmers found their crops of sweet potato missing and searched the lands to find who took them. In the local hillside they found a woman here in there caves, with all the sweet potato :)
In recent times, Bill Gates flew in by helicopter with some family and friends and took the cave tour. Aftet they were down they went off the the bay and went swimming with the dolphins.
The family new claim to fame... I have stood where Bill Gates has stood!
We couldn't take photos inside the caves itself, but I have a few of the surrounding hillsides, valleys and one of the cave entrance.
For a quick cave tour, with a little history Kawiti fits the bill nicely!
Kawiti Caves have been in the one family for around 6 generations, and only having walkways and public access in the past 20 years or so. T
he story of the caves goes... some farmers found their crops of sweet potato missing and searched the lands to find who took them. In the local hillside they found a woman here in there caves, with all the sweet potato :)
In recent times, Bill Gates flew in by helicopter with some family and friends and took the cave tour. Aftet they were down they went off the the bay and went swimming with the dolphins.
The family new claim to fame... I have stood where Bill Gates has stood!
We couldn't take photos inside the caves itself, but I have a few of the surrounding hillsides, valleys and one of the cave entrance.
For a quick cave tour, with a little history Kawiti fits the bill nicely!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Northland: Whangarei Museum and Kiwi House
Since arriving in New Zealand a year ago, seeing a real live Kiwi was high on the list on priorities, but we hadn't had the opportunity until recently.
Oh wait... yes we see Kiwi's every day, I mean the bird ;)
We found the Kiwi house and Museum and decided to drop on in. It's not expensive, and kind of small, but very well done. The Kiwi house has a few Kiwi's in a nocturnal environment with low lighting and a bush style setting.
There are places for the Kiwi's to go for safety, but this sadly also keeps them out of our view. While we were there one decided they were hungry, so ran out of the nest, across the 'landscape' and to the feeding trough. I was surprised by how fast they move, and by the colour of it's beak - such a bright yellow!... or at least it seemed it in the dim lighting.
We went around the rest of the buildings in the grounds, seeing the display of the other birds, the engines, the mini train wasn't running that day - it was too wet, and then to the Museum. The Whangarei Museum is actually built inside an old airplane hanger (by the looks) and has a few well appointed small displays.
I was fascinated with the video of the Moari winter solstice, and loved the collection of 1900's+ paraphernalia. I saw old Cameras, typewrites, scales and a manual printing press from 1851 that still works today!
A real piece of nostalgia was the dining room they had set up, with the doilies on the arms and backs of the chairs, and the dining table laid out with the delicate China. It reminded me so much of my Great Aunt's house when I was growing up, so I had a lovely walk down a personal memory lane, as well as discovering history of this land.
It's not the biggest, nor does it have many displays, but for a piece of history not far North of Auckland, you just might enjoy a visit to Whangarei.
Oh wait... yes we see Kiwi's every day, I mean the bird ;)
We found the Kiwi house and Museum and decided to drop on in. It's not expensive, and kind of small, but very well done. The Kiwi house has a few Kiwi's in a nocturnal environment with low lighting and a bush style setting.
There are places for the Kiwi's to go for safety, but this sadly also keeps them out of our view. While we were there one decided they were hungry, so ran out of the nest, across the 'landscape' and to the feeding trough. I was surprised by how fast they move, and by the colour of it's beak - such a bright yellow!... or at least it seemed it in the dim lighting.
We went around the rest of the buildings in the grounds, seeing the display of the other birds, the engines, the mini train wasn't running that day - it was too wet, and then to the Museum. The Whangarei Museum is actually built inside an old airplane hanger (by the looks) and has a few well appointed small displays.
I was fascinated with the video of the Moari winter solstice, and loved the collection of 1900's+ paraphernalia. I saw old Cameras, typewrites, scales and a manual printing press from 1851 that still works today!
A real piece of nostalgia was the dining room they had set up, with the doilies on the arms and backs of the chairs, and the dining table laid out with the delicate China. It reminded me so much of my Great Aunt's house when I was growing up, so I had a lovely walk down a personal memory lane, as well as discovering history of this land.
It's not the biggest, nor does it have many displays, but for a piece of history not far North of Auckland, you just might enjoy a visit to Whangarei.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Northland: Whangarei Waterfall
Not far from Auckland, on a stunning scenic drive lies Northland. A place kind of untouched compared to the bustle of the big city, and a beautiful way to get back in touch with nature.
Whangarei (Pronounced with a 'F' for the 'Wh' - Fangarei) is a great township with a huge harbour, rolling hillsides and great beaches nearby.
When we were there, we saw the sign for the local waterfall and quickly decided to drop in on our way further north. Little did we know what a treat we were in for.
Less than 100m from the roadside, was a smallish river, with a bridge to cross over the causeway, and as we walked to it the sound increased dramatically, then we saw the actual waterfall and were astounded that it was 'just' there.
No walk for 1km, no hillsides to climb, it was within easy reach from the carparking facilities.
We crossed the bridge, went around the other side, down the gully and to the bottom of the falls. Stopped in the water spray, and then climbed back out of the gully.
So close to nature, so easily, and such raw power, a real spectacle that we all enjoyed.
Whangarei (Pronounced with a 'F' for the 'Wh' - Fangarei) is a great township with a huge harbour, rolling hillsides and great beaches nearby.
When we were there, we saw the sign for the local waterfall and quickly decided to drop in on our way further north. Little did we know what a treat we were in for.
Less than 100m from the roadside, was a smallish river, with a bridge to cross over the causeway, and as we walked to it the sound increased dramatically, then we saw the actual waterfall and were astounded that it was 'just' there.
No walk for 1km, no hillsides to climb, it was within easy reach from the carparking facilities.
We crossed the bridge, went around the other side, down the gully and to the bottom of the falls. Stopped in the water spray, and then climbed back out of the gully.
So close to nature, so easily, and such raw power, a real spectacle that we all enjoyed.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Well, I thought Craters of the Moon was astounding - and it is! but Wai-O-Tapu - WooooooW!
Instead of walking in the belly of a mountain, you are walking through tracks in the forest, around the edges of thermal pools and waterfalls, which have been there for thousands of years.
The tracks are unobtrusive in many places, more a few guide rails to help you along the journey, and the walk is not overly difficult, and well worth going the full length of the tracks.
The most astounding part here was the colours! Each pool was different depending on the minerals in the area, from yellows to rich oranges to a green so unreal I kept on saying "this looks like it's Photoshopped, I can't believe it's here in real life!"
This is more expensive than the craters, but so very worth it! If you arrive in the morning you can also see the geyser in action, which is another fantastic experience.
Instead of walking in the belly of a mountain, you are walking through tracks in the forest, around the edges of thermal pools and waterfalls, which have been there for thousands of years.
The tracks are unobtrusive in many places, more a few guide rails to help you along the journey, and the walk is not overly difficult, and well worth going the full length of the tracks.
The most astounding part here was the colours! Each pool was different depending on the minerals in the area, from yellows to rich oranges to a green so unreal I kept on saying "this looks like it's Photoshopped, I can't believe it's here in real life!"
This is more expensive than the craters, but so very worth it! If you arrive in the morning you can also see the geyser in action, which is another fantastic experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)