Sunrise

Smoke In The Sky

The smoke from the bush fires in Australia has made its way across the Tasman Sea to NZ. Here is an evening shot of the effect. The setting sun is shrouded in haze and not very strong. That isn't cloud cover that blocks the blue evening sky.

Bulls,

In the Rangitikei District of NZ (near Palmerston North) is a small town of Bulls. It was named after a settler James Bull but the name later was changed to what it is called now. The town likes to play on the name via puns. All around the town are signs where the word bull features, usually replacing the 'ble' at the end of a word. There are a few examples below.

Taranaki

On the centre west of the North Island of NZ, there is a bulge of land protruding out into the Tasman Sea. It is the Taranaki province, known for its dairy farming. On the middle of the Taranaki bulge stands a large mountain, apart from any mountain range. It is Mt Egmont and a fine sight it is, when not covered in cloud. Below are two pictures of the mountain, one from a roadside and the other taken moments later with the zoom function in operation.

 

Situated to the east of Mt Egmont is a small town of Stratford, named after the one in the UK which is famous for W. Shakespear. Many of the streets are named after people in his plays and the clock tower on the main street occasionally comes alive with Romeo and Juliet speaking to each other from windows in the structure.

Across the road from that is an area in front of the library, which features car tyre planters made to look like tea cups. I believe they were made by local students. Two are featured below.

Views from The Queen Charlotte Walk

A short and twisty road trip west from Picton, NZ brings you to the beginning of the Queen Charlotte Walk. It's not too strenuous and well worth the effort as it the early part looks down on the Marlborough Sounds. Here are a couple of shots of what I mean.

Cape Campbell (Marlborough, NZ) Revisited

In a previous visit, I took some pics that can be seen here and also here. The reason is that a major earthquake took place since and the seabed around the cape was raised. Someone unfamiliar with the area wouldn't notice but the rocks going out and the north is now prominent.

The walk from Marfells beach is quite long.
Part way there and the lighthouse is in the distance

The stairway up to the lighthouse

Finally there

There it is in all its splendour

Looking out you can see the lifted seabed

Ditto

Now to the north and again the same effect

Akaroa, Banks Peninsula

If you're still wondering where the place is, it's near Christchurch, NZ. It's a historic town that now trades on the fact that some French settlers who were dropped off there. Much of what they built has long since gone, but the place is a relaxing, picturesque location.

We drove south from the city of Christchurch, down to Lake Ellesmere. There we saw swarms of small insects forming towers that looked like bushes that didn't have a trunk. This went on for some miles but I didn't stop to photograph them. I'm not sure what they were and if they would come out well.

We arrived in the town, which seems to be in two sections along the waterfront. We walked about, enjoying the warm sun, clear blue sky and absence of any wind. it was certainly a change from busy Riccarton Rd where we were staying.

Christchurch Memorial - White Chairs

The chairs appeared on February 22, 2012, which was the first anniversary of the devastating Christchurch earthquake. Initially 185 white chairs were placed on the site of a demolished Church for just one week. 

People wanted them to stay around so they were moved to the site of another demolished church. they won't be able to stay here either but for now they are a major tourist attraction in the city. There is a poignancy about them. I took this photo in August 2017.

Christchurch In Pictures : 2017

Central City

Cathedral

Sumner

New Brighton Pier Strengthening

Lyttleton Harbour

Black Swans

In this lagoon area, we went canoeing a while back. There were no swans around. We recently decided to walk around it and there were about 60 or more swans. I'm not sure of the movements of swans as to where they all came from. I wonder how they would take a canoe going through their midst. Anyway, they seemed happy and after realising we were harmless, they seemed to ignore our presence.

Beautiful Pictures

Nothing is quite like a beautiful scene. Having it on the wall draws the eye and admiring stares. I have a couple of lovely ones here, depicting a water scene. The photos were taken at the same location but different angles. Enjoy.

Prime NZ Real Estate With Water Views

People love a view of water and dwellings anywhere near it fetches top dollar. I have snapped some shots of that sort of property. Well, I have to admit they are basic in form, one needing work and the other lacking protection from the elements but no doubt you see the potential.

As it turns out, they are not for sales but what's the harm in dreaming? I have to admit the location wouldn't be described as tropical. However, they do have a charm that is rustic and minimalistic.

Anyway, enjoy and be a little bit jealous....

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Queen Charlotte Drive / Picton

At the top east of the South Island, there are the Marlborough Sounds. The gateway to them is Picton. The road running west from that town is the Queen Charlotte Drive. The photos below start from part way along the Queen Charlotte drive at Ngakuta Bay, ending up at Picton.

Ngakutu Bay

Some of the houses along the foreshore

A jetty for boaties

Shakespear Bay

Pine logs for export. No value added processing

Picton ferry teminus

Overlooking Picton town with threatening clouds behind

Cape Campbell Wildlife (Marlborough, NZ)

On the shoreline from Marfells Beach toward Cape Campbell, we saw some wildlife. There was even a beautifully preserved dead seal on the beach. I was going to photograph it but those with me thought it not appropriate. I wondered why it died, considering its good condition.

Shags (cormorants) on a rock. When the tide receded, they moved to new rocks,
keeping water between them and the shoreline

Shags gathered on a beach. They flew off when we got closer

A young one nearby, not as concerned by our presence

A seal sun's itself and gives a friendly wave with it's flipper

There were many of these, dead in the shoreline. I can't name it though

There were many Oyster Catchers, but I didn't have a good camera to get a great shot.
Here's one by Stephen Burch to show what they look like

A Grey Heron. I couldn't get a good shot again, so here's one by Nigel Roberts

Cape Campbell Scenery (Marlborough, NZ)

Cape Campbell is on the east coast of New Zealand, between Blenheim and Kaikoura. The lighthouse was completed in 1870 after numerous ships were wrecked on the rocks that go out from the point. It's wooden construction didn't last and by 1905 it had been replaced by a cast iron one.

It started as an oil burning light, but was converted to electric in 1938. In 1986, it was automated and therefore no longer manned by a lighthouse keeper. It has a range of 19 nautical miles (35kms).

Access to the cape and lighthouse is by walking from Marfells beach at low tide. We attempted it when the tide was starting to go out and had to keep high on the beach. The tiny stones you can see below were quite thick in depth and more tiring to walk on. A lower tide allows you to walk on hard sand. It took about two hours to get there and 1 1/2 on the return when the tide was lower. That was taking our time and enjoying the scenery.

Walking from Marfells Beach. The lighthouse is at the end of the peninsula

Nearly there!

An 1885 grave for a 7 month old baby situated by the lighthouse. Poignant

The lighthouse (taken looking south)

This one taken looking toward the west

This final picture came from Maritime NZ, looking east