Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Monday, January 18, 2016
At the Beach
Prior to Christmas we spent a few days at Pohara, Golden Bay. It was a bit of a trek after 3 hours or so on the ferry to Picton, Marlborough Sounds then quite a few hours driving to Pohara.
The house we rented was soo close to the beach and being before Christmas the beach was mostly just us and the seagulls.
Down the road, towards Takaka, is Labyrinth Rocks Park. A limestone outcrop with a series of maze-like mini canyons situated between a few houses and a refuse/recycling station.
Following a map you wander along the pathways through the rocks, including getting to dead ends and having to double back. It takes about 30 minutes from start to end.
Most of the rock formations have been named after things such as dinosaurs, elephants, etc.
What makes it a little unusual are all the small toys, mostly from McDonalds, placed on the rocks - certainly gets kids racing around it looking for more and identifying what movies the toys were in.
Probably not what the original creator had in mind - the kids love it!
We did explore other parts of Golden Bay, there will be more posts.
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| Marlborough Sounds |
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| Pohara Beach |
The house we rented was soo close to the beach and being before Christmas the beach was mostly just us and the seagulls.
Down the road, towards Takaka, is Labyrinth Rocks Park. A limestone outcrop with a series of maze-like mini canyons situated between a few houses and a refuse/recycling station.
Following a map you wander along the pathways through the rocks, including getting to dead ends and having to double back. It takes about 30 minutes from start to end.
What makes it a little unusual are all the small toys, mostly from McDonalds, placed on the rocks - certainly gets kids racing around it looking for more and identifying what movies the toys were in.
Probably not what the original creator had in mind - the kids love it!
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| nearby Tarakohe Harbour |
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| Golden Bay sunset |
We did explore other parts of Golden Bay, there will be more posts.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Oparara Basin
On our recent holiday (here and here) to the West Coast we walked in the Oparara Basin area.
The photos don't quite show the size of the Oparara Arch, it is ~40m high.
The colour of the river is caused by tannin. Tannin leaches from decomposing leaves on the forest floor and stains the water, this happens in forests with high rainfall. Luckily not on the day we visited, just light mist.
From the arch we walked to Moria Gate Arch. Alot smaller yet still impressive.
Then on to Mirror Tarn, where in light rain it had good reflections, on a clear sunny day these would be amazing.
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| half of Oparara Arch |
The photos don't quite show the size of the Oparara Arch, it is ~40m high.
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| arch from below |
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| Oparara River |
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| tannin stained river |
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| possible quilting patterns |
From the arch we walked to Moria Gate Arch. Alot smaller yet still impressive.
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| Moria Gate arch |
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| view of Moria Gate arch |
Then on to Mirror Tarn, where in light rain it had good reflections, on a clear sunny day these would be amazing.
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| Mirror Tarn |
Friday, January 9, 2015
Sailing away
The week before Christmas we travelled to the South Island for about two weeks.
The first sailing, across Cook Strait, on the Kaitake ferry took a slightly different route. Usually the ferries enter the Marlborough Sounds through Tory Channel (click here for a map) but for some reason we went the longer way via Brothers Islands. It would have been interesting except for the low visibility.
The crossing was quite smooth as was the return journey - one of the smoothest I've ever been on.
I've posted here and here about some of our trip, there may be more posts over the next week or so.
The first sailing, across Cook Strait, on the Kaitake ferry took a slightly different route. Usually the ferries enter the Marlborough Sounds through Tory Channel (click here for a map) but for some reason we went the longer way via Brothers Islands. It would have been interesting except for the low visibility.
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| Brothers island lighthouse |
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| misty Marlborough Sounds |
The crossing was quite smooth as was the return journey - one of the smoothest I've ever been on.
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| Aratere leaving Picton |
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| evening light |
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| Tory Channel entrance to Cook Strait |
I've posted here and here about some of our trip, there may be more posts over the next week or so.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Holiday snaps
As I mentioned in this post, we spent a few days in New Plymouth during the school holidays.
This is the view of Kapiti Island and the Kapiti coast north from above Paekakariki towards Paraparaumu. At this point we were still close to Wellington with quite a few more hours of driving before reaching New Plymouth.
A few photos of the elusive Mt Taranaki, mostly the mountain was covered in cloud, so I was determined to get photos of the few glimpses we managed to see.
first glimpses of snow covered slopes ...
A friend suggested we visit Te Rewa Rewa bridge on the Coastal Walkway. I'm glad she did, previously we've seen and enjoyed other parts of the Coastal Walkway, the bridge is stunning!
The morning was mostly cloudless and we did see and photograph the mountain, later in the morning the clouds rolled on in.
The visit was way too short and another longer stay is needed.
This is the view of Kapiti Island and the Kapiti coast north from above Paekakariki towards Paraparaumu. At this point we were still close to Wellington with quite a few more hours of driving before reaching New Plymouth.
A few photos of the elusive Mt Taranaki, mostly the mountain was covered in cloud, so I was determined to get photos of the few glimpses we managed to see.
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| there is a mountain behind those clouds |
first glimpses of snow covered slopes ...
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| Stratford mountain road |
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| in the clouds at the top of the road up from Stratford |
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| finally the top appears |
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| a brief time when the clouds part |
The morning was mostly cloudless and we did see and photograph the mountain, later in the morning the clouds rolled on in.
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| Te Rewa Rewa bridge |
The visit was way too short and another longer stay is needed.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Mini Break
We've just spent a few days in New Plymouth, as it is the school holidays. It also meant I was able to attend Aotearoa Quilters AGM and the opening of their 'Growth' exhibition.
The Growth exhibition is currently showing at the Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford. Its a great space, with a pleasant cafe - Sgt Peppers that served excellent coffee.
The judges were two locals, artist John McLean and quilter Dorothy Smith.
The quilt on the left was awarded Best in Show - 'Mother Earth' by Kathleen Burford. The other two quilts are 'Increasingly Modern' by me and the quilt on the right is 'Algae Blooms' by Mary Transom.
I do like the two below - these received merit awards.
I just had to include a photo of Fyvie's quilt, as I've watched her creating it and its a great quilt. The circles are all sewn in - there is no applique! It was awarded a Judges Choice prize.
The lighting in the gallery just made the silk shine and also the little bits of blue in the strips just pop.
The 20 quilts that form the 'Growth' exhibition can be viewed here.
The Growth exhibition is currently showing at the Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford. Its a great space, with a pleasant cafe - Sgt Peppers that served excellent coffee.
The judges were two locals, artist John McLean and quilter Dorothy Smith.
The quilt on the left was awarded Best in Show - 'Mother Earth' by Kathleen Burford. The other two quilts are 'Increasingly Modern' by me and the quilt on the right is 'Algae Blooms' by Mary Transom.
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| 'An Abundance of Gum Blossums' by Jennifer Patterson |
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| 'Darling Buds of May' by Natalie Murdoch |
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| 'Waste and Renewal' by Fyvie Murray |
I just had to include a photo of Fyvie's quilt, as I've watched her creating it and its a great quilt. The circles are all sewn in - there is no applique! It was awarded a Judges Choice prize.
The lighting in the gallery just made the silk shine and also the little bits of blue in the strips just pop.
The 20 quilts that form the 'Growth' exhibition can be viewed here.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Ayrlies Garden
On our recent visit to Auckland I visited Ayrlies Garden. Beverley McConnell and her late husband began developing the garden 50 years ago.
While the kids enjoyed Rainbows End (a theme park), with their cousin, we enjoyed the tranquility of the garden.
Wandering around the garden there were places to stop and enjoy the plantings as well as the waterfalls, ponds and the glimpses across the harbour to Rangitoto Island.
Some pics ...
While the kids enjoyed Rainbows End (a theme park), with their cousin, we enjoyed the tranquility of the garden.
Wandering around the garden there were places to stop and enjoy the plantings as well as the waterfalls, ponds and the glimpses across the harbour to Rangitoto Island.
Some pics ...
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