We found this library next to St. Francis Church near the town of Haumoana in the Hawke's Bay area.
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
8/15/14
the trees of Napier
Pine trees grow amazingly fast in NZ, like these Norfolk Pines. According to this article, these trees were planted in the 1890's and are approaching the end of their lives.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11304706
I thought palm-tree lined streets were only in California or Florida.
I don't know what kind of tree this is, but it looked quite pretty against the blue sky.
8/13/14
NZ Harrier
When Hubby suddenly stopped the car as we drove around the Napier countyside, I knew something exciting was afoot. He drove slowly back a few meters and there was this beauty, standing in the water in a ditch. S/He let me take several photos just feet a meter or so away. Hubby turned the car around and he took some shots from the other side of the road before this fabulous bird took off.
Whether this is a falcon or a hawk, I don't know. But I do know that is it usually quite an elusive bird. Click here for more information about it.
One flies around our house all the time (we call him 'Twitchy') but never gets close unless we provide some easy food. Even then, getting photos is not easy. So, I am happy to have seen this more patient bird that let us shoot til our hearts' content.
8/8/14
Napier area
I could watch and listen to the ocean roar for hours. It's so soothing and a bit mesmerizing. The beaches at Napier have very steep drop offs, so the water churns into monstrous waves which are great for surfing, I hear. I just enjoy the foamy crests and the wind-blown mists.
These shots are at Waimarama, a little settlement at the end of a winding road.
Bare Island (Motuokura in Maori) got its name from the view from the shore. In reality, there was a fishing settlement on the outer side in 1769, as noted by Captain Cook. Today, after eradicating the rat population in 1990, it is home to blue penguins and other birds.
2/3/11
2/1/11
1/30/11
1/31/10
signs along the way north
I find it amusing that the entrance ramps to the highway in Auckland have red/green lights to 'help the traffic merge'. It seems rather simple to me, but I guess it's not that easy to everybody in Auckland.
Enuf said?
We found another bit of Texas in northern NZ! There's a 'Texas' restaurant outside of Palmerston North, too.
This is a great logo for the NZ drink, 'L & P'. That stand for 'lemon and Paeroa' (the city it was first made). It's funnier with a NZ accent.
A novel idea for a photograph outside of Auckland.
I noted this little 'US' in a circle as we waited at some road construction. I just wonder if the sign is 'US approved'!
90 mile beach isn't. It's only about 55, but nobody knows where the name came from. You can drive on the beach as long as you don't have a rental car. How's that for strange laws?
Indeed, you may drive the 'normal' speed limit of 100kph on the beach.
I guess if you drive an 18-wheeler, you can have a vanity plate like this!
This is one of our favorite 'punny' signs.
1/28/10
waka at waitangi
This is an elaborately carved waka (canoe) on at the Waitiangi Treaty grounds. Click here to read more about the grounds.
1/26/10
1/24/10
Cape Reinga
This lighthouse was the ultimate destination of our holiday, although we had just as much fun 'getting there' as arriving.
The view at Cape Reinga is absolutely breathtaking.
The waves in the middle of nowhere are caused from the Pacific Ocean meeting the Tasman Sea.
The view at Cape Reinga is absolutely breathtaking.
The waves in the middle of nowhere are caused from the Pacific Ocean meeting the Tasman Sea.
And the sacred history for the Maori makes the whole place quite interesting. This link gives you some historical information.
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