Historic Ophir

    The town of Ophir was originally called Blacks before its Biblical name change.. Click here for some history of this quaint place. The Blacks Hotel has recently been purchased and is being refurbished by John and Debbie. He runs the bar and hotel registration and she cooks awesome breakfast and supper for the guests.

The rooms are clean and comfortable. When you check in you get a room key and a key to the back door in case you come in after the bar is closed. How quaint is that! 

If you're in the area, you have to stop by and say 'hello.'

Now backpackers' rooms, these rooms behind the hotel were originally drunk tanks for inebriated guests to sleep it off.

High Street (Main Street), Ophir

There is an honesty box for these home-made souvenirs of the town including home-made soaps and home-made magnets.

This is a shot of the curbing at the edge of Main Street.

Photo Friday

Travel Photo Thursday

scenes from Hawera

It's a little tricky to get to the beach at Hawera, but Hubby is patient and helps me in those hard places so I can enjoy the scenes from the shore. He and I took these shots but I really don't know who took which today.

Travel Photo Thursday

Photo Friday

afternoon drive

For a few more photos on my other blog, click here.

Yes, the white dots are sheep.

Reconnect with Nature      Look Up, Look Down

Travel Photo Thursday  Skywatch Friday

Cape Kidnappers coastline

Wherever we go, I find the coastline, with all its layers, fascinating. Our tractor driver/guide explained them but my brain doesn't grasp all the millions-of-years stuff. I did, however, understand when he told us that the places where the lines don't match up are fault lines (in the first two shots). Mostly, I just enjoy God's wonderful creations and am in awe that He shares such beauty with us.

Outdoor Wednesday

Reconnect with Nature

Travel Photo Thursday

stingrays and king fish and eagle rays, oh my!

One of the highlights of our holiday was to wade out into the ocean and see wild stingrays swimming around our feet! We went to a place called Dive Tatapouri just outside of Gisborne and a guy named Jason let us use these lovely 'designer' waders and bamboo poles. He then led us out to meet his friends.

The other fish in the photos are kingfishes. Apparently, they are the type of fish that is good for sushi  but some of these guys have avoided being caught for a long, long time.

This is a huge stingray getting up close and personal with me and my bamboo stick. They were weirdly fun to pet. I didn't feed them because I couldn't bend over to the bed of the ocean but Hubby and His Mom did!

The stingrays and eagle rays and kingfish have been fed here for about 12 years so they know not to bite the hands that feed them--most of the time, anyway! It was an interesting opportunity with the hardest part being the walk out onto the reef. But definitely worth it if you are ever in the area!



Life through the Lens

Travel Photo Thursday

taranaki coast rock formations

These are some more photos from the 3 Sisters area. I don't know about you, but I find them quite interesting and unusual.

Travel Photo Thursday

Reconnect with Nature

ocean foam at Back Beach

My favorite beach in Taranaki, New Zealand

Alphabe-Thursday - O

Travel Photo Thursday