Archive for New Zealand

New Zealand… a Land of Contrasts

Posted in Photography with tags , , , , , , , , on June 15, 2014 by Paul Tombleson

Ruapehu Volcano

I was inspired recently to grab my camera and head over to the land of the Kiwi bird. Its been awhile since I have had the freedom and inclination to travel alone free from the encumbrances of “are we there yet”? The freedom to start and stop when inspired… aaahhhhh, bliss! I enjoy driving almost as much as photography so it was a win, win for me on this trip. And what a great place to drive… roads are excellent the scenery never stops and you’re never that far from your next destination or place of interest. I travelled with only two cameras…. my trustee D300 and iPhone. And yes the iPhone had two specific jobs. One to take panoramas and two instantly message/email pics to loved ones… I’m trying to remember if I used it as a phone? So my wandering took me to Orewa beach on a windy day where the kite surfers paraded up and down in what looked like an accident waiting to happen with wires and kites and people crossing paths in synchronized chaos. Reminded me of driving in India .PTP_7783aPTP_7784aOne of the magnificence of New Zealand is its compact and diverse geography allowing one to photograph in a warm lush region then within an hour or so be in a cool high country. Thus allowing for many different subjects and landscape to be captured.

Piha

Piha

 

Poi Poi. King Country

Poi Poi. King Country (Hobbit Land)

My wide angle lens (18mm) did not always do justice to the view presented so I found the iPhone panorama feature most helpful and good enough to document the vista.

Desert Road

Desert Road (iPhone 4s Pano)

Near Wellsford North Island

Near Wellsford North Island (iPhone 4s Pano)

Drove though parts of the Lord of the Rings Country. Didn’t see any Hobbits but sure did see plenty of Sheep.

Manunui, King Country

Manunui, King Country (Hobbit Land)

Manunui, King Country

Manunui, King Country (Hobbit Land)

It was the quiet and serenity that compels the shutter figure to depress after a long mediation.

Awakino West Coast

Awakino River mouth… West Coast

Awakino West Coast

Awakino River Mouth… West Coast

New Zealand will always stay on my bucket list as its one place that will never fill my Pale…

Desert Raod

Desert Road

Mt Egmont at Dawn

Mt Egmont at Dawn

Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo

West Coast

West Coast (iPhone 4s)

West Coast

West Coast ( Iphone 4s)

South Island next time!

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Saying Good Bye

Posted in Photography with tags on May 5, 2011 by Paul Tombleson

Tourist's in Paradise

The worst part about travel is saying goodbye to the places and people who have touched your life… The “Land of the Long White Cloud” and her people are no exception. While Kiwis may talk funny to some they talk a universal language of fun, adventure, and good spirits all rolled into one. A special place is New Zealand in a special part of the world. While it’s only been a week it really feels longer in the sense of everything we did. My blog covers only a fraction of our activities mostly due to time and not being a wordsmith.

While New Zealand has progressed and changed in many ways since I left 1974 the echoes of a time past remain true and clear and therefore the mood and feel of this place remain the same. A place with a little something for everyone, a place you can be yourself, a place I can see why many say is home…

It’s a slow drive from the Whangaparaoa Peninsula via Mission bay for lunch to the airport. Crossing the Harbor Bridge I get one last look at the City of Sails as Auckland is referred to sitting gracefully on the Waitamata Harbor.

We met up with my brother at the airport who will be travelling to Rarotonga with me. While it is hard to say farewell to New Zealand it is even harder to say adieu to my fellow traveler Janette who flies back to Sydney. Thank you Janette for putting up with me and my excited pace. You were the special secret ingredient that made New Zealand a true feast for the eyes, ears, soul and my heart…

New Zealand the Flower of our Heart's

Miss ya Kiwi land, you are the flower of my journey down under… well so far anyhow, look out Rarotonga here I come!

p.s I have been asked about the music we listened too on our journey through New Zealand it is “Chillout station (Part 5)-WEB”  It was great driving music and will always be NZ to me… It may not work for you

Chillout Station 5

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So long Aussie… Hello New Zealand

Posted in Photography with tags , on April 27, 2011 by Paul Tombleson

Gone from Australia.

It was in some ways a blur being in Aussie. Most of my time was taken up with working on projects, which gave me great satisfaction. Thus, I had no real time to take the lens cap off so we will see if New Zealand offers more time for my passion. Anyhow, Aussie remains a special place as my little family unit all live there now. I will surely miss them and can’t wait to reunite.

Maori Caving

Off to the airport we go after spending the night with Brad, Liz, Titus and Tina. The weather is looking ominous and setting in so it is time to get out of Dodge.

Don't forget the salt and vinegar!

Four hours later on an Air New Zealand flight we touch down in the “Land of the Long White Cloud” and get our first listen and a giggle about the way the kiwis talk. Its true six and sex are indistinguishable from each other to the untrained ear. And “Fish and Chips” does sound like “Fush and Chups”

A Mazda 3 is waiting in the parking lot to transport us North to a B+B and the famous hot springs of Waiwera. We are ready to have the body and soul soothed and healed. So, later folks… they will have to drag me out of the hot springs.