Whakatane and Ohope

On the beach between Whakatane and Tauranga

Looking north east from near Ohope
At entrance to Whakatane Port
White Island (bump on horison) as seen from headlands near Ohope Beach

(locals assure me that some days you can see it smoking away)
White Island (using 12x optical zoom on Canon)
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whakaari/White_Island

Ohope Beach

(all photos S5IS)

Redwood forest Rotorua

100 year old Redwoods, part

of a test planting of 127 different tree species.

These trees are already 200 feet high.
Part of an extensive walking, cycling and
riding area in Rotorua.
Very good for the soul to walk in these trees.

New Zealand Tree Ferns .

(All photos S2IS)

Rotorua at Wai-O-Tapu thermal area

Mineralised green lake

Silica and sulphur formations
Sulphur cave
Mud pool
Boiling mud

Champagne pool (74 degrees C at the surface and 70m deep)
Edge of Champagne pool (above and below)
see http://www.rotoruanz.co.nz/activities/activity_detail.asp?ID=137

(all photos Canon S5IS)

A few photos I took in Taranaki over the weekend

This stuff only grows when the air is clean
Mt Taranaki from the Opunake side , a classic shot
Mt Taranaki from the directly opposite side and
back up the west coast from Awakino
Near Mokau
Fishing for Whitebait ($130kg) well worth freezing to death
Its that Dudly Hall again
Mt Ruapehu (erupted last week briefly) and on the left Mt Tongariro

(All 20d except fisherman S5IS)