Dinner at the regional park -Wenderholm

 
In Auckland we have a number of regional parks , these are free to use and paid from a a regional tax levied on home owners . Its a tiny amount and so worth paying for the parks see http://www.arc.govt.nz/parks/

This is what NZ $12 gets you , two huge snapper fillets, chips and a small
can of Watties tomato sauce (iconic kiwi condiment).

Purchase in Orewa (next to the Countdown)
Drive for ten minutes to the park and eat .

The view while eating , note seagull keeping alert
and looking especially hungry !



On the opposite side to the ocean is a large tidal estuary
which makes for  excellent kayaking if you pick your tides correctly

Wild flowers

xx

I planted a packet of "Wild flower" seed in an old bath full of potting mix before
Christmas and have been enjoying the huge variety of flowers that keep appearing.

Next year something on a larger scale .

Frog chilling on the side of the pond

(not cropped .. this one is getting very tame)

Motorcycle "track day" at the new Hampton Downs race track.- near Mercer

"Born to ride" in 1956, go Steve yeee harr
(2005 Cagiva Xtra Raptor)

Summer drinks

Where red vans hide

Farewell spit from 37,000 feet

See also http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/land-and-freshwater/wetlands/wetlands-by-region/nelson-marlborough/farewell-spit/

Succulent from Mums garden.

Mt Taranaki

Back in Taranaki

Weekday tourist - splendour all to oneself

Traditional 1950's holiday homes near the beach

The west coast south of Awakino

Sunrise in Dairy Flat from the back deck - and a weather update !

.
According to the TV news tonight we have just had the coldest October in 25 years, however August was the warmest New Zealand has seen since temperatures were first recorded 155 years ago - with an average temperature almost 2C warmer than usual at a spring-like 10.4C

Rhododendron by the front door

Signs of warmer weather .. he said optimistically ...

Having been to Morris and James at Matakana again...

On the left more traditional Morris and James and on
right one of the new trial designs

Hyacinth in Mum and Dads garden

Mist - foothills southern Alps from the Trans Apline

Lake Sarah - near Cass

Taken from the Trans Alpine

Red wine - we do grow some very good ones here

Bridge - near Arthurs Pass

Waikanae Beach - by Bridget

Hanmer Basin - grey and broody

For the soul at Birdlings Flat

I always feel better after spending some time here.

And this is New Zealand so you can have the beach all to yourself....

Arthurs Pass National Park - west of Cass

Cycle training at 1500 feet - and into the sea fog

If there are Freesias it must be spring...

Mt Tongariro National Park as viewed from Mt Taranaki National Park !!

Spring...inching ever closer

From the board walk on the foreshore in New Plymouth

Back on the Taranaki coast again

The top fence - beware 3000 volts - but only for a millisecond

From level 12 last night . Auckland looking west from the city

Sunrise at Northcote Point

Two views of the lodge on the northern side of Mt Taranaki

(these are both highly compressed versions of the originals)

Mist on the mountain at sunset

Modest holiday homes at Mokau