Birdlings Flat, Lake Forsyth, Lake Ellesmere and Canterbury Bight

Birdlings Flat - a stony beach as a result of the many Canterbury rivers that enter the ocean along the Canterbury Bight

The view below is an interesting one - I took it from Bossu Road which climbs the hills to the south of Little River and if you had the fortitude would take you to Wainui in the Akaroa Harbour. If you don't want to end up there you can circle back via the Okuti Valley. It was a pretty solid climb to 700m from virtually sea level at Little River for Mums Honda Jazz and as can be seen in the topographic map (the broken line) much is unsealed. Having said that the views are spectacular even on an overcast day and not those seen by many tourists - although I would recommend against this being used by camper vans - there are some very narrow sections with drops to certain death if you go over the side.

(Map LINZ approx 2000) 

Botton right - Lake Forsyth, Middle right - Lake Ellesmere , Left middle - Canterbury Bight

Hamilton Museum

Just along from the ArtsPost is the Museum - not the monster places of Auckland and TePapa (Wellington) or Canterbury but well holding its own and currently running a number of excellent exhibitions.  Unlike Auckland free to all who come.

Current exhibitions

As you would expect for the Waikato an interesting piece on the local Maori and a Waka (canoe) I felt, to be in far better shape than the one in the Auckland museum. - see comment below

From their Web site "The majestic Te Winika, a 200-year-old carved waka taua (Maaori war canoe) was gifted to Waikato Museum by Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu in 1973."

Just some of the exhibition for the biennial Waiclay 2015 National Ceramics Award.- 

For me a complete highlight 

Hamilton ArtsPost Gallery and Shop

Beat this rest of NZ ........

On the main street in Hamilton one very cool Gallery and shop and a "must visit" next time you are in the river city.

David James (Jim) Ertel - died 30 Dec 2008

Mate , how time flies and how much you have missed. Gone but far from forgotten , just the other day I was looking through some of those movies we made. awesome given what we used to make them :) .

Technology has moved very fast since 2008 not least several generations of IPads, IPhones, Android devices, the GoPro, drones - I know you would have had it all.

Your predictions of a convergence of devices were right on the money - and where would your company be now if you had been still at the helm with your pedal to the metal ?

With Malcolm (and the SL90), Grant and I around 1975
(Your 350/4 in the background) 

A little later with one of the two mighty Honda 750/4's - given the exhaust system
I'd say it was the earlier one you got second !! 

The "blokes only" tour of Alaska, BC and Alberta 2005.
Gastronomically easily satisfied. 

With your dad 

In the car you so loved, 2008.

Miss you buddy 

Esplanade Hotel , Devonport

Get the mussels for two, you won't be sorry. On a Monday they are slightly cheaper and they come with  beautifully cooked wedges. The picture really doesn't do them justice, there were a lot there .....

We had the Beet Root warm salad with Goat Feta as well. 

Christmas profiteering.

Raspberries $10 for tiny container in more than one Auckland supermarket day before Christmas. Not three days before in Christchurch Mum and I paid $12 to a local grower for about 8x as much fruit.

Scandrett Regional Park

Birdlings Flat

Home to an endless collection of coloured stones

Almost Christmas - more Lily's

Queens Parade

The Lily's are coming out at home, Christmas must be approaching

Now that's what I call French toast - The Square Cafe - Auckland

The New Zealand Christmas tree- Pohutukawa

Covered in beautiful red flowers every December, a coastal evergreen native to New Zealand. I have a large specimen in my garden perhaps 10m in height but compared to some in the large regional and local parks it is but a juvenile.

Truss Bridge Waikino

Duders Regional Park - one of many Auckland Parks

Maraetai Beach

Totally awesome Auckland day.

The Redwoods . Rotorua.

Mamakau Blue - Blueberry Experience

Maraeroa Road , Rotorua.

Www.mamakublue.co.nz

3km off State Highway 5.

Don't  miss this on your trip to Rotorua.

Epic incredibly reasonably priced food from the attached cafe and an array of blueberry and gooseberry products.

Very good hosts.

The Wild Rice Thai Cuisine , Rotorua

1114 Tutanekia Street,

(In the closed street)

Came here twice while on holiday , hard to imagine you could get a bad meal here - highly recommended.

"High tea" for five from the Esplanade Hotel in Devonport.

Somewhat lacking the delicacy of the one I shared with Mum at the Flower Show in Christchurch and to be honest the tops of those sandwiches were drying out , but the scones were excellent as were the mini desert. Tea itself was awesome and the tea sets very cool but on the whole probably not value for money if you had paid full price which we didn't (their self confessed error) . That was a shame because their sit down evening meals are really good. Eaten there many times in the past. 

South Piha beach

Very popular beach with surfers but dangerous for swimmers who stray from the surf patrolled area. Home of the famous TV series "Piha Rescue" and the location of one of Taylor Swifts videos.

My dad used to travel all the way from Christchurch in the 1930's with his younger sister and mum to stay with friends who had a house on the beach. That must have been some trek back then as just the trip from the beach over the Waitakere Ranges would have been a challenge.

Murawai Regional Park

Two view of Devonport , Auckland

Looking west towards the Harbour Bridge and east towards Rangitoto Island .