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You are here: Home / Archives for Friday Fotos

Friday Fotos

Friday Fotos – Huka Falls near Lake Taupo, New Zealand

June 7, 2019 By Terry Leave a Comment

Huka Falls near Lake Taupo, New Zealand
200,000 liters of ice blue water flow flow over Huka Falls every second.

Huka Falls near Lake Taupo in New Zealand is nothing less than impressive. Located approximately in the middle of the north island, the falls are on the Waikato River. Roughly 200,000 liters of ice-blue water flow through this point every second—that’s more than 50,000 gallons every second. The falls create a huge undertow, which has taken under boats that got too close. We were happy to watch from the sidelines and marvel at the sheer power of Huka Falls. 

Want to see more photos from trip? Here’s a link where you can find all the entries in our travel journal.

More photos from New Zealand

In Fjordland National Park in New Zealand

Devonport in New Zealand is a quaint town

Devonport is a seaside town on an island in New Zealand with the look of an old village. The architecture of many homes and shops is classic.

Devonport in New Zealand along the shore

We walked through a park in Devonport to a point where we could see another part of the island across the water.

For all the writers out there

When I saw this display in the window at this shop in Devonport, I had to take a photo. NOtice that's an old Smith Corona Junior typewriter.

Leaving Devonport New Zealand

As the ferry takes us away from Devonport and back to Auckland, we get a last glimpse of this beautiful little town.

Printed pages ready for binding

The pages were bound together with string.

Printing press process

More plates from the old bindery

Shims help to position the text on the page

The shims come in all sizes to make for precise placement.

Materials to leather bind books

The books made in this bindery were all leather covered. This is getting close to the final product.

Printing press in Russell

This old press was used to make a single proof after the letters had been set. After the proof, the actual printing was done downstairs

MS Noordam in background

Just beyond the anchored sailboats is the MS Noordam waiting for all of us to see the sights.

Boats and houses in Russell

Russell has a lot of hills—and boats

Sunrise as we arrive in Russell

This was an early morning shore excursion, so we had to be up bright and early!

Ariel rides the wombat in preparation for Russell

Our traveling companion Ariel rides tonight's towel animal.

Mirror Lakes reflection

The reflection of the mountains in Mirror Lakes.

Mirror Lakes

With clear water and no wind, Mirror Lakes reflects the mountains beyond.

On the way to MIlford Sound

In the National Park, this is one of the many creeks and rivers.

Milford Sound

We were so lucky to have such a beautiful day.

Milford Sound tours

Milford Sound is a popular place for tours.

The Tasman Sea

Here's the coastline of New Zealand along the Tasman Sea.

Milford Sound

Cruising along the sound.

The Milford Monarch Bell

This weathered bell has been on the front of the Milford Monarch since 1994. No longer used, it's a beautiful decoration.

Milford Sound

Looking back toward the Tasman Sea

New Zealand Fur Seals resting

This group of fur seals was just hanging out on the rocks. Not a bad job if you can get it!

New Zealand Fur Seal

This fur seal woke up when we cruised by and did a little stretch.

Almost under the waterfall

This was my last clear shot. After this, the lens was getting too wet and I had to seek cover.

Milford Sound

I believe this is looking back at The Chasm from Milford Sound

Lions guard the fron door of Larnach Castle

A pair of lions guard the front door of Larnach Castle

Every door leads to something special

All of the doorways at Larnach Castle are amazing.

Larnach Castle ceiling

The ceiings at Larnach Castle are amazing.

Ming vase on the mantle

This vase sits on the mantle of one of the fireplaces.

Larnach Castle entryway

Welcome to Larnach Castle, where over-the-top is just the beginning.

Beautiful woodwork is everywhere

The castle, like other opulent older homes, has beautiful hardwoods throughout.

In the dressing room

The mistress of the house wanted this statue in her dressing room. It's a strange story!

Views from the top of Larnach Castle

The views from the roof of Larnach Castle are spectacular

Larnach Castle grounds

From the lawns to the shrubs and trees, the landscaping at the castle is immaculate.

No elevator for this top floor

On the way down from the roof of the castle, the stairs are steep and winding!

Larnach Castle looking majestic

It's hard to believe this castle was nearly leveled by developers.

Glass gazebo at Larnach Castle

This beautiful gazebo is just one of the many elegant garden features.

Dunedin Rail Station

Our first stop on our shore excursion was at the Dunedin rail station.

Dunedin Rail Station and its grounds

A local garden society maintains the grounds of the rail station.

Dunedin Rail Station interior

The inside of the Dunedin rail station.

Dunedin Rail Station front walkway

When you're entering the Dunedin rail station, you pass through these columns.

Clock tower on the Dunedin rail station

Another piece of detail that makes the rail station a classic piece of history.

Picton - a small seaport village

Picton is a gorgeous little village of only 4,000 people, but it has a lot of boats!

Looking inland from Picton Harbor

It looks like this little town has almost as many boats as houses.

Across the harbot toward Picton

The harbor at Picton has a good sealife population, so these waters are clear several feet down.

Stormy ocean leaving Port Chalmers and Dunedin

The ocean can become very dramatic down here when there's a storm coming. Swells reached about 9 feet at one point.

Ariel prepares for her Picton Seaport Walk

Getting ready for the seaport walk. Let's go!

Picton's bay under blue skies

The blue skies lasted most of the day, which was unusual. The flat water is supposed to be normal.

Picton - harbor showing some of the boats in the harbor

Boats in the harbor at Picton, where tourism is big business

Playing to benefit the Blenheim Orphanage

These guys play to benefit the Blenheim Orphanage. They drew a nice little crowd.

Selfie with part of Picton in the background

Here we are, living the life in Picton...at least until we have to be back on the Noordam.

Map of Picton area in New Zealand

Lots and lots of islands, peninsulas, and fjords in this part of the world.

Sailboats bob in the harbor

These little cluster of sailboats was just out in the bay waiting for their owners.

California pine trees ready for export

The California pine was brought to New Zealand years ago. It now is farmed as an export to Japan, where it will be turned into furniture, which will go to...the US (amongst other places).

Picton - entrance to the park from downtown

The arch is the entrance to the park from the quaint downtown.

Wellington from our balcony

We're back in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand

The Beehive

This building is called the Beehive. It's where the Executive Offices of the New Zealand Parliament are located.

Zealandia took over this structure

This "lake" is actually part of a dam, which became part of Zealandia when it began.

One of New Zealand's endangered

Unable to fly, these birds fall prey to mammalian predators.

Te Papa Museum

What a place! Six floors of exhibits and offices. It would take a couple of days to see the whole thing—and we had less than two hours.

Terracotta Warriors exhibit was on display

This is a very popular exhibit and requires separate tickets, which we didn't have. It was also sold out!

Te Hono ki Hawaiki - Maori meeting house

Our guide told us she was bothered by this interpretation of a Maori meeting house for several years, then one day had an epiphany and now understands it.

Stained glass at the museum

This beautiful stained glass was in the same area as the Maori 'house'.

Moon hanging high in the sky with a storm moving in.

The clouds parted long enough to get a glimpse of the moon.

Ariel showing off today's excursion

Ariel likes to be prepared for the day.

Napier shipping yard with lots of California pine

California pine is a huge export for New Zealand - it's also a big problem.

Loading shipping containers

Taken from the balcony of our stateroom,

All of the land you see was under water

More than a hundred years ago there was an earthquake in Napier that raised up the entire valley.

Town of Napier on the bay

The town of Napier was leveled by an earthquake in 1931, but has rebuilt in an art deco style.

Napier customs house

Our guide leaving the Napier Customhouse, which has been restored thanks to a group of locals

One of the Hawkes Bay Express train cars

This train has been lovingly restored by our guide and his family.

The old family tractor - updated

There's a tractor under all that glitz!

Hawkes Bay Express

What a great way to see the area. The guide is very informative and the train has so many little period details.

Museum theater gallery - and pincushions

All those colors? They're giant pincushions!

Art deco is the norm

Just one example of the art deco style that runs throughout downtown Napier

Restored by their owners

Vintage autos, restored by their owners, were on display.

More art deco style

The art deco style is the theme in the downtown.

Art deco is everywhere

There are even little balconies like this one on Harston's

Did somebody mention period clothing?

Just in case you want to fit in with the Napier building style!

Charlston Chic has something for everyone

If you want retro style, this is your place!

The ocean is just beyond the arch

There seems to be a common theme in New Zealand. We've seen arches on the waterfront before.

From cars to buildings, it's all there

Napier might only have 57,000 residents, but it oozes style.

Ariel watches Napier in the distance

Ariel watches wistfully as we get further from Napier. We think she likes art deco!

Saying goodbye to Napier

We depart Napier under partyly sunny skies

Ariel riding the elephant

As we prepare for April 16, Ariel takes a ride on the towel elephant made by our room steward, Ricky

Tauranga is a shipping port

As has been the case with many of the ports, Tauranga is primarily a shipping port, but tourism is a growing business

Tauranga also has great views

Even though Tauranga is a shipping port, it has some breathtaking views

Lifeboats down for a drill

Our tour wasn't for another hour, but they announced there was to be a drill for the staff

Backyard view? Yes it is!

This is the backyard view for one of the Maori guides who works for the tour company.

Part of the Maori welcoming ceremony

While small, this Maori welcoming ceremony was well done and they were so friendly!

You'll be seeing gold kiwi fruit in the US soon

New Zealand is making a push to get their gold kiwi fruit into markets this year. It's soooo good!

Those vines on the top are next year's vines

This is an ingenious system. The canopy needs to be a certain depth, so the growers place next year's vines up top. They cut everything at the end of the season and lay those new top vines down.

Nearing sunset and our time to leave Tauranga

When the sun was dropping, I decided it was time to go topside and snap a photo.

Our two favorite servers - Sonya and Cucu

It was Asian night in the Lido dining room! These two are the best!

Model of a double-hulled canoe

This is an example of a Maore double-hulled canoe

Ariel checks out the sloth

We think this towel animal is a sloth. At least Ariel like it!

The customhouse and other buildings along the wharf

This was part of the view of Auckland from our balcony.

Stained glass ceiling at Auckland War Memorial

The emblems around the edges of the stained glass signify the countries involved in the conflict. The center commemorates the New Zealand military branches.

WW1 - 1914 - 1918

Thousands of names are inscribed on the walls in this room.

This Spitfire is full-sized

This is a real airplane that they brought in through the roof.

Stained glass window commemorates the war

This memorial serves to remind visitors of war's devastation.

View from the War Memorial Museum

The views from the museum are spectacular and fitting for the monument

Birds in flight

New Zealand was once a land of birds and no mammals.

Meet the Moa

That is one big bird. The moa once flourished in New Zealand, but the Maori and other forces brought it to extinction.

Notice the mouth on the center carving

The puka is the sticking out of the tongue - in times past, different expressions meant something - kind of like a separate language.

Canoe carved from a single tree

This canoe could carry about 100 warriors, most of whom were paddling.

Tail end of the war canoe

If the canoe was to be used for transporting something other than warriors, the bow and rear could be replaced with something appropriate.

Strings first, then glue

Once glue had been applied to the binding, the pages set

The bindery upstairs

The book bindery operated out of this house upstairs and down.

Coffee shop where we had morning tea

I hear the scones were fabulous—but they were not gluten-free, so not for me!

Totems in Russell

This garden area is maintained by a local group of gardeners

Close-up of sculptures

The attention to detail on these pieces is amazing.

Art in the town garden

Here's another of those beautiful pieces from the central garden

Oldest church in New Zealand

Established in 1836, this is the oldest church in New Zealand, and it's still beautiful inside.

Downtown Russell

Russell is a quaint town without a lot of traffic—except for the pedestrian kind.

Plenty of places to sit and have some tea

Outdoor tables are common and the atmosphere is relaxing

Memorial to those who gave their lives in WWI
Lots of places to shop, eat, or hang out
We loved the open windows and atmosphere
Do they come any cuter than this?
Like a sentry guarding the door

This sculpture caught my attention during our walkabout in Devonport, New Zealand

Victoria Theater and Tip Top Ice Cream

We stopped and had ice cream under those red umbrellas. It was so refreshing!

Guarding the entrance to Larnach Castle

I'm not sure I'd want to be greeted by these guys (one on each side of the front door) when I arrived home!

Staircase from second floor to first

The wood throughout Larnach Castle is beautiful.

The Woolstore Complex in Omaru New Zealand

Omaru has so much fantastic architecture. Many of these buildings use Omaru stone, which was taken from quarries neaby.

At the end of the path in Devonport

The path through the park in Devonport leads to this tiny peninsula. Isn't this a beautiful view?

Huka Falls near Lake Taupo, New Zealand

200,000 liters of ice blue water flow flow over Huka Falls every second.

Mirror Lakes - the world upside down

The mountains refledted perfectly in the still water create the illusion of a world upside down. And the fish swim underneath.

Milford Sound - a small boat cruises the sound

Milford Sound is a truly spectacular place, filled with waterfalls and towering mountains carved by glaciers.

Milford Sound - another view

Protected from the Tasman Sea, the waters are calm in Milford Sound. This small sailbloat had no problem cruising the fjord.

Milford Sound - the Tasman Sea just beyond

At this point in our journey of Milford Sound, we were nearing the Tasman Sea. The surface looked calm, but don't let that fool you. It's rough out there!

Spitfire airplane inside Auckland War Memorial

This complete Spitfire airplane was brought into the museum through the roof.

Auckland skyline at sunset

This was our view at dinner as we sailed out of Auckland. Normally, I wouldn't shoot through glass, but the view was too good to pass up.

Auckland Sky Tower in black-and-white

The Auckland Sky Tower was only two blocks from our hotel. Our visit occured right after the Christchurch shootings, during which time the tower was kept dark at night.

Geysers at Whakarewarewa

The geysers at Whakarewarewa are an incredible sight—and smell. The odor of sulfur is everywhere.

Bridge leading to the geysers at Whakarewarewa

The grounds near the geysers at Whakarewarewa are green and lush. In the midst of all that greenery are these incredible geysers.

St. Patricks' Cathedral

Auckland is a blend of old and new. St. Patrick's Cathedral — a beautiful old building with skyscrapers a block away.

Prince's Gate Arches

There's a beautiful park in Rotorua, and the Prince's Gate arches guard the entrance.

Fence at Princes' Gate archway in Rotorua

What a gorgeous fence! Attached to the Princes' Gate arches in Rotorua

Beautiful gazebo near Government Gardens in Rotorua.

This gazebo near the Government Gardens in Rotorua is beautiful.

The Chookaduck House

In Rotorua, we had an overnight stay on a farm. We got a little tour of the grounds...and met the ducks and chickens.

New Zealand countryside near Rotorua

The view from our overnight host's home was spectacular. A classic country setting.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: Friday Fotos, New Zealand

Friday Fotos – Welcome to Larnach Castle

May 17, 2019 By Terry Leave a Comment

Lions guard the front door of Larnach Castle
A pair of lions guard the front door of Larnach Castle

Architecturally, New Zealand’s Larnach Castle is a Gothic Revival mansion. It was built in 1871 by William Larnach using materials from around the world. It’s one of the largest mansions in New Zealand and has quite the history.  That history began when William Larnach committed suicide in the New Zealand Parliament Buildings in 1898. After years of legal battles within the family, the ‘castle’ was sold in 1906. For the next sixty years, the castle was neglected and went through several different owners until 1967, when it was purchased by Barry and Margaret Barker. Thank goodness for the Barkers because otherwise the now stately mansion would have been leveled by developers for housing.

More photos from Larnach Castle

Lions guard the fron door of Larnach Castle

A pair of lions guard the front door of Larnach Castle

Guarding the entrance to Larnach Castle

I'm not sure I'd want to be greeted by these guys (one on each side of the front door) when I arrived home!

Staircase from second floor to first

The wood throughout Larnach Castle is beautiful.

Every door leads to something special

All of the doorways at Larnach Castle are amazing.

Larnach Castle ceiling

The ceiings at Larnach Castle are amazing.

Ming vase on the mantle

This vase sits on the mantle of one of the fireplaces.

Larnach Castle entryway

Welcome to Larnach Castle, where over-the-top is just the beginning.

Beautiful woodwork is everywhere

The castle, like other opulent older homes, has beautiful hardwoods throughout.

In the dressing room

The mistress of the house wanted this statue in her dressing room. It's a strange story!

Views from the top of Larnach Castle

The views from the roof of Larnach Castle are spectacular

Larnach Castle grounds

From the lawns to the shrubs and trees, the landscaping at the castle is immaculate.

No elevator for this top floor

On the way down from the roof of the castle, the stairs are steep and winding!

Larnach Castle looking majestic

It's hard to believe this castle was nearly leveled by developers.

Glass gazebo at Larnach Castle

This beautiful gazebo is just one of the many elegant garden features.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos, Uncategorized Tagged With: Friday Fotos, New Zealand

Friday Fotos – Waikiki lights from Ala Moana Park

May 10, 2019 By Terry Leave a Comment

Waikīkī at night
On our last night we walked over to Ala Moana Park, where the lights of Waikīkī were shining brightly.

For our last night in Waikiki, we decided to take a walk to Ala Moana Park from our condo and check out the Waikiki lights. To our surprise, the walk to Ala Moana Park and even Ala Moana Mall, was an easy one. The park is a vast green space on a peninsula that sports plenty of activities. We caught the outrigger canoe club coming in. Watching the crew members jump off the canoe into the water when it was time to take the canoe out of the water gave us a momentary chill, but then we remembered this was Waikiki and Hawai‘i where the water is about ten degrees warmer than in San Diego.

Even though it was dark, there were still plenty of people enjoying the evening. Even some of the tour busses come here to park for the night. They’re done for the day and the parking lot is gigantic, so there’s plenty of space to line them up. And then there were the Waikiki lights as a backdrop. All those skyscrapers lining the water create for a beautiful display of lights.

More photos from Honolulu

Ala Wai Harbor with sunset almost done.

As the sun sinks into the ocean, the views from shore become more and more colorful and, of course, spectacular.

Oahu sunset with the harbor in foreground

One evening, I became very industrious and started taking photos of the sunset. Mother Nature did a great job that night!

Sunrise looking back toward Waikīkī at Kahanamoku Beach

The sun was not yet over the horizon, but already there was activity down at Kahanamoku Beach.

Ala Wai Harbor with sunset past

Even after the sun goes down, Mother Nature's show continues with ever-changing colors.

Ariel rides the big bird at Bishop Museum!

Why shouldn't Ariel go for a ride? One of our lighter moments at Bishop Museum!

Waikiki sunrise

The sun rises behind the skyscrapers fronting the bay in Waikīkī

Getting ready for the morning surf

At Kahanamoku Beach, a surfer takes the long walk across the rocks shortly after first light.

Sunrise at Kahanamoku Lagoon

Only reflections happening this early in the morning at Kahanamoku Lagoon

Outrigger canoe along the shore of Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki

I couldn't resist the chance to get this shot. With the sun just up, the shadows were still long and the light just perfect!

Oahu sunset at the harbor

This is one of my favorite times of the day. When the sky is still blue, but the lights are coming on and there are a few stars twinkling.

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: Friday Fotos, Hawaii, travel

Friday Fotos – inside out at Heritage Gardens

December 14, 2018 By Terry Leave a Comment

While on our way to visit the Iao Valley on Maui, we stopped at Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Center. I’ve shown photos of this impressive park before, which is dedicated to ethnic groups who helped to settle and develop Maui. 

  • At the entrance to the Heritage Gardens is a river, which was swollen with runoff from the previous night’s rain…
  • Small bridge at Heritage Gardens
  • Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens
    Pond and bridge at Heritage Gardens
  • Heritage Park Iao Valley
    Everything is green and lush at Heritage Gardens
  • Small statuary in background at Heritage Gardens
  • Iao Valley
    Iao Valley – mountains and clouds playing peek-a-boo

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: Friday Fotos, Heritage Gardens, Maui photos

Friday Fotos – timeless beauty of a 2011 Kauai sunrise

November 30, 2018 By Terry Leave a Comment

A casual glance would never reveal that this 2011 Kauai sunrise wasn’t taken recently, with one exception. The creek that flows through this photo—at least the last time we visited—looked nothing like this. It had grown much wider and meandered more. Each storm brings changes to that little creek where it flows into the ocean, which is one of the wonderful things about nature—timeless beauty, but ever-changing.

More from the Hawaii archives

[grid content=”post” grid_title=”More from the Hawaii archives” number=”9″ categories=”52″ order_by=”rand” slider=”true”]

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: Friday Fotos, kauai tour

Friday Fotos – Kauai Coastline and its spectacular beauty

November 16, 2018 By Terry Leave a Comment

The Kauai coastline just north and west of Kapaa has a beauty all its own. This section is a beautiful place to walk or just hang out and watch the shore. This photo was taken in 2015 and I doubt it much has changed. There are enough rocks and the surf isn’t as good as on other parts of the island, so there are few surfers or swimmers. But from shore, this is a beautiful view.

More from the Hawaii archives

[grid content=”post” grid_title=”More from the Hawaii archives” number=”9″ categories=”52″ order_by=”rand” slider=”true”]

Filed Under: Friday Fotos Tagged With: Friday Fotos, Hawaii, Hawaii travel, kauai tour

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