My spouse and I sought to flee winter climate this 12 months by heading south—to the Southern Hemisphere actually. Conveniently, our daughter lives in Wellington, New Zealand. So we flew cross-country after which cross-Pacific to reside from mid-January to mid-March in Center Earth.
We’ve been to New Zealand many occasions previously, however this was our first go to in 4 years, due to the pandemic (mockingly, we escaped Covid the entire time there however got here down with another type of virus upon our return!). This time, somewhat than travelling all around the nation, we determined to remain in only a few locations. The map will present some orientation. Half I takes up our keep on the South Island, from Christchurch to Golden Bay (west of Nelson). Half II will concentrate on the North Island, from Wellington to New Plymouth.
As a consequence of a relative lack of air pollution, the sunshine in New Zealand is powerful, even stark at noon, particularly in the summertime. Twilight affords softer, extra slanting gentle, though the sunrises and sunsets are vivid, precisely suiting my photographic tastes. Nonetheless, there are cloudy days the place the sunshine is extra subtle, and that’s once I appreciated taking pictures of the wondrous vegetation. The native bush is kind of totally different from the Appalachian forest at dwelling, perhaps not as various however equally attention-grabbing—particularly for those who like ferns! We did spend a while in Christchurch and Wellington, however most photos are from walks alongside the seashores and within the woods.
After our arrival in Wellington, we spent a stunning week within the suburb of Breaker Bay, to which we’ll return in Half II. Then we flew right down to Christchurch on the South Island.
Christchurch suffered a devastating earthquake in February 2011 (we have been truly within the nation in the course of the quake, although far-off in Wanaka; our daughter miraculously escaped hurt within the ravaged central enterprise district). Horizontal and vertical shaking coupled with soil liquefaction on an alluvial plain have been not possible to withstand, notably by previous masonry buildings. The harm “will be the biggest ever recorded anyplace in a contemporary metropolis” [New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 4 March 2011]. Some 185 folks died, most of them within the Canterbury Tv Constructing. Rebuilding has been intensive, but it surely’s removed from full, and reminders of the devastation persist beside new building.
New buildings have significantly better bracing, in hopes of using out the following shake (not if however when it happens, as main faults run by way of Christchurch up by way of Wellington).
We additionally visited the stunning Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
And we took a day journey up into the Southern Alps. We visited the rock formations referred to as Fortress Hill or Kura Tawhiti, then glimpsed the mighty Waimakariri River.
From Christchurch we took the practice up the east coast, with a short cease to view the Kaikoura Mountains.
Within the small port metropolis of Picton we met our daughter, arriving on the Cook dinner Strait ferry along with her automotive.
We then drove over to Golden Bay (so named not for precise gold however for golden sand seashores). To get there it’s a must to climb up and over Takaka Hill (793 metres) on a really winding highway that deters some. I’ve a t-shirt that reads: “It’s only a hill; recover from it.” And so we did.
After reaching Takaka, and studying pronounce it, we proceeded about 9 miles east to Ligar Bay (rhymes with “tiger”). Ligar Bay is small, protected and comparatively undeveloped. We spent two and half wonderful weeks there, basking within the gentle, strolling the seashore simply throughout the highway, and having fun with a household of California quail in our entrance yard. It was in some ways the excessive level of our vacation.
Listed below are a few doctored photos of Ligar Seaside at sundown, actually consecutive pictures with totally different sky swaps. Some might cringe, however I encourage them to start out a dialog about the usage of AI in pictures.
Did I point out ferns? Listed below are just a few (okay, a double-few) amongst many:
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