… from a Small City

… from a Small City

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Aotearoa, Beyond The Eastern Steeps, Hakataramea Valley, Waimate District

Be Not The Answer Nor The Question

February 22, 2024 John Caswell 1 Comment

Be not the answer nor the question.Water silhouette at dawn.

The wondrous joy of water silhouettes in the Hakataramea Valley near the foot of the Kirkliston Range.

Aotearoa, Hakataramea Valley, Travel, Waimate District

Dawn On Homestead Road

December 5, 2023 John Caswell 1 Comment

Homestead Road – Buy 

The Hakataramea Valley is a glorious spot to be in the mornings. There’s a deafening silence that seems to echo throughout the valley as the light appears over the Campbell Hills and brings a new day to the surrounding Kirkliston Range and the Hunter Hills.

Aotearoa, Hakataramea Valley, Travel, Waimate District

The Haka Valley

May 10, 2023 John Caswell 1 Comment

The Haka Valley – Buy 

The morning was unbelievably cold. That was until the first sign of sun appeared over the Campbell Hills in the Hakataramea Valley. Tucked away in the Waimate District, the Hakataramea Valley sits between the Kirkliston Range and the Hunter Hills in the South Island of New Zealand.

Aotearoa, Hakataramea Valley, Travel, Waimate District

Light On The Kirkliston Range

April 3, 2023 John Caswell 2 Comments

Light on the Kirkliston Range – Buy 

Tucked away in the Waimate District is the Hakataramea Valley which sits at the foot of the Kirkliston Range. If you like hiking and adventuring into the wilderness there is a walk up to Pearson Hut. A basic four-bunk hut, getting to Pearsons Hut requires a nearly 3 hour, 6 kilometer walk up to an elevation of 1176m.

About: John Caswell

"… from a Small City" is a personal blog authored by John Caswell, based in Dunedin (Ōtepoti), New Zealand. The blog features daily musings, photographs, and creative expressions, aiming to inspire readers by capturing the essence of life in and around Dunedin. John shares his experiences exploring local landmarks, cityscapes, and natural surroundings, often highlighting the unique charm of small-city living. The content ranges from reflections on historical sites and urban developments to personal anecdotes and travel adventures. Through his engaging narratives and visuals, John invites readers to embrace the creativity and beauty found in everyday moments.

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… from a Small City. My daily musings from Ōtepoti to get you inspired. Read the blog, view the photos, embrace the creativity.

… from a Small City. Photographing and writing about cities, towns, forgotten points of interest and the curiosities of my island home.


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John Caswell

fromasmallcity

The White House, aka The Dandie Dinmont, aka The W The White House, aka The Dandie Dinmont, aka The Waverly House, aka 166 Portobello Road. 

#williamlarnach #whitehouse #otagoharbour #dunedin #dunnerstunner #newzealand 
#autumncolours #reflections #still #heritage
An early morning trek on the Otago Peninsula to ca An early morning trek on the Otago Peninsula to capture the sunrise on a stunning autumn day in May. 

#fromasmallcity #johncaswellnz #newzealand #DunedinNZ #dunnerstunner #otagopeninsula #autumnsunrise #autumnvibes  #sunrise #getoutside #morningmood #canon #canonphotography #discovernz #nzguide #kiwipics #purenewzealand
Dunedin's iconic First Church on a stunning autumn Dunedin's iconic First Church on a stunning autumn morning. 

#fromasmallcity #dunnerstunner #dunedinnz #dunners #building #architecture #nzarchitecture #heritage #heritagenz #firstchurch #sunrise #cityscape #firstchurchdunedin #morningmotivation
Dunners on a stunning autumn evening. #dunnerstu Dunners on a stunning autumn evening. 

#dunnerstunner #dunners #dunedinnz #autumn #autumnvibes #citylights #fromasmallcity #johncaswellnz
The other month I went for a wander and explore at The other month I went for a wander and explore at the Harington Point gun emplacements on Otago Peninsula. The site was first constructed in response to the threat of a Russian invasion in 1885 following Anglo–Russian tensions in Afghanistan. Anyway, while I was there, after scrambling up and down banks and pushing through gorse, I found one of the buildings that leads to a stairwell. From that point, it accesses other parts of the complex including subterranean communications tunnels, bunkers, observation points and a magazine and engine room.

#fromasmallcity #dunnerstunner #dunedinnz #dunners #building #architecture #nzarchitecture #harringtonpointmilitarycomplex #heritage #heritagenz #haringtonpointgunbattery #blacknwhiteart #blacknwhitephotography📷
If we’re being precise, this location isn’t ac If we’re being precise, this location isn’t actually Ross Creek Reservior. It’s just across the road near the northern entrance on Booth, Tanner and Wakari Roads. It does have a name, but I simply can’t remember it. The only things my notes say for this shot/day are ‘rocks are slippery when wet’ and ‘remember tripod next time.’ Clearly it was a day when I was thinking with great clarity and deep insight at my contemplative, psychological best.

#rosscreek #rosscreekreservoir #dunedinnz #dunnerstunner #bushwalk #forestwalk #greatwalks #beautifulplaces #beautifulwalks #fromasmallcity #johncaswellnz
I ended up spending a delightful afternoon wading I ended up spending a delightful afternoon wading in rock pools at Blackhead Beach, just south of Dunedin. It was one of those warm, still, late summer days that reminded me with autumn on the horizon, days like this will be less and less common. So it was, I spent a few hours stumbling over stones and sploshing through rock pools as seaweed gently drifted on the tide. I have to admit, there’s something delightfully delicious about wading through rock pools in your bare feet on a warm afternoon.

#fromasmallcity #dunnerstunner #dunedinnz #dunners #beach #beachlife #blackheadbeach #natrualcolours #gooutdoors #exploreeverything
The interplay between the natural beauty of the ea The interplay between the natural beauty of the earth and human creations can be quiet wonderful at times. Once the sun rises, shapes will shift and change as the light alters and moves throughout the day becoming something completey different. It's really rather splendid to see. 

#dunnerstunner #dunedinnz #sunrisephotography #morningmotivation #fromasmallcity #johncaswellnz #light #shapesandforms #lighttransforms #LightLanguages #MomentsBetweenWorlds #expressionsinlight
If George Alexander Troup could see the elegant an If George Alexander Troup could see the elegant and grand Railway Station he designed, he would be very impressed. He would be even more astounded to see it lit-up at night. But, most of all, he would be even more stunned to be here at all since he died in 1941. When a new Railway Station building was needed for Dunedin, a competition was held to design the new building, and to the astonishment of presumably everyone except Troup himself, he won.

The station he designed is a grand affair, with a central entrance hall bookended by long, dignified wings. It was built from Kokanga basalt perched atop a base of Port Chalmers basalt, with Oamaru stone flourishes to keep things interesting. The basalt came from a quarry in Central Otago that was opened specifically for the project, because if you’re going to build something of this scale, you might as well not just be functional but suitably dramatic, as maybe all good railway stations should be.

#fromasmallcity #dunnerstunner #dunedinnz #dunners #dunedinrailwaystation #nightmoves #building #architecture #nzarchitecture #urban #urbanphotography #nightscape  #city #cityscape #heritage #heritagenz
Here in this part of the world it’s that lovely Here in this part of the world it’s that lovely time of year when all the colours of trees start to change. The sun is now a fraction lower in the sky, the mornings and evenings are becoming a tad colder with a definite autumnal feel to the start of each day. Around the city, the autumn colour palette of warm yellow undertones mixed with oranges, reds, ochre and olive colours is starting to appear. Before long the inner city will be covered in leaves.

#fromasmallcity #johncaswellnz #autumn #nature #autumnvibes #naturephotography #landscape #autumncolors #travel #beautiful #leaves #naturelovers #autumnleaves #dunedinnz #dunnerstunner 
#autumnvibes #autumnmood
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