Ross Creek Waterfall

Ross Creek Waterfall

Daily Photo

Ross Creek Waterfall Buy 

It feels a long time since I spent time going walkabout in the bush. I’m not sure why that is. Having no real photographic home, or location to stick to, I think at some point I simply arrived in town and started wandering the city streets from place to place and never stopped. So, the other day, feeling the need for a change in surroundings I headed into the bush.

The Arts Centre in Christchurch

The Arts Centre in Christchurch – Buy

These days a section of Hereford Street, Worcester Boulevard and Rolleston Avenue in Christchurch is known as the The Arts Centre. However, back in 1877 when the first building was opened it was known as Canterbury University College. After that, more buildings were added for both Christchurch Boys and Christchurch Girls High Schools until the campus grew so large that the high schools moved and the University took over the entire site. By the 1950’s, the University had grown so large that the University started to make plans to move to a large site. The first shift happened in 1957 when the Fine Arts department relocated. The Engineering department followed in 1959 and by 1975 the entire University had relocated. 

In 1978 the Arts Centre of Christchurch took over the ownership of the site which includes 22 buildings constructed in the Gothic Revival style.

KiriKiri Bay (Useless Bay)

Kirikiri Bay, Cape Palliser – Buy 

Sometime around the year 1827, French Explorer Dumont d’Urville named this location ‘Useless Bay.’ On account of the fact that at the time he was unable to go shore due to heavy seas. To some degree he was correct, as there is a long list of shipwrecks and stories of boats sinking after striking rocks along the rugged and dangerous coastline. These days, it’s better known as Kirikiri Bay and is right next to the Cape Palliser Lighthouse.

Watching The Immortal Beach

Watching The Immortal Beach – Buy 

Well, it’s fair to say that on this occasion I hadn’t really been staying in one spot for very long until the sun dropped below the horizon. Not being able to settle in one spot, the scene of a low skyline with the silhouette of the hills in the distance formed in front of me. It was then that I found a place to stop for a moment.

Carnegie Courtyard

Carnegie Courtyard – Buy 

I was going for an aimless stroll, drifting from place to place in central Dunedin with no real purpose when I came across the Carnegie Centre on Moray Place. Noticing a door was open, I wandered inside for a look before spotting an arrow on the floor pointing down the stairs that seemed to be made of masking tape. Taking it as a beacon of light that needed to be followed, I headed down the stairs before finding my way into a sunlit courtyard. Not knowing if I was now officially trespassing or not, I decided it was probably best that I retraced my steps and beg forgiveness if questioned.

Invercargill City Tramways, Tram No. 15

Invercargill Tramways No 15 – Buy 

These days Tram No 15 spends its day rattling around Christchurch City carrying passengers around the CBD. However, it started life 14,526 kilometres away in the sheds of Philadelphia in 1921. Designed in the USA in 1915, once constructed, thousands of these trams were exported all over the world including nine that were imported into New Zealand. Of those nine, six went to Invercargill and three headed for New Plymouth. Commencing operations on the streets of Invercargill on 20 December 1921, it stayed in service for more than 30 years until 31 May 1952. Sold off to private buyers, Tram No 15 stayed in the wilderness until 2009 when Christchurch City Council went in search of Trams for the tramway extension fleet. Lovingly restored, Invercargill Tramways Tram No 15 now spends its days carrying visitors around Christchurch as they hop-on and off seeing the central city sights.

The Port Hills

The Port Hills – Buy 

Somewhere on the way over the Port Hills, heading towards Lyttelton I stopped. Well, actually I stopped many times so it’s hard to recall the exact place. However, on the way the mist and clouds that were covering the Port Hills were constantly changing and shifting quite quickly so everytime I stopped it looked a little different. On this occasion it reminded me of a scene you see in the Scottish Highlands.

Return To Martinbourgh

The former Martinbourgh Post Office & Store – Buy 

I thought I’d quickly detour back to Martinbourgh to follow up on a post I did the other day about  the Martinborough Hotel. Well, literally just across the road on the corner of Kitchener Street and Memorial Square is the former Post Office and Store. To this day it remains another fine example of the building and architecture from the pre-1900 era. 

 


The streets of Martinbourgh
Wanting to pay tribute to the city of London, all the streets leading out from the main square were planned and built in the form of a Union Flag.

The Martinborough Hotel

The Martinborough Hotel – Buy 

If you’re going to name a town, why not name it after yourself! That’s exactly what Irish settler John Martin did in 1879. After arriving in the South Wairarapa District from Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand, John Martin purchased a large sheep station with plans to develop a town in the area. Wanting to pay tribute to the city of London, all the streets leading out from the main square were planned and built in the form of a Union Flag. In 1882, three years after John Martin first purchased the land where Martinbourgh would be developed, on the corner of the town square the grand Martinborough Hotel was built. At the time, so impressive was the Martinborough Hotel, the proprietor boasted that it was ‘the finest hostelries ever erected in any inland town in New Zealand’.

Of Light & Lines

Of Light and Lines – Buy 

Eventually I made my way to a nearby car parking building.  Which, I must admit, are really interesting places if you’re looking for some creative inspiration or mental stimulation. They provide all sorts of views across the tops of buildings, from all kinds of angles. You can also find some fun textures and lines if that’s what you’re looking for.   

The Wanderer

Escalator in centre Dunedin Buy 

I went wandering through centre Dunedin not looking for anything in particular. While I was in the process of looking for some mental stimulation I came across an escalator close to the central Library. I spent the next few minutes riding it in both directions trying to decide where to go next when the escalator itself became of interest.

Dunedin’s St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral in central Dunedin – Buy 

I called in to St Paul’s Cathedral in central Dunedin for a bit of a look around and a little creative inspiration. It so happened that the next day they were holding a concert in the Cathedral and while I was there they were holding an open practice. One lady who was playing the piano was very good while the man that followed her seemed to need a little more practice. Having said that, if you consider the fact that I can’t play the piano at all, they were both actually very delightful to listen to.   

Hey DJ

A DJ playing a set at Forsyth Barr Stadium Buy 

Yesterday I spent just on 7 hours at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. I was covering the WXV 1 matches that were being played in Dunedin this weekend as part of the women’s international rugby calendar. On Friday night, England beat Canada 45 to 12 while on Saturday afternoon New Zealand scored a 70 to 7 win over Wales before the weekend finished with Australia winning 29 – 20 over France. On Saturday, they had all sorts of  entertainment playing both before, during and after the matches including this DJ who played an extended set before each match. It was kinda cool as it was something different from the usual Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond or Welcome To The Jungle by Guns and Roses which tend to get over played a bit.

The Marlborough Sounds & Bluebridge

The Marlborough Sounds and Bluebridge – Buy 

The peace and tranquillity of the Marlborough Sounds. It’s home to over 200 species of fish and three different types of sea mammals. It has several predator free islands to protect endangered species like the kakapo, tuatara, and giant weta and since 1962 it has been the main route for inter-island ferries travelling between Picton and Wellington.

It’s Okay To Yodel

The Hooker Valley – Buy 

I remember reading once that in Greek mythology there was a belief that snow was caused by Zeus who brought it to mankind by means of his arrows. His arrows were believed to be responsible for weather phenomena like snowfall. 

Some of the more interesting facts about snow include; snow is not white, there must be pollen or dust in the air to form snow, no two snowflakes are exactly alike, it takes about 1 hour for a snowflake to reach the ground and my favourite, yodelling won’t cause an avalanche. It turns out that there are a number of factors that can trigger an avalanche, but noise isn’t one of them. For an avalanche to happen, a shift in weight or pressure is needed such as a blizzard, high winds, earth vibrations, a change in temperature or even human activity. But, noise won’t create an avalanche, even yodelling. Yodelling was first used by shepherds to call their stock and to communicate between Alpine villages in the Alps in Central Europe. It then became popular in the 1830s as entertainment in theatres and music halls and extended to places such as America, Romania, Bulgaria, Africa, Hawaii, Madagascar and the Solomon Islands however there has never been an avalanche created by yodelling.

So, if you’re ever high in the Alps surrounded by heavy snow, rest assured that a loud burst of terrible singing won’t bring a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.

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