A New Project

I have built this router table at nightschool, it should help me with my picture framing. I got the router for xmas and here it is bolted to the bottom of the table.

Pororari Valley

Before driving back to Chch, we had to go and visit the Pororari valley. This is a favourite spot for Tracy and I. We must have walked up and down it a dozen times.

This photo is my first attempt at combining HDR and panoramic photography. It's a bit artificial looking but I think it has a painterly quality to it.

Stained Glass

I liked this stained glass window in the Hilton. It is a very west coast scene. 

Lunch

We had a nice lunch in the Hilton, The venison sausages and mash were excellent. James was intrigued by the fire, he has never seen coal before. He took a lump to take to 'show and tell' at school. 

Mine Ruins

Just north of the town are the ruins of the old coal mines. 

Blackball Hilton

World famous in New Zealand! The Blackball Hilton was sued by the Hilton hotel people so changed its name to 'Formerly the Blackball Hilton'.

Blackball is an interesting place, visiting it is like travelling back in time about 50 years. It is an old mining town and the birth of the New Zealand Labour Party. 

Sunset

This was the first time James had seen the sun set behind the ocean. 

WIld Thing

James loves beaches. He would happily spend all day playing in sand. 

Hokitika Beach

I took James to the beach to have a run around and to show him the sunset.

Hokitika beach is a typical west coast beach, very wild (too rough to swim) and littered with driftwood. 

Dorothy Falls

I remember brining my Mum here on her first visit to New Zealand. She saw the name on the map and had to see it. 

Canoe Creek

The calm water made for great reflections.

Lake Kaniere

We had lunch on the shores of Lake Kaniere. The weather was fantastic. On the coast the weather is either glorious or torrential rain. It doesn't seem to do anything in between. 

River Styx

The west coast is a scenic wonderland. There are more forests, mountains, rivers, lakes and beaches than you could visit in a lifetime. It is great to be back. 

Hokitika Gorge

Hokitika gorge is a great place to visit. The river is a beautiful blue colour and there is a nice short bush walk to a swing bridge that crosses the gorge. 

Kahikatea Trees

We are having a holiday on the west coast with Tracy's folks, staying in Hokitika. Before James was born Tracy and I would visit the coast several times a year but this is our first visit in a while. It is great to be back.

Birthday Cake

James is really into Thunderbirds now so Tracy made him a really cool cake for his 4th birthday.

Early Evening Mist

Skiing is fun but the best part for me is spending a whole day on the mountain top. The views here are really special. You can see Lake Coleridge and Mt Cook.

As evening approached, a mist started to fill the valleys. I really did not want to leave. 

Easy Way Down

Skiing along the ridge at the top was great. The slope is gentle so there was plenty of time to check out the views as I glided along.

Avoca Valley from Porter Heights

The weather was great and the view from the top was superb. I could see right down into the Avoca Valley which is one of my favourite places and somewhere we have had many great holidays. The hut we stay at is located at the bottom of the conical hill in the centre of the picture. 

Work Trip

Today I went skiing at Porter Heights with some of my workmates from Tait Electronics. 

Home

After a week away it was good to be coming home. This is the view of the Southern Alps from the plane as I travelled back to Chch. 

Lunch with Mum

I am spending a week in the UK with my Mum. Sarah and I took her for lunch today. We went to a Beefeater and I had gammon steak with fried eggs, chips and pineapple rings. Retro and delicious. 

Kea

At Death's Corner I got this photo of a couple of young kea. 

View from the lookout.

The last time we were here, it was pouring with rain and James was just a baby sleeping in my backpack. 

Devil's Punchbowl

Today we had a drive out to the mountains and did the short walk to the Devil's Punchbowl waterfall. James is old enough to walk a few kms now and he seems to enjoy it.