Mangonui Fish and Chip Shop

This place is one of my favourite Northland scenes. The Mangonui Fish Shop has won awards over the years for making the best fish and chips in NZ. Located overlooking the Mangonui harbour on the way to Cable Bay then Pahia this place certainly has a peaceful atmosphere - and with scenery like this who wouldn't want to enjoy a nice quiet lunch there.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Braemar Water Springs

First time I've ever been to this spot, thanks to the other half introducing me - known as Te Waiu o Pukemaire or Braemar Water Springs. What a unique place! Unfortunately I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I'm not racist towards anyone else at all, I like people from all walks of life and ethnicity but during the brief time we were there I felt nothing but animosity and judgment.

Sadly it seemed like we were the only European looking people there and when we were walking towards the area people were looking at us and talking about the white people. I'm not sure if any of you know but about a year ago I took a DNA test through ancestry.com - my results came back as extremely mixed from British, Scottish, Irish, Spanish/Portuguese, Scandavian, Filipino, Iraqi, Syrian, Russian, Armenian, Greek/Italian, Pacific Island and Polish - I am anything but plain old white European and it saddens me that people judge others based on how they look.

Needless to say we quickly left after a few minutes...

Clear water at Lake Okataina

Road trip today and once of the spots we stopped at was lovely peaceful Lake Okataina which is the largest of 4 lakes between Lake Tarawera and Lake Rotorua. This lake has native bush all around it and there are signs up saying no overnight camping, there were only a small handful of people while we were there. Scorching hot day so we paddled our feet in the shallows.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Karapiro Power Station

This is the Karapiro Power Station just out of Hamilton, the Waikato River has 8 other hydroelectric power stations - this one is the last of them. Construction started in 1940, the building certainly looks vintage, and was completed in 1947.

It's purpose is to maintain the flow of water in the lower part of the river during catchment and low electricity demand. To keep the river flow and a reasonable level only 2 turbines are needed - the third is used for peak generation and maintenance on one of the others. Mercury Energy operates all the hydro electric power stations on the Waikato River.

On this day we visited this place it had been raining on and off all morning, the stormy skies reflected in the background show how temperamental the weather has been.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)

Shadows and light at Mount Maunganui beach

We haven't been out for a decent beach walk in quite some time... we've either been on road trips out of town or we've been sick with the flu so on Sunday we thought it time to venture out especially since it was such a lovely warm Autumn day. Lots of sun and warmth and much to our surprise people surfing and swimming in the waves.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Kaiate Falls - a very magical place

With Easter been and gone last weekend we decided to go on a short roadtrip for something to do so we drove about 30 minutes out of town to a very scenic pretty place named Kaiate Falls. Also known as Te Rerekawau Falls this place was worth the effort and exercise. Once we were there we walked down a series of steps past small waterfalls and streams until eventually we were at the bottom at the largest one. Quite a few other people had the same idea as us and it was good to see small children enjoying the scenery too.

The early days of Autumn are here now so I expect to see colours changing alot more but for now I hope you enjoy these ones. For more Skywatch Fridays click here :-)

Tauranga Memorial Park - Such a stunning Autumn day

On my recent travels to Tauranga I stopped in my car to the Tauranga Memorial Park - absolutely stunning scenery. In this shot the tide was out and there was a group of bikers to the right who were relaxing and chatting to each other.

Because Autumn is still quite warm here in NZ during the day people still get out and about. This little boy was having fun with the fountain.

Think these were tourists and as you can see they were enjoying the scenery too. What an awesome view of the harbour! The park also has a skatepark, free barbeques you can use, a Memorial Cenotaph, pools and a hall.

For more our world Tuesdays click here :-)

Reflections over Whakapirau Beach

A couple of days ago a good friend and I took a road trip around the Kaipara district along back roads looking for an old abandoned cemetery. On our travels we stopped at one of our favourite beachs: Whakapirau which is a very quiet area at this time of year. Summer people come here and swim and over Autumn/Winter it completely quitens down. In the distance of this photo you can see a building and a wharf - that's the old dairy factory which has closed down now and along the shore were a flock of oyster catchers waiting for the tide to go out so they could pick at shellfish and sprats.

Being here, just sitting, pondering, looking out on the stunning coastline makes me happy. For more weekend reflections click here :-)

Winter reflections over Point Wells estuary

A pretty one I took last Winter while out on another road trip through Omaha and Warkworth. This is Point Wells - with a small jetty and some boats moored in the low tide. Hope you like it.

For more weekend reflections click here :-)

Thoughts of summer - Sullivan's Bay

wow this place is stunning! This is Sullivan's bay in the Mahurangi Region of Auckland. When it is summer here in NZ the teens and I like to visit different beaches especially the ones that have floating pontoons out on the water - that way they get to swim out from the shore through the waves.

I remember the first time we visited this place was about 4 years ago while we were out driving. We stopped in at a local takeaways and bought wedges and ice cream then enjoyed them once we got out there. Such a lovely scenic view of the whole peninsula. Roll on summer - that way we can spend a day here again!

Winter is here but there's still plenty of colour!

Another storm swept through here over the weekend swamping already soggy regions around Northland. Seems we got a respite Sunday morning because I was able to get out for a walk to the surf beach. On the way it was nice to see some colour in the form of this pink heather in someone's garden.

This one is Mangawhai estuary viewed from Wintle Street - stormy skies still but the water looking much calmer than it probably had been the night before. Think we definitely need some sun to dry out the land here.

Orewa beach - stunning on a sunny winter's day

While on the way back home today from an orthodontist appointment I stopped in sunny Orewa beach for a quick walk. Couldn't resist - stunning scenery!

Thoughts of Kaipara's Whakapirau beach - time to get back!

My daughter and I visited the lovely Whakapirau beach on the Kaipara coast earlier this year. It's one of those places that is situated in a quiet scenic area with not many people around. It's family friendly and absolutely beautiful! We're planning another trip out there when it warms up here.

Orange reflections from the hills of Tawharanui

I can't resist sharing this shot I captured last year while walking around Campbell's Beach in the Tawharanui area. This was taken in the late afternoon/early evening just when the sun was starting to set over the hills and reflecting over the sand when the tide was out.

The beauty of Sandspit, north of Auckland

Yesterday I managed a quick visit to the lovely Sandspit which is about 10 mins drive out of Warkworth, north of Auckland. It's so quiet & peaceful here, not many houses around the area but there is a yacht club and a wharf where the boat leaves for Kawau island.

This image of boats moored in the estuary just gives it more of a perfect holiday destination especially on this sunny, warm winter's day.

Scallop Shells close up at Te Arai Beach

On a recent visit to our own Te Arai Beach I spent some time photographing some of the shells on the shore. I just love the patterns & grooves each one has that make them so individual to each other.

Wind surfers at Mangawhai Estuary on Waitangi Day

One of my stormy day shots from back in February - think this was on Waitangi Day. A huge gathering of kite surfers, wind surfers and other sports people were enjoying themselves on the Mangawhai estuary down by the Lincoln Street reserve. Was hard to pin this one down though because of the fast speed it was going.

This is the best of where I live!

one of my best shots from Te Arai beach - about 10 mins from where I live in Mangawhai Heads.

A special afternoon at Te Arai Surf Beach

Te Arai Surf beach is about 15 mins drive from where we live at Mangawhai Heads. Not only does it have a beach but also has a small lagoon around the corner from the rocks. Waves splashing up & tons of shells covering the sand makes it a lovely unique place to relax.

Beautiful views of Sullivan's Bay

Last weekend on the way to a bestie's 50th birthday party I visited with my camera one of my favourite places. Sullivan's Bay is located in the Rodney District of North Auckland. Very very pretty calm beach, great for families with a camping area near by. Love it.