 4 Days of March in the South Island, Part I: New Zealand Photography: Photos 63 to 81 |
AfricaAntarcticaAsiaCentral America CaribbeanEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaOceaniaSouth AmericaOceans and Seas
4 Days of March in the South Island, Part I: New Zealand Photography: Photos 63 to 81
Oceania » New Zealand » South Island
March 6th 2006 by Stephen Paul
Day 1- Wellington to Picton over the Ferry. Drive to St. Arnaud
Day 2- Alpine Hiking in Nelson Lakes National Park
Day 3- River Rafting the Buller River, Maruia Hot Springs
Day 4- Driving West Coast from Pancake Rocks to Fox Glacier
Day 1- Wellington felt strikingly like San Francisco. If I knew nothing about its long history of earthquakes, maritime climate or its lively arts scene- I would still feel the same way. The people I saw were either young professionals or students. Everyone was trendy and lots of people were on the streets, giving the feeling of being downtown in NYC or SF. The skyscrapers of Central Wellington are crammed in between steep hills and the ocean. The surrounding geography lends itself to this layout as well, causing Wellington to have the highest property prices in the country. As the areas suitable for house building are harder to come by and farther away from the city center, traffic congests freeways and the property prices skyrocket- compounding the traffic problems further as more commuters settle in cheaper areas to raise their families. I approached Wellington from the North, and passed through many of these suburbs. It had a
Full Text Entry: 4 Days of March in the South Island, Part I: New Zealand Photography
7 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
Add Comment
All Comments
May 17th 2006 - Janet Villadsen: Amazing
I am so impressed with your pictures, travel descriptions, and the way you made it feel like I was there. You are very talented, Stephen. I wish I could travel with you sometime.
May 17th 2006 - Todd Davis: Spot On
Janet is right, Stephen you do have a real gift. Your photography tells me you have the eye. Your narative is inviting as well. I feel like I'm there or at least want to go. Many thanks.
Thank you both so much for your kind words. I look forward to posting, and travelling, more!
December 3rd 2007 - Ed:
As a homesick Kiwi living in California for the last 21 years, your travelogue Steven made feel strongly connected to New Zealand again. The photography is beautiful and you have captured that amazing New Zealand light, thanks Ed in Alameda, California.
I wish I was a homesick Californian living in the South island! Thank you so much, compliments like yours are the best I could ever hope to receive...
August 4th 2008 - leigh: Hi from Blenheim
Hi there Steven, came across your blog while looking up an image of Beech. I am blessed to live in Blenheim (the boring place! lol). I'm a Kiwi, New to the South, and love the Place's you describe, the majistic sky at the lake I was lucky to experience, I have never seen so many stars, I am off there again soon to tramp and can't wait.
The more I reflect, the more I realize I would like nothing more than to settle down in Blenheim! One of the top 3 places with the most sunshine, less than an hours drive to the ocean and the alpine mountains, good wine... :) Boring? Perhaps. A fantastic place to live? YES!
All Comments
Karst
Limestone Areas are known as karst, and the abundance here gives this region its unique character. Hundreds of caves are nearby, and the amber colored rivers cut steep channels into the layered and a... [more]
Tree Ferns and Nikau Palms
The soil's limestone chemistry allows tree ferns and native New Zealand Palms to thrive.
Sea Stack and Seaweed
New Zealand's coastal waters contain Kelp, an algae unique to very spcific mid-latitude locations: West Coasts of North and South America, South Africa and Tasmania.
Pancake Rocks
The easily carved limestone cliffs create this fantastic area, even more impressive for me was seeing Bushline in the distance this close to such dramatic seascapes!
First Glacial River
2 hours later along the coast you reach the World Heritage uniqueness of New Zealand, where glaciers come straight down from the mountains 2 miles from the sea.
My Hotel
My 5 hour advance reservations was hit or miss. Always going with second and third options, this "Mt. Cook View" hotel was 3x what I wanted to pay but nearly the only vacancy left in the village. Af... [more]
People?!?
The only other people on the 10 mile stretch of beach at sunset, a stretch that was the only beach access for 50 miles.
7 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
May 17th 2006 - Janet Villadsen: Amazing
I am so impressed with your pictures, travel descriptions, and the way you made it feel like I was there. You are very talented, Stephen. I wish I could travel with you sometime.
May 17th 2006 - Todd Davis: Spot On
Janet is right, Stephen you do have a real gift. Your photography tells me you have the eye. Your narative is inviting as well. I feel like I'm there or at least want to go. Many thanks.
Thank you both so much for your kind words. I look forward to posting, and travelling, more!
December 3rd 2007 - Ed:
As a homesick Kiwi living in California for the last 21 years, your travelogue Steven made feel strongly connected to New Zealand again. The photography is beautiful and you have captured that amazing New Zealand light, thanks Ed in Alameda, California.
I wish I was a homesick Californian living in the South island! Thank you so much, compliments like yours are the best I could ever hope to receive...
August 4th 2008 - leigh: Hi from Blenheim
Hi there Steven, came across your blog while looking up an image of Beech. I am blessed to live in Blenheim (the boring place! lol). I'm a Kiwi, New to the South, and love the Place's you describe, the majistic sky at the lake I was lucky to experience, I have never seen so many stars, I am off there again soon to tramp and can't wait.
The more I reflect, the more I realize I would like nothing more than to settle down in Blenheim! One of the top 3 places with the most sunshine, less than an hours drive to the ocean and the alpine mountains, good wine... :) Boring? Perhaps. A fantastic place to live? YES!
All Comments
Copyright notice.
The text and photos of this article remain the copyright of the Author (o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o). Under no circumstances should the photos or text be used without the express written permission of the Author (o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o). If you wish to use or publish photos or text from this article - please
Contact o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o.