A Northland Miscellany

Pauline's and my Northland safari seems an age ago but I still have a few pics I would like to share with you before I set off for my other life in the Northern Hemisphere.

 I think this might have been a major 'oops' moment.

 The beautiful Whangaroa Harbour at Totara North

 I just love old sheds (okay this is a bit bigger than your average shed)

 Sailing out of Whangaroa Harbour

 Old boatshed at Whangaroa Harbour

Continuing the 'shed' theme: old boathouse in the mangroves of the Whangaroa Harbour

 This 'old shed' is, if I remember Pauline correctly, an old smithy and is now a conference facility down at the Kerikeri Harbour

The Kerikeri River, at the Wharepuke Falls tumbles over basalt lava fields, which flowed into the river valley following volcanic eruptions some 200 million years ago.  The pool is a popular diving and swimming place.

Being a Tourist in Sydney: Day 3 (Part 1)

Looking back I do wonder how we managed to get so much done in the time available.

We started with a walk to take photos of Coogie Beach just down from Fiona's apartment.

Then we drove South to Marouba Beach where there was more body boarding although the surf was a bit tame for surfing that morning

On to Bare Island, Fort Kamay, Botany Bay 

The CBD skyline from The Domain but this time in the sun!

Just to prove that I was there!

The MS Queen Victoria berthed behind the Opera House making both look immense (or small?)

The Wooloomooloo Wharf where Russel Crowe has his penthouse

St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral.  No photography is allowed inside and I simply cannot recall a single thing about it.

The gift of J F Archibald and erected in 1932 this is a memorial to those lost in the 1914-18 War

Being a Tourist in Sydney: Day 2 (Part 3)

Fiona's idea was that we would see the sunset from the Manly Ferry.  From a gloomy start the day had cleared up and we set sail on the ferry to Manly from the central wharf in downtown Sydney (see the map on my first post). 

Waiting to leave I photographed the amusement park on the other side of the harbour under the Bridge

and a rather splendid block of apartments.

The second Manly Ferry coming in as we were leaving

Leaving the wharf with the CBD as a backdrop

A view of The Opera House that is rarely shown.

Out for a quiet sail

The Rhinos get everywhere.  This one is called 'Fragile'.  Hmmm.

Manly Beach on a quiet late afternoon.

and looking the other way.

The sun went down in a blaze of ordinariness

Watching the sun set from the top of the Harbour Bridge

Returning to port.

Lifeblood

A week or so ago I was at Ahuriri (part of Napier down on the waterfront) and watched the container ships coming from and going to the harbour. A lot of New Zealand's goods are moved this way and, of course, imports and exports have to come this way - there's no trans-Tasman tunnel!

Waiting to turn into the port channel

Waiting for the outgoing vessel to clear the channel and release the pilot

Pilot cutter leaving vessel with sport fishing boat entering small boat harbour

Pilot cutters/tugs busying themselves

Entering port

Unloading began within 10 minutes of docking

Also in port was this cruise ship - part of New Zealand's huge tourism business