FRIENDS, FAMILY & SEEING MORE SIGHTS

It all began with a trip to Kaitaia for my mates 65th.

"Narnia" brunch with Nana & Nanny, Whangarei.

Cuda the Kindergarten Kid.

Nova, it's a good life in the playpen.

Movan friends, Auckland.

Whale watching, Kaikoura.

Crayfish sandwich lunch, Kaikoura.

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Steam train from Feilding on South Island excursion, Kaikoura.

Anzac Day dawn, Gore Bay.

The Johns of Christchurch, our old Kaitaia neighbours.

Akaroa

Mosquito Bomber Pilot, Air Force Museum, Christchurch.

Otter, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Christchurch.

The biggest jersey in the world, Geraldine

TOWA DOES DANSEYS

"Towa" (3 cylinder, 850cc, 4 speed manual, 2wd) in front of the Danseys Pass Pub after ascending the 791 metre pass.

Despite what we had been told the road was not that bad and now know that I could have driven the "Truck" through it if I had felt inclined.

We made a slight detour to the Elephant Rocks, absolutely amazing and date back 30 million years where fossiled bones of sea creatures have been found in the surrounding area.

Big country, little man.

Spot the Highlander?

That Highlander again!!

A typical view as we begin the descent.

Looking in the general direction of Oamaru from near the top of the pass.

DOIN' IT IN DUNEDIN

Roller Mills Building.

We had 3 days off to go to Dunedin to get a COF and service for the "Truck" and during this time managed to cross a few more things off our bucket list.

Chinese Gardens, an absolute must see.

Even the pebbles in the pavers were laid with utmost accuracy.

Reflecting and reflections.

Looking out.

Waterfall.

Accurate and ornate work in roof.

Cadbury factory tour.

Tasting time at the end of the Speights Brewery tour.

The famous Speights Brewery spring water tap, on average 200 people fill their water bottles here each day.

Yellow Eyed Penguin (Hoiho) chicks almost ready for the sea.

Royal Albatross (3 metre wingspan).

Boiling with Barracuda.

Taiaroa Heads from the seaward side.

HAYES HISTORICAL ENGINEERING WORKS, OTUREHUA

Hayes Engineering Works.

Left to right, original homestead now a cafe and AV centre, office now used as a museum and the workshops in the background.

Workshops are still in working order, originally powered by a windmill then later replaced by a water driven Pelton wheel which turned fast and loose pulleys for the machines and an electric generator which provided power for both the workshop and the homestead.

Stables & harness room.

Long bed lathe, like most of the machines all made on site.

Bird poop & pulleys.

Blacksmiths

Still being sold and used around the world!

Milk separator in the dairy, something she can relate to.

The homestead, all built from mud/dung/straw bricks which were made on site. The van in the background belongs to the custodians, our friends Vic & Marg.

East side of homestead with all the garden paths and borders still there. We would love to have the job of developing the gardens back to their original state but it would all have to be done on a voluntary basis which we can't afford to do at present.

Hallway

The first flush toilet in Maniatoto

OCEANA GOLD, MACRAES FLAT.

Macraes Flat

(No comment required)

The main pit. Each bench is 12 metres high and there are another six benches which are not visible to the bottom of the pit.

A very large water tanker trying to do battle with the never ending dust.

Haul Truck, payload 191 tonnes, cost from memory 1.7 million dollars. They have 19 of these.

Haul truck tyre, 3.3 metres diameter!!

Impoundment pond. This is a an old mining pit where the waste from the processing plant is poured. This contains a lot of chemicals including arsenic. It is then treated and purified and the leachate from this then transferred to another lake where trout are kept to ensure that the treated water is pure. Once the pit is full it is covered with topsoil and reinstated to its original natural state.

Processing plant where the gold is refined and made into ingots. Of course we weren't allowed anywhere near there.

TOTARA ESTATE (OAMARU)

Totara Estate, the birthplace of the New Zealand meat industry. It was here in 1882 that this country's first shipment of frozen meat to the other side of the world was prepared for export.

Slaughter house.

Audio visual display in the slaughter house.

Horse & Me

Harness room, note the names of the horses above each harness.

Wheat fields, blowing in the wind (awesome).

Resident Highland Cattle at Totara Lowlands Cherry Farm.