Taking only photographs – leaving only footprints
Exploring new cities with my camera is one of my favourite things. Especially finding interesting buildings or beautiful parks to walk through. This was taken on my first day in Australia. On an afternoon walk I was walking through the City Botanic Gardens and came across this small pool and fountain. Being new to the city and country there were many strange plants, trees and even birds around me. A great introduction to Australia.
Near the harbour front in the city centre is the former Auckland Railway Station. Opened in 1930 it was the main station for the city for just over 70 years. Today building has been converted into apartments with a new station at the Britomart Transport Centre. This photograph was taken from Beach Road which is my main walk from Parnell into the centre. So I have walked passed this building at least once a week for many months. In front of the station is the very colourful Te Taou Reserve.
I had imagined New Zealand’s vineyards to be mainly in the North Island and of course the Marlborough region of the South Island. Certainly never as far south as Queenstown. It was a surprise to find so many to choose from around Lake Hayes, just 15 minutes drive east of Queenstown. This building was the first on the Stoneridge Estate. It’s a historic resurrection built from reclaimed timbers and stone. As you can see from my photograph the building (and others such as a Chapel and Lodge) are set in amazing gardens with a small vineyard on site. An idyllic location for a wine tasting.
Ko Hoturoa is an ancient Maori carving. He was the commander of the Tainui canoe and the ancestor of the Tainui people. They include Ngāti Maniapoto as well as the tribes of Waikato, Hauraki and Ngāti Raukawa. This photograph was taken in the Te Parapara Garden, part of the amazing Hamilton Gardens. It demonstrates traditional Maori horticulture, with particular reference to Waikato.