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South Island holiday - with pictures!

Ataahua
Forum Admin / Moderator


Mar 12 2007, 10:29pm

Post #1 of 23 (621 views)
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South Island holiday - with pictures! Can't Post

I'm back from dodging whales, spotting kiwi (on the same venture that Roheryn went on a few weeks back) and egging on a friend to do bungy jumping over a ridiculously deep river valley, and I thought I'd share some of the piccies with you.

The long head of a sperm whale - About two-thirds of the whale's length is still below water.

The mainland seen from Kaikoura's peninsula

The Moeraki boulders - Spherical, due to their formation by accretion.

Dunedin! - Home of the Dunedain, and a beautiful city with a harbour on one side and the open sea on the other. Gorgeous place.

At Dunedin's albatross colony - Two parent albatrosses and their fuzzball chick. :)

Sunset off Stewart Island

A blurry kiwi feeding at night

Queenstown and The Remarkables - Yes, *those* Mt Doom/Gondor mountains.

Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu

The Nevis bungy-jump platform

Mt Difficulty winery - and it's Arizona-desert-like landscape, just north of Queenstown.

The highlight of the entire trip was Queenstown. It's landscape is achingly beautiful, and I fall in love with it a bit more every time I go there.



Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.


Ataahua's stories


(This post was edited by Ataahua on Mar 12 2007, 10:33pm)


Morwen
Rohan


Mar 13 2007, 12:25am

Post #2 of 23 (501 views)
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The stone of Erech! [In reply to] Can't Post

Or several smaller versions. What struck me about your pictures is that there seems to an amazing variety of terrain for one island. I can see mountains, ocean, desert and green, rolling hills.

The bungee jumping apparatus looks like something even Sam's Uncle Andy wouldn't try.

Thanks, AtaahuaSmile

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I wish you could have been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart Superstore--John Prine


Ataahua
Forum Admin / Moderator


Mar 13 2007, 12:35am

Post #3 of 23 (481 views)
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*facepalm* [In reply to] Can't Post

Why didn't I see that?? The Stones of Erech on the shores north of Dunedin - very appropriate!

Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.


Ataahua's stories


dernwyn
Forum Admin / Moderator


Mar 13 2007, 12:40am

Post #4 of 23 (480 views)
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Where? Where? Oh, wow! [In reply to] Can't Post

Amazingly round! And doesn't that sequence look like the back curves of a Loch Ness-type sea monster?

What an absolutely gorgeous place, Ataahua, thank you for the pics!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road, or a secret gate...


greendragon
Sr. Staff


Mar 13 2007, 1:26am

Post #5 of 23 (480 views)
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did you see any penguins? [In reply to] Can't Post

I'm so jealous that you saw a kiwi - L.Ron and I only got to see them in a bird sanctuary. But penguins are what I really want to see in the wild. We just didn't make it down to Dunedin on our trip - next time, our paths will take us there...!

Thanks for sharing these pics.

'There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of my fridge...'


Alnilam
Rivendell


Mar 13 2007, 1:27am

Post #6 of 23 (484 views)
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Wow. Those are awesome. [In reply to] Can't Post

I really have to go to NZ.

Thanks for posting those, Ataahua!


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Kimi
Forum Admin / Moderator

Mar 13 2007, 1:32am

Post #7 of 23 (482 views)
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For scale [In reply to] Can't Post

Me on one of those boulders.




Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.

The Passing of Mistress Rose

Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?

- A Room With a View


Altaira
Superuser


Mar 13 2007, 3:40am

Post #8 of 23 (477 views)
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Totally amazing [In reply to] Can't Post

One of my goals is to spend (a lot) more time exploring the South Island. I've taken notes, and absolutely want to see everything you saw (well, except maybe the bungee jumping Shocked).

Wonderful piccies!! Thanks for sharing.


Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.



"All we have to decide is what to do with the boards that are given to us"



"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase

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deej
Tol Eressea


Mar 13 2007, 4:09am

Post #9 of 23 (467 views)
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Very cool! [In reply to] Can't Post

I love your photos. It's still too bad we couldn't meet up this trip - hopefully, next time. Smile

Sincerely, deej - The Artist Formerly Known as djdeathskiss

Atlanta Woot! Moot 2007 - Join us Labor Day weekend; go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlanta_woot_moot/


dernwyn
Forum Admin / Moderator


Mar 13 2007, 11:20am

Post #10 of 23 (470 views)
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Yep - they're the right height! (imho, that is) [In reply to] Can't Post

 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road, or a secret gate...


Morwen
Rohan


Mar 13 2007, 11:43am

Post #11 of 23 (463 views)
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Much bigger than I thought at first [In reply to] Can't Post

Unless, of course, Kimi is hobbit-sized.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I wish you could have been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart Superstore--John Prine


Timbo_mbadil
Rivendell


Mar 13 2007, 1:23pm

Post #12 of 23 (468 views)
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Aarrggh – mega-envy! [In reply to] Can't Post

And the mountains! I want to see mountains again, Ataahua, and then find somewhere quiet… Oh, well…


Otherness represents that which bourgeois ideology cannot recognize or accept but must deal with (…)
Robin Wood 2003, p. 49. "Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan – and beyond". Columbia University Press, New York, Chichester, West Sussex.


Elven
Valinor


Mar 13 2007, 2:54pm

Post #13 of 23 (458 views)
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WOW!! [In reply to] Can't Post

Ataahua! What wonderful photos!!

Was that Gwaihar you spotted at Kaikoura's Peninsular? Wink That is a lovely photo!

Thankyou!!! They're beautiful.

Heart Elven x

"Never wash your name in hot water Elvenesque - it shrinks!" said the Gaffer.
Tolkien was a Capricorn!
..All we are saying ..Is Give Pete A Chance" ...


shuya
Rivendell


Mar 13 2007, 6:24pm

Post #14 of 23 (452 views)
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Beautiful! [In reply to] Can't Post

I love your pictures! I can't wait to see some of that stuff myself - it seems you had a wonderful time! It's really a shame we couldn't catch up while deej and I are in NZ, but it looks like you had an awesome trip!

My Travel Blog: Where is Christy?

Follow deej and me on our trip to New Zealand (3/11-3/28) and then continue on with me to Australia (3/29-4/14)!


Kimi
Forum Admin / Moderator

Mar 13 2007, 6:57pm

Post #15 of 23 (452 views)
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No, I'm not :-) [In reply to] Can't Post

I'm 5' 7". Which is about the height of the hobbit actors, but I don't think that's what you meant :-)




Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.

The Passing of Mistress Rose

Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?

- A Room With a View


Ataahua
Forum Admin / Moderator


Mar 13 2007, 8:08pm

Post #16 of 23 (462 views)
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No we didn't, [In reply to] Can't Post

although we had hoped to. Everywhere we went with penguin colonies, we were at the wrong time - they're out at sea during the day and return at dusk, although at this time of the year they're moulting so are more likely hiding on land. I'd love to see penguins in the wild (Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World is fab for a closeup look and Emporer King Penguins, but it's still not 'in the wild').

Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.


Ataahua's stories


Ataahua
Forum Admin / Moderator


Mar 13 2007, 8:10pm

Post #17 of 23 (454 views)
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Neat pic Kimi! [In reply to] Can't Post

We got there at half tide so I didn't feel like beating the waves to stand on the boulders.

Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.


Ataahua's stories


Kimi
Forum Admin / Moderator

Mar 13 2007, 8:17pm

Post #18 of 23 (459 views)
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I took some persuading. [In reply to] Can't Post

I.e.

Mr Kimi: We need you on one for scale. Here, I'll lift you on to this one.
Me: I don't know if... oh.

Yes, I wouldn't have waded through the water to get to them!




Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.

The Passing of Mistress Rose

Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?

- A Room With a View


Kimi
Forum Admin / Moderator

Mar 13 2007, 8:21pm

Post #19 of 23 (451 views)
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You have wonderful pictures! [In reply to] Can't Post

Those wineries are looking specially tempting today :-)

And Stewart Island! I've never been there, and now I want to!




Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.

The Passing of Mistress Rose

Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?

- A Room With a View


(This post was edited by Kimi on Mar 13 2007, 8:22pm)


Kimi
Forum Admin / Moderator

Mar 13 2007, 8:26pm

Post #20 of 23 (450 views)
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Penguins in Otago [In reply to] Can't Post

When (yes, when) you come again, see if you can make it to Penguin Place. It was an excellent place to see hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins). For little blue penguins, Oamaru was excellent.

For our penguin adventures, see here and here. Some of the links no longer work, but the pictures are still there.




Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.

The Passing of Mistress Rose

Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?

- A Room With a View


Ataahua
Forum Admin / Moderator


Mar 13 2007, 8:27pm

Post #21 of 23 (454 views)
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Heh - direct action persuasion. [In reply to] Can't Post

I like it. ;)

Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.


Ataahua's stories


Ginger
Rohan

Mar 15 2007, 2:11pm

Post #22 of 23 (439 views)
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Thank you! [In reply to] Can't Post

I really liked looking at them. What a beautiful country.

*note to self*
Learn new boards. "Sticky" is not an admonishment to a tornsib named Sticky.


grammaboodawg
Immortal


Mar 15 2007, 7:05pm

Post #23 of 23 (483 views)
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*tearing* I ache to see New Zealand. [In reply to] Can't Post

The films got me started... be every time I see pictures like these and others from those who have travelled throughout the two Islands... I feel homesick. Does that make sense?

*sigh* You're wonderful for posting these.

Thank you :)


someday...

Transmission went out on my car yesterday, so we'll see...


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Trust him... The Hobbit is coming!

"Barney Snow was here." ~Hug like a hobbit!~ "In my heaven..."


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