Taking it Easy on the West Coast

Greymouth, West Coast. Dec. 2008. Ajr

If you ever find yourself in Greymouth on the South Island's West Coast in need of a decent cup of coffee, this is the place to head for - dpOne Cafe. It's one of those relaxed, slightly dishevelled places - at least in terms of decor - that ooze character and local colour.

Cool Cars - 31

One White 1970 Rolls Royce - Spotted in Gisborne, Victoria, Australia.

For others in this series, click on Cool Cars in the label line below.

All For a Photograph!

Staircase, SOL, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

I was so taken with this staircase, and so keen to check out the right angle for a photograph, that I failed to watch my footing and fell flat on my face in the street! Thankfully, it was down a back lane in SOL (South of Lichfield) and the only people who witnessed my humiliation were a cafe worker hanging about having a sly fag and a young Chinese couple, who ran to my aid and helped me up - ego bruised, ankle twisted but otherwise no worse for the wear. Turns out taking photographs can be a hazardous business. www.sol.co.nz

The Return of the Fern Fronds

More Ferns

Pororari River Valley

West Coast, South Island

Dec. 2008. Ajr

Two Passes

Top: Porter's Pass; Below: Arthur's Pass. Dec 2008. Ajr

I love Porter's and Arthur's Passes at this time of year - the summer lupins are flowering, casting a great swathe of pink and purple across the rugged landscape; the skies are blue (generally); and the rivers twinkle with mountain reflections. It's a dramatic landscape that never fails to impress me.

StreetscapeNZ - 4

Autumn Street,

Arrowtown, South Island

May 2007. Ajr

Small Moments of Greed

Christmas Pudding

Fat, Round

Excessive

The Best Christmas Tree

FOUND window, Christchurch. Dec. 2008.

My prize for the best Christmas tree in Christchurch in 2008 goes to FOUND - a small classic furniture store on High Street. This year they've piled up three sizes of the popular David Trubridge lightshade, "Coral/Floral" and attached Christmas baubles. I like it very much. You can see my recurring photographs of this particular light shade, by clicking on David Trubridge in the below label line. www.davidtrubridge.com

A Merry Shop Window Christmas

Merivale, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

Retail Sentiments, Christchurch

Santa Gets a Part-Time Job

Marshlands Road, Christchurch. Christmas Eve, 2008. Ajr

Forget sorting presents and roping up the reindeer, times are tough and Santa has gotten himself a part-time job directing traffic at one of the Marshlands Road vegetable stalls! And if you follow directions and park nicely, he'll give you a handful of sweets.

Upstairs

Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

There's something about a well lit staircase that really appeals to my aesthetic sensibilities. I spotted this one - flushed green - in central Christchurch a few days ago.

Pancakes and Blowholes

Punakaiki. Dec. 2008. Ajr

There are many parts of New Zealand that I prefer over the South Island’s West Coast but one stretch of coastline – between Greymouth and Westport – is definitely worth seeing. The bush is beautiful, the seas wild and the river gorges have that ‘forgotten’ quality that makes you think of lost worlds. One of the biggest attractions of course, is the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes – a freakish collection of pancake-like limestone formations that were pushed out of the ocean by seismic action over 30 million years ago. If you want to see huge spouts of water gushing out of the caverns below, make sure you get there at high tide. There’s been a lot of work done on the track and it’s now sealed for most of the way, with plenty of rock-walled lookouts that make for great photo-taking….if you can push your way through the crowds of tourists that is.

Flying Our Flag

Over Riccarton

Another seriously good crane moment

Dec.2008. Ajr

A Composition With Rocks

Castle Hill

Dec 2008. Ajr

Click on Castle Hill in the label line below to see other images taken in this area.

StreetscapeNZ - 3

Napier

North Island

June 2008 Ajr

Under Purple Mountain

Flock Hill. Dec. 2008. Ajr

This tiny farm building at Flock Hill Station is dwarfed by the huge mountains that surround it. Many of the locals call this particular 'hill' Purple Mountain because of its ever-changing colours. Anyone looking for some comfortable, reasonably-priced accommodation for their Porter's Pass ski holiday, or a trekking adventure in Arthur's Pass, would do well to consider Flock Hill. It's great value for money. www.flockhill.co.nz

Festive Flavours

Shelf display, Woodend, Victoria, Australia. Nov. 2007. Ajr

Christmas Puddings

Waiting for a Pot

And Hungry Australians

One Small But Famous Railway Station

Cass, Southern Alps. Dec. 2008. Ajr

The tiny settlement of Cass is little more than a pin-prick in the Southern Alps, 116 kilometres northwest of Christchurch. In the winter it is virtually snowed under; and in the summer it’s a blaze of colour as wild lupins flower. As small and seemingly insignificant as it seems – in railway terms at least – this tiny station was made famous by the painting “Cass” by one of New Zealand’s well known painters, Rita Angus (1908-1970). The painting is now in the collection of Christchurch Art Gallery.

Back Alley Art

Back Alley, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

This isn't the best street art I've ever seen but I like the way it injects an otherwise gloomy back alley with colour and energy.

Decorated Doorway

Hereford Street, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

There's no mistaking the doorway into 198 Hereford Street, Christchurch.

It's the one that's been boldly emblazoned with some fun street art