Waipapa Carvings

Before we left Kerikeri significant changes were made to the roads in Waipapa. What use to be a slow traffic ridden intersection was changed to be a roundabout which made a huge difference to traffic flow.

These sculptures were added to the middle along with native shrubs. The carvings were designed and created by Ngati Rehia which represent waka (canoes) that point to 4 significant maunga (mountains) within the rohe (district).

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, Ruby Tuesday, My corner of the world, Wordless Wednesday

Kiwi!

There are quite a few murals around Greymouth, this little one that has been painted onto a utility box features New Zealand's national bird the Kiwi. In case you didn't know Kiwi are flightless and are nocturnal so you may hear them in the countryside or small towns calling out to each other at night.

Linking up with Mural Monday

Ultra-life fish bait

On our travels from Northland to the South Island we stopped overnight in Picton which is where the Inter-Islander Ferry took us from Wellington. The following morning I took the opportunity to walk around the town taking photos (as you do) and noticed this sign - the fish bait must be good if it makes the fish live longer (just joking).

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Golden Arches

I think most of us can relate to the McDonald's sign on the right of this photo, they are just about everywhere. A photo snapped while sitting in the passenger seat of B's work truck as we were driving through town. I was pleased to read though that McDonalds has withdrawn from Russia - now that's something positive.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Autumn in Ross

I was out in the little town of Ross last week with B while he was working and this is where we ended up taking photos of the historical buildings and scenery.  Ross is about 20 minutes out of Hokitika and was once one of New Zealand's most profitable gold mining towns in the 19th century. This is the old Bank of New South Wales (named after an Australian state) which the miners would've exchanged their gold for money at.

Linking up with Through my lens, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world, All Seasons and Wordless Wednesday

Learning is fun

I spotted this colourful mural on the back of the school hall at the local High School here in Greymouth. With words featured on it such as "discussions", "growth", "imagination" and "discovery" it can't help but be inspiring.

Linking up with Mural Monday

The "TranzAlpine" Train

We were lucky enough recently to see the "TranzAlpine" wending it's way past us as we were driving home. This passenger train runs from Greymouth to Christchurch and goes through some of the most amazing scenery in the South Island. 

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Ikamatua Hotel

We were sight seeing a couple of weeks ago and stopped at a petrol station to fill up my son's car. Next door was this establishment named the Ikamatua Hotel. Also a pub they apparently offer accommodation to travellers. In just about every town here there is either a historical or new pub.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Brunner Mine Disaster Memorial

In Greymouth there are many old cemeteries, many are the resting places of those who worked in the mines many years ago. This one in Stillwater, about 30 minutes out of town has a memorial to the Brunner Mine Disaster which occurred in 1896 in which many of the 65 miners from the explosion are buried.  I love the old Victorian railings around it. 

Linking up with Through my lens, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday

Kaitangata

This colourful mural is located on the side of a building in Greymouth's CBD. In Otago1862 mining began and the coal mill first opened. Unfortunately in 1879 a mineshaft exploded and sadly killed 34 miners. The F-class steam train of the same name that was once used in Kaitangata is now located in the local Shantytown tourism attraction after they bought it in 1971. 

Linking up with Mural Monday

Signs in Russell

One from the last time we visited Russell. We were walking along the waterfront deciding where to eat lunch when I saw the lady in the background walking around with a towel after a swim. I think I was surprised as we were in early Autumn and the water wasn't that warm.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Pike River MIne Memorial

 

So sad. If you haven't heard of this event here's what happened...The Pike River mine was a mine on the West Coast of New Zealand that is no longer in operation.

The disaster that occurred on 19th November 2010 lead to the deaths of 29 men, most of whom have never been recovered despite the rescue that's been going on since then costing millions of dollars.

To date no one has been held accountable. This memorial that has been set up just out of Blackball is a beautiful reminder of the men who lost their lives by their families who are still grieving.

linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Bush walk with Bruno

Most of Greymouth and the West Coast is covered in bush. We have been staying in temporary accommodation and at the back of the property is a small bush.

When I'm at work my daughter, R goes and collects pinecones for kindling for the fire and she noticed Mr Bruno tagging along with her.

On my days off I went walking with them and saw numerous toadstools and different kinds of fungi, these ones are Amarita Muscaria and quite poisonous.

And here's the boy himself looking quite proud and smug, He seems to like jumping on old logs and climbing trees.

Of course we had to take one of his play toys for his amusement.

 So many native trees and creeks. We are nearly entering into Winter here so the fire has been used most days.

Linking up with Through my lens, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday

Flowers

When we stopped at Christchurch Airport back in January I noticed this tropical looking mural but since then I've been struggling to find out anything about it. All I can find is that it may have been part of the "street art/murals and installations" there but no idea who painted it.

News from us: we have finally found a rental property and are hoping to move in tomorrow. It'll be nice living in an insulated warm sunny house closer to town. Until now I have been driving half an hour to and from work on very dark country roads. 

Linking up with Mural Monday

Red

One from when we lived in Mount Maunganui - this red flashy car was seen parked outside someone's apartment.  

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Westport or Nelson

No that isn't my family in the photo, just some people I spotted when I was sitting in the passenger seat of my son's car. Anyway, we are starting to setting into being in a new town and the first thing we did on our first day here was buy some warm clothes so now we have collections of leggings, sweat pants, sweatshirts and long sleeved shirts. I've started work and most of my shifts are late ones 4 days a week but everyone is friendly and helpful. I had a work colleague comment that I'll probably be promoted to being a supervisor again like I use to be in no time but I'm not sure I want the extra responsibility.

At some point I think we need to try food from the Chinese takeaways across the road in this photo but until then I'm linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Blackball Hilton Hotel

Just out of Greymouth is the tiny town of Blackball where there are houses scattered here and there along the main street including one that has it's front fence covered in conspiracy theory signs but this historic building is the local hotel - the Blackball Hilton is famous for it's dispute with being the place that the Labour Party was formed over a pint of beer. The town had the longest running miner's strike which happened in 1913.  

Linking up with Through my lens, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday

Dinosaurs

A mural from Murchison - this one I saw on the side of a small old building that was selling Pounamu and wood carvings. It's slightly faded but I can just make out scenery, trees and a Dinosaur so I'm guessing that whoever the artist was, they were sharing a glimpse of what New Zealand once looked like.

Linking up with Mural Monday