I bump into Pete occasionally and I’ve gotten to know him somewhat. One day I told Pete that I had never really been hunting but thought I would like it. He then said he would take me out sometime.
The day came and off we went in Pete’s Honda Hybrid, all I knew was we would be out over night. I didn’t know where we were going or what to expect. I was a bit anxious, I think, understandably.
Of course I took my camera to record the trip.
This is my hunting story, enjoy.
I pick up my Journey in Hokitika where I catch up with the very start of the driftwood art competition. Then off down the coast to check out the condition of the Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers. I also visit the Treetop Walk and Cafe.
So grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy a relaxing scenic trip down the West Coast in glorious 4K.
If you haven’t seen Part 1 of this trip yet A Journey Through Middle Earth
Enjoy 🙂
In January 2021, I travelled to Christchurch to visit friends. My idea was to travel up the East Coast then take a trip through middle earth, Christchurch to Greymouth over Arthurs Pass. Then home via the West Coast.
Canterbury is usually hot and dry and this year was no exception. The first morning I woke up to the most incredible sky. The clouds hung low in the hot still air but moved quickly across the sky, I made a post about it North Westerly Cloud Formation
Before setting off to the West Coast I had a small culvert to fix up. The culvert needed a footing put in but I didn’t video that part of the build. I time lapsed the the rest of the build and decide to add it to the video I made.
This first video covers the stone culvert build and then the journey over Arthurs Pass to Greymouth then onto Punakaiki. I wanted to capture the blowholes in action and high tide was just on dusk. It was dark by the time I got finished up with the blowholes and the camping ground was closed. I drove North until a large tree appeared on the skyline, this was where I parked up for a few hours.
The next morning was foggy but as I drove back toward Greymouth the fog started lifting and I was treated to a stunning West Coast day.
I recently installed GoPro mounts on the side windows of the van as well as the mount on the dash. It worked a treat and I was able to capture some absolutely breathtaking landscapes as I drove.
So grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy the trip through middle earth 🙂
I post a lot of my photos on Flickr so shoot over there and check them out 🙂
I stayed in the van beside a river, I was going to video the Santa Parade in Gore that day. As usual I was up and away early and was driving towards Gore. I came around the corner in Mandeville and saw a steam locomotive warming up on the side of the road. I had to stop and check out this magnificent machine, the Rogers K92 Locomotive which ran the Gore to Kingston run or the Kingston Flyer
In June 1927 the Rogers K92 Locomotive, was dumped into the Oreti River at Mararoa Junction, just above Lumsden. It was put there to help stop erosion. In 1985 the K92 was pulled out of the Oreti River and fully restored.
Rogers K92 Locomotive is now at the Waimea Plains Railway in Mandeville. When I arrived they were getting the locomotive ready for a public day, so I hung around to see it running. While waiting, I checked out the Crydon Aviation Heritage Centre next door. What a treat, not only did I happen on a Steam Locomotive but I also found myself in a hanger full of heritage aircraft.
So if you are ever passing through this way make sure you set aside a bit of time to explore Mandeville.
Find them on Facebook
Waimea Plains Railway – @waimeaplainsrailway
Croydon Aviation Heritage Centre – @experiencemandeville
On a recent trip to Rangiora in North Canterbury, I woke up to a intense cloud formation overhead. The spectacle was brought about by an approaching , very hot, dry north westerly wind.
I grabbed my GoPro and set it up to time-lapse the scene, you can just see it in the photo above. I then took the 5 photo stitch panorama above with my 5D.
After shooting the first image, I went to a pond in the next paddock to get a bit of foreground interest. This image is also a 5 image panorama.
I took a couple of time lapses of this very beautiful event.
The cloud formation was surreal and the North Westerly itself, was brutal.
Dylan is tasked with shooting a hogget for diner. Dan is not impressed with Dylan’s choice and decides to shoot his own. Dan, Dylan, a penguin and a couple of seal pups enjoy a Ruapuke Sunset.
If you haven’t seen parts I and II
Catch up on Part I – Ruapuke Island Honey Bees pt I
Catch up on Part II – Ruapuke Island Honey Bees pt II
I was staying with Joel and Kylie, shooting a story about Archery, Photography and Moonshine when Kylie mentioned how her parents celebrate Christmas. I decided I needed to make a Christmas special.
The Gore Santa Parade was on the next day so I went along to that, then met up with Joel and Kylie and travelled to Mokoreta to meet Kylie’s parents.
So here it is, my 2020 Christmas Special.
Part two, of Dan’s Story.
After setting up an enclosure for the hives, Dan goes back to Bluff for more hives and Dylan.
Dan also brings new queens and splits the hives. The bees are loving it…
Dan Tarrant is a bee keeper in Bluff and his dream is to have bees on Ruapuke Island. Ruapuke island is a small island situated off the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
The island is exposed to extraordinarily harsh conditions, so Dan and his bees have their work cut out for them.
I’ve always wanted to visit Ruapuke so when Dan suggested I go over with him, I jumped at the opportunity. I feel honoured to have visited such an amazing place and to archive the beginnings of Dan’s journey.
Getting the hives set up close to the flowering Manuka and protecting them from the feral cattle, is just the beginning.
This video is day one of an incredible 4 day trip and the beginning of life changing journey for Dan and his family.
I wish Dan and his family the best of luck with this venture, I believe the honey will be extraordinary just like the island itself.
Follow Dan…
At his website https://www.ruapukeuncut.co.nz/
or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ruapuke.uncut/
Enjoy
This was a very impromptu trip. I started out visiting Booboo at his whitebait stand on the Mataura River then onto Tapanui via Fortrose.
I had a shot in mind on the Pomahaka River but events took a turn. I got to see a phenomenon called the Blue Mountain Express and caught up with my Uncle in Tapanui.
I visit Eamon in Gore then visit Joel to taste test some moonshine.
Photographically the trip was a bust but I did catch up with friends and Family and I captured some awesome hyper lapse footage of our beautiful countryside.
Enjoy the video…
