We've had a very scenic month of April while having visitors from Canada. These are some of the highlights of our journeys.
Kaikoura is one of our favourite spots. The seal colony, beach walk, cliff walk, and the opportunity to see pelagic birds is what keeps us coming back. Then we discovered this lovely valley on the drive from Hanmer over to Kaikoura. It is autumn in April and this fabulous foliage looked like burning bushes.
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This is sun rise, not sun set, and I stayed back at the motel to catch this shot of the three of them silhouetted against the morning sky. You could be excused for thinking that those are mountains in the background, but it is in fact a cloud bank out at sea.
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Later that same morning we were out on the Albatross Encounter and passed this crab boat. The Wandering Albatross (the 2 large white birds) and Giant Petrels (smaller and grey) were hanging about waiting for their breakfast. You'll get a good idea of the size of the albatross when you compare it with the fisherman up near the bow of the boat. That's not a gull to the left of the two bigger albatrosses, it's a mollymawk and is still much bigger than your average gull.
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Oh wait a minute, I can give you a better idea of the size of the albatross with this close up. We scooped this one up when we noticed there was some fishing line tangled in the wing.
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On ANZAC Day, 25 April, we held remembrance services in three communities. On the way to the last one we crossed over the Kowai River and were treated to this lovely view.
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The view is from the observation car of the Coastal Pacific route, heading up the eastern side of the south island. This is just outside of Kaikoura.
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A new weather front over the vineyards near Blenheim at the north end of the south island.
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Once in Kaikoura we discovered that they had recently re-sealed the boardwalk.
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Autumn brings mushrooms. These were all over the church lawn when we gathered for a morning to tidy up the grounds.
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A fine clear Saturday morning for tidying up at St George's.
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The annual clergy conference is held in Wanui, situated on the Akaroa Harbour. During an afternoon walk during free time I followed the shore road along to the south. On boat trips out of the harbour you'll get to see blue penguin, Dusky dolphin and often the endangered Hector's dolphin.
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One of the farms that I passed had these fabulous stands of Toi Toi. These are easily 4 meters high.
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Kaikoura is one of our favourite spots. The seal colony, beach walk, cliff walk, and the opportunity to see pelagic birds is what keeps us coming back. Then we discovered this lovely valley on the drive from Hanmer over to Kaikoura. It is autumn in April and this fabulous foliage looked like burning bushes.
This is sun rise, not sun set, and I stayed back at the motel to catch this shot of the three of them silhouetted against the morning sky. You could be excused for thinking that those are mountains in the background, but it is in fact a cloud bank out at sea.
Later that same morning we were out on the Albatross Encounter and passed this crab boat. The Wandering Albatross (the 2 large white birds) and Giant Petrels (smaller and grey) were hanging about waiting for their breakfast. You'll get a good idea of the size of the albatross when you compare it with the fisherman up near the bow of the boat. That's not a gull to the left of the two bigger albatrosses, it's a mollymawk and is still much bigger than your average gull.
Oh wait a minute, I can give you a better idea of the size of the albatross with this close up. We scooped this one up when we noticed there was some fishing line tangled in the wing.
On ANZAC Day, 25 April, we held remembrance services in three communities. On the way to the last one we crossed over the Kowai River and were treated to this lovely view.
The view is from the observation car of the Coastal Pacific route, heading up the eastern side of the south island. This is just outside of Kaikoura.
Once in Kaikoura we discovered that they had recently re-sealed the boardwalk.
Autumn brings mushrooms. These were all over the church lawn when we gathered for a morning to tidy up the grounds.
A fine clear Saturday morning for tidying up at St George's.
The annual clergy conference is held in Wanui, situated on the Akaroa Harbour. During an afternoon walk during free time I followed the shore road along to the south. On boat trips out of the harbour you'll get to see blue penguin, Dusky dolphin and often the endangered Hector's dolphin.
One of the farms that I passed had these fabulous stands of Toi Toi. These are easily 4 meters high.
