sandysview

Winter’s coming

May 30, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photography, TravelTagged landscape, mountains, nature, New Zealand, photography, travel, winter6 Comments

It’s the first official day of Winter in New Zealand on the 1st of June. I took these in the last couple of weeks, round my way. You don’t have to go to the South Island to see snowy peaks and mountain ranges. These were all taken within an hour of my place in the Rangitikei. Southern Central North Island.

I call this one, 'Top of the Mountain road'. I'll let you puzzle over the hidden message in that title. — I call this one, ‘Top of the Mountain road’. I’ll let you puzzle over the hidden message in that title.

I call this Ruapehu Space ship clouds. Took me ages to think that up

The New Zealand Main Trunk rail line, heading north towards Mt Ruapehu

I call this 'Mountain Road'. Because I took it on the Mountain Road. No need to make up names when the actual name is cool enough. — I call this ‘Mountain Road’. Because I took it on the Mountain Road. No need to make up names when the actual name is cool enough.

The open road, literally. The sign says so.

The Ruahine Ranges again, looking across the Rangitikei River Valley. Snowy and sunny. A perfectly photogenic combination

Who doesn't love a derelict barn with a tree growing out of the window on a remote country road. Just a hint of the Ruahine Ranges in the background. — Who doesn’t love a derelict barn with a tree growing out of the window on a remote country road. Just a hint of the Ruahine Ranges in the background.

Mt Ruapehu, looking awesome on a partly cloudy crisp autumn day. For those unfamiliar with Mt Ruapehu, it’s a 10,000 foot high active Volcano in the middle of the North Island. 10,000 feet sounds more impressive that just shy of 10,000 feet which what it actually is. 9,177 feet in actual fact.

Mt Ruapehu again, from Wanganui, or Whanganui if you prefer

No snow here, but it's not far away. This is beside the Moawhango Valley Road, not a road you are likely to find by accident. It's up behind Taihape, in the middle of nowhere. — No snow here, but it’s not far away. This is beside the Moawhango Valley Road, not a road you are likely to find by accident. It’s up behind Taihape, in the middle of nowhere.

Take care, like the sign says — Take extra care, like the sign says. Also the Desert Road isn’t really across a desert. It’s an Alpine Environment and quite un-desert like.

This is also high in the Rangitikei Hill Country, an old woolshed looking cool ij the snowy morning sun — This is also high in the Rangitikei Hill Country, an old woolshed looking cool in the snowy morning sun

That's the mighty Rangitikei River Valley with a bit of snow on the Ruahine Ranges in the distance. Epic views across the lower North Island. — That’s the mighty Rangitikei River Valley with a bit of snow on the Ruahine Ranges in the distance. Epic views across the lower North Island.

We had a light dusting of snow in the Rangitikei hill country, I loved how the shadowed side of these hills took longer to thaw giving this cool effect on the landscape

Here and there

May 4, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in UncategorizedTagged landscape, nature, New Zealand, photography, scenery, travel2 Comments

Like a lot of my photography, I try to notice the unnoticed, and this lot are the next batch. Some more photo’s taken while moving about for no particular reason. In New Zealand we are so lucky to have such amazing scenery literally everywhere you look. This is just stuff I saw, no special trips required. This is New Zealand, the bits we drive past every day.

St Martins Church, I walked around the grounds for ages to get the spire in the sun shot.

Country road, take me home... — Country road, take me home…

I don't even know what this river is called, it's runs down towards Pahiatua off the Manawatu River. — I don’t even know what this river is called, it runs down towards Pahiatua off the Manawatu River.

Looking straight into the sun near Apiti, yes Apiti.

Nobody has ever taken this shot before. It's a gully. I like a nice gully — Nobody has ever taken this shot before. It’s a gully. I like a nice gully

I have no idea what you might call that atmospheric effect. Like a reverse rainbow sort of thing. Seen above the Wairarapa Hill country

Derelict woolshed, near SH54, the Vinegar Hill road. Nobody knows why it's called Vinegar Hill. — Derelict woolshed, near SH54, the Vinegar Hill road. Nobody knows why it’s called Vinegar Hill.

That's Mt Ruapehu, from Foxton Beach. just the 230 kilometres away. We have clear skies in New Zealand. — That’s Mt Ruapehu, from Foxton Beach. just the 230 kilometres away. We have clear skies in New Zealand.

Sunset from Foxton Beach. It's the best bit of Foxton Beach. — Sunset from Foxton Beach. It’s the best bit of Foxton Beach.

Huntsman from the Rangitikei Hunt Club. They don't actually hunt anything. They just get dressed up and ride about in the scenery. — Huntsman from the Rangitikei Hunt Club. They don’t actually hunt anything. They just get dressed up and ride about in the scenery.

High in the Tararua Ranges. I drove up the creatively named Heights Road to get here.

Who doesn't love to stumble across a Steam Train passing through. — Who doesn’t love to stumble across a Steam Train passing through.

The sign says look for trains, I found one.

There's Mt Ruapehu again. From about 150 kilometres away. It's awesome. — There’s Mt Ruapehu again. From about 150 kilometres away. It’s awesome.

I disturbed some pigeons when I stood on their bridge. They kindly made my shot more attractive

Dawn reflecting on the woolshed, pretty awesome. We have impressive dawns here. Sunrise in another language.

I drove up a road called Heights Road. It was very high. I believe there's also regularly a stiff breeze up here. — I drove up a road called Heights Road. It was very high. I believe there’s also regularly a stiff breeze up here.

Low cloud in the Wairarapa. Near Pahiatua. Autumnal.

Small pond nowhere in particular. I liked the reflections.

Cool ay?

While out driving.

April 24, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in UncategorizedTagged landscapes, mountains, New Zealand, photography, Rivers, Roadtrip, scenery, travel, Vacation2 Comments

I spend a lot of time in the car, by choice. It’s my happy place. When I’m out driving I have one eye on the road and one eye on the scenery, keeping a look out for any place that might offer a nice photograph. Here’s a selection of sights I’ve seen lately, while out and about.

Top Dressing plane in an attractive orange to set to off against the wilderness, like on purpose. — Top Dressing plane with attractive orange detailing to set it off against the wilderness, like on purpose.

The New Zealand Swamp Harrier. Common Raptor, hard to photograph, getting this shot only took me about two years.

Cows and trees, pastoral farm land in the middle of nowhere, upper Rangitikei.

Early snow on the Ruahine's and a fetching barn. Nice — Early snow on the Ruahine’s and a fetching barn. Nice

Early morning sun, mist, trees, fence and spiders webs combine for a this arty number. It reminds New Zealanders of when they were little, apparently grown ups don't look for dewy spiders webs. — Early morning sun, mist, trees, fence and spiders webs combine for a this arty number. It reminds New Zealanders of when they were little, apparently grown ups don’t look for dewy spiders webs.

Day Breaking in the Manawatu. Love how the sun strikes over the distant ranges. You have to get up early for this stuff. — Day breaking in the Manawatu. Love how the sun strikes over the distant ranges. You have to get up early for this stuff.

Call that a valley? This is a valley, upper Rangtikei.

The Te Apiti Wind Farm early morning. I'm sure there are all sorts of interesting facts about the Te Apiti Wind Farm. — The Te Apiti Wind Farm early morning. I’m sure there are all sorts of interesting facts about the Te Apiti Wind Farm.

Rangitikei River. You can see this particular view unless you are paying attention to where the river is going. There's no official view point here. — Rangitikei River. You can’t see this particular view unless you are paying attention to where the river is going and pull over on the Vinegar Hill Road. There’s no official view point here.

Misty Morning in Hunterville. I'll give the caravanning a miss this year. — Misty Morning in Hunterville. I’ll give the caravanning a miss this year.

Look, a photo of New Zealand. Literally.

There's that Mt Ruapehu again. I found this lake, in the forest. As you do. OK, I had to walk about 15 minutes to get to this one. — There’s that Mt Ruapehu again. I found this lake, in the forest. As you do. OK, I had to walk about 15 minutes to get to this one.

The Rangitikei Valley at 8am. It's cool to look down on the clouds — The Rangitikei Valley at 8am. It’s cool to look down on the clouds

Mt Ruapehu, about 10,000 metres. Live Volcano. Right there behind that farm.

Stuff in the middle of nowhere in particular, New Zealand

March 28, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in UncategorizedTagged landscapes, nature, New Zealand, photography, travel, wildernessLeave a comment

This is a post showcasing the stuff we have about the place on the way to and from nowhere special. The places we drive past, or near, every day. The scenery that makes up the rest of New Zealand somewhere other than the places you see all the time in tourist brochures. All of the photos here were taken within an hour of my house though. So I didn’t even need to go far to take them.

This is a road to work if you live round here. A commute if you like

A woolshed, we have lots of them in New Zealand. not so many with graffiti on the side though.

You see this sort of thing on your way to work, not every day, but sometimes. You see the cows every day of course but the amazing rays less often.

Looking north, from our front lawn. So not quite an hour from my house. — Looking north in the evening from our front lawn. So not quite an hour from my house.

Steam train passing my house, out there, — Steam train passing my house, out there.

Jerusalem on the Wanganui River Road. Or Whanganui River Road. I believe the h is optional.

A waterfall beside the Turakina Valley Road. Where? Yes, exactly, but it's right there, beside the road. — A waterfall beside the Turakina Valley Road. Where? Yes, exactly, but it’s right there, beside the road.

The Rata Church which is beside the Marae, or behind it depending on where you stand. I like the angel. She looks like a celestial umpire giving someone out.

Mt Ruapehu at 8:30am. I know this gets in tourist brochures but not this shot and it is an hour from my house.

This is inside a glow worm cave most people are unaware of. It's about an hour from my house. — This is inside a glow worm cave most people are unaware of. It’s also about an hour from my house.

Right inside the cave. Apparently the glow worms come out at night, inside the cave. I know right?

Who doesn't like a photo of an old derelict shed in the middle of nowhere? — Who doesn’t like a photo of an old derelict shed in the middle of nowhere?

I’m not normally a fan of people leaving wrecks lying about the place but this scene works for me as a photograph. Like a graveyard in the middle of nowhere for machinery and stuff.

The Makohine Viaduct. For a while it was the tallest viaduct in New Zealand at 73 metres high and 228 metres long. It's no longer the highest viaduct in New Zealand but it is still high. — The Makohine Viaduct. For a while it was the tallest viaduct in New Zealand at 73 metres high and 228 metres long. It’s no longer the highest viaduct in New Zealand but it is still high.

So, I hope you like the photos, this is the Southern Central North Island of New Zealand, randomly photographed here and there.

One hour, one evening

March 15, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photography, TravelTagged animals, clouds, landscape, mountains, New Zealand, photography, scenery, sky., sunset, travel, Weather1 Comment

Apparently Pam arrives tomorrow, if she does. That’s Cyclone Pam of course. There were pretty amazing clouds developing in the North and East of where I live so I thought I’d pop out and take a few photos. These were taken in the space of an hour. Near my place.