nature – Page 3 – Sandy's Views

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?

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.