4/16/2010

Blogtrotting



Welcome to Aotearoa--the land of the long white cloud-- New Zealand. I am excited and very honored to be featured on Blogtrotting this week!

New Zealand is a volcanic land with lots of natural beauty. It has only been occupied by Europeans for about 200 years, so there are not a lot of historical buildings, like there are in Europe. The native people--who came from Hawaiiki--established the Maori culture. There are two main islands that make up most of New Zealand--colorfully named the North Island and the South Island--plus, a few smaller islands. 

Being from the middle of the US, I am very taken with the coastal views and I have lots of ocean photos!



This is 'Three Sisters' which is really only 2-and-a-bit now due to water erosion.


The native wildlife is quite amazing.

This stump carving of a fantail (native bird) was part of a limited-time commission in the Wanganui business district. 


I love to see the harrier hawk, a native to NZ.


Wild pukekos turn up in unexpected places.




There are only a handful of large cities here. The rest of the country is covered with sheep or cows, since their products are the country's biggest exports.


These are typical baches (pronounced 'batches' - from the word 'bachelor') in the Wellington area. They are holiday 'homes' on the beach.  Very 'kiwi'.
  
All of the highways here are only two lanes with an occasional passing lane. Occasionally, the two lanes become one, like this:




I love my new homeland and have taken several thousand pictures since arriving here almost 4 years ago. So, you can understand how it was difficult to decide which ones to share. If you would like to see a few more photos, you can visit my photoblog, My World through my Camera Lens.

Your virtual tour would not be complete without a lighthouse or two, so here ya go!


Thanks for visiting. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. I will do my best to answer them.

24 comments:

PeeJay said...

I just love your posts Betty. I didn't realise quite how like the UK NZ was in many ways, even if it is a few years behind - lol!! For your 'baches' read 'beach huts'. They are a really common sight in UK coastal resorts and have come back in vogue with modern variations of them now - with famous interior designers getting in on the act - lol!. They descend from the old Victorian bathing machines that were used when wealthy Victorians started to bathe in seawater for their health. Google 'beach huts UK' for info or images and see what comes up and, if you Google 'beach huts Hove UK' you will see what is on my local seafront. You will also get versions from other parts of the world in a general Google search for them ... they have spread - lol!! Keep on posting 'cos I'm travelling NZ with you!

??? said...

Your photos are gorgeous, especially the first one. I also like the pukekos. I've seen some footage of a Takahe in a documentary, a close relative.
I would love to be able to visit New Zealand, I hope that I get the chance.

~Cheryl said...

Congratulations on a well-deserved honor! This is a wonderful post with so much to enjoy!

Gramma 2 Many said...

Amazing pictures. Great tour. I was really taken by your first picture. I am sure you did have problems choosing which pictures to post.
I guess you have to really hope you do not meet someone in the middle of the tunnel, don't you:)

cat said...

Beautiful pictures girl! And great to meet you. You may have met a few South Africans over there - but greetings from here.

mub said...

I'd love to make it to New Zealand someday!

It sounds like we have similar stories! I came to The Netherlands due to an internet relationship and get smacked in the face with culture shock on a pretty regular basis *L*

CaraBee said...

Fantastic pictures! Like I said in the intro, I really can't imagine waking up to such amazing beauty everyday. It's just surreal.

Love the little baches! What a fun, quirky thing. I'm kind of surprised that that sort of thing hasn't turned up here in the US

Great post! Thanks for being a part of BlogTrotting!

Heather said...

Wow! What amazing scenery! I'd be much the same, taking tons of photos every day!

Great tour; thanks for sharing your part of the world with us!

mom, interrupted said...

Stunning photos! Wow, thanks for the great tour. I'm ready to hop on a plane.

Bitsa Lit said...

wooohoo! gratzy!!

I always love taking a trip to NZ with ya! It is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever had the pleasure to virtually tour :P but some day soon I will make it there!
For now though, you awesome pics continue to make my day!

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos and I truly enjoy reading your blog.

Shelley said...

What an absolutely stunningly beautiful place. What are the seasons and there temps there?

Anonymous said...

Great photos! I will have to check out the rest of your blog now. But I have to say, I don't think those are "typical" baches - they look more like boatsheds to me, jammed together like that. The baches I have stayed in over the years are houses, or cottages, often tiny but not that tiny, and not right next to each other. They aren't usually on the sand, have a bit of grass around them... And in the South Island, they're often called a "crib"!
:-)
Kate

Connie said...

I always love your photos... everything is so green! :)

Lorac said...

Hi bettyl, haven't been around for a while. Great post, very informative.

chitra said...

I love the wonderful photos .You really shoot them well:)

Amy said...

Am loving your photos Betty! One of my favourite places in NZ is the bay of islands - love it!

Anonymous said...

What a set of amazing and beautiful shots! Just lovely! What a wonderful place you live in.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Betty -- what a great tour! thanks for sharing. I want one of those beach cottages. Talk about being distracted by shiny objects! I know the other pictures are more scenic and they really are all beautiful. But I still want one of those baches (sp?)

somehow I lost track of you while we were on the road and am very happy to have found you again.

Michelle said...

Oh those are some unique pictures. Definitely things you don't see in the States! I'd love to learn more about the baches. They look so fun and definitely not something that would be used here. Great eagle, too!

sheila said...

Wow! I'm over from Blogtrotting...stunning pics! Love that little tunnel! And those little beach houses are sooooooooooo cool!

brainella said...

Wow. Gorgeous pictures. All this blogtrotting makes me want to quit my job and start traveling non-stop...with New Zealand being the first place to go. Stunning.

Ronnica said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

Dianna@KennedyAdventures said...

sigh .... I need to save my pennies to do some major traveling! You live in an AMAZING country!