Merry Christmas

December

This is quite a large post as I have been away yet again this month.

Sunday 3rd December 2016

Some beautiful Classic Cars in Te Atatu North

Wednesday 7th December 2016

I flew into Dunedin today and then drove to 'Balclutha' for training.

Balclutha Road Bridge

After work I popped by Naish Park and checked out a few birds in the aviaries and the duck pond

I stayed at the Rosebank Lodge and for dinner I had 

Blue Cod...scrummy

Thursday 8th December 2016
Today I am driving to Invercargill for work, on the way I noticed Santa had fallen from his sleigh 😢

Lupins

Arrived in Invercargill and went to work, wow what a scorcher of a day 27degC, and tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter.

After work I decided to drive down to Bluff

New Zealand's most famous signpost

Anchor chain sculpture (Te Puka A Maui) which illustrates the mythological link between the canoe of Maui (a legendary Polynesian voyager with God like powers) and its anchor stone. The other end of the chain link is on Stewart Island. Maui pulled up Stewart Island to use as an anchor stone for his canoe (South Island) for when he cast his line out & caught a giant fish, the North Island.

Looking out over Foveaux Strait

The most Southern Pilot Station in the world (now disused)

The Bluff Hill/Motupohue area provides visitors to the area with spectacular views over Foveaux Strait and the Southland Plains.

The Tiwai Aluminium Smelter opposite Bluff. The smelter runs on hydro electricity generated by the Southern Alps rivers to the north - particularly the Clutha

Looking over the Southland Plains

The old New Zealand Shipping Company Store No. 2

Artwork on building

Mural depicting the shipwreck of 'The England's Glory 1869 - 1881

Bluff home of the Oyster

Ian Dee Engineering Ltd

Dog Island Lighthouse in the Foveaux Strait is NZ's oldest and tallest lighthouse. Built in 1865 it is 46 metres (151 feet)

I then drove back to Invercargill and then out to Oreti Beach

Photos at Dusk and Sunset

I then drove over to Stead Street Wharf where I took the photos below

As it is nearly Christmas I took some photos of the controversial Christmas Lights, around the City.
The council copped nationwide flak when it sent three staff members to China to buy Christmas lights at ratepayers expense in 2015, and they returned home minus any lights.
Things got worse when in August it was found $5500 of Christmas lights the council eventually purchased from China were non-compliant with NZ standards.
That taught the council not to buy lights on the cheap, so the replacement lights now up and shining in the city cost $250,000, with half that money in installation costs.

Christmas Tree

More Christmas Lights

Friday 9th December 2016

Today I am driving back to Dunedin to catch a flight home later on this evening. On the way back I drove up through the beautiful 'Catlins' it is another stinking hot day 29degC today.

Kereru (NZ Wood Pigeon)

Tahakopa River

Looking up the Coast

A lone Foxglove

A cow with the best views in the world

Tautuku Beach and Peninsula

Fortrose is the Southern gateway to the Catlins coastal route

SS Tararua

Remains of the SS Tararua

Waipapa Point

Waipapa Point Lighthouse was one of the last wooden lighthouses to be be built. It dates back to 1884 and was built after the sinking of the SS Tararua.

Sea Lion lazing in the sun

Waipapa Point

Wind swept trees

Slope Point is the most southerly point of the South Island

Derelict Shed

Porpoise Bay

Curio Bay

Seaweed

Derelect Shed

Foxgloves

The Catlins Information Centre

Purakaunui Falls Walk

Purakaunui Falls

South Island Robin

A beautiful Ice Plant

Teapot Land - Owaka

Nugget Point

Rock where breeding Royal Spoonbills reside

Looking back towards Kaka Point

Nugget Point and Lighthouse

Lupins

Finally back in Dunedin, just in time to make my flight.
Merry Christmas from Dunedin

Saturday 10th December 2016

We went in to the City today to check out the new Griffiths Park and the Community Fridge

A Community Fridge for the Hungry, you can leave food which is checked daily for safety. This was only here temporarily to see how well it worked.

 This is probably tooooo much information but how about these for bathroom signs.

Monday 12th December 2016

This morning I heard an awful screeching coming from the backyard, so I race out to find a Pukeko wandering around, and even having a bath

Some greedy pigeons have taken over the bird feeder

Tonight was our work Christmas function at Sky City
Table decorations

Christmas Trees outside the Casino

Sunday 18th December 2016
Malcolm made a Ferris Wheel
Check out the three videos below

Photos of the Ferris Wheel

Thursday 22nd December 2016

A Lego Christmas Tree in Aotea Square, built from over half a million lego blocks

Santa on the Farmers building

A Classic Car I spotted out my window at work