Whangarei Falls

The 26 metre high Falls, within the city limits, would be the most photographed spot in Whangarei.

Whangarei Coastguard

The Whangarei Coastguard in action, checking out an overturned boat at Onerahi recently.
 They're getting a brand new locally built boat any day now.

Get the Humps

One of the more creative outfits at Waipu's Xmas Parade, held on Xmas Eve.

3 Sisters & Elephant

At Tongaporutu, on the coast, north of Waitara in Taranaki, you can see three 25 metre rock formations known as the 3 Sisters and the Elephant.

Onerahi Shops Scenery

One of the scenic tile murals added to beautify the Onerahi shops recently.

Because It's Xmas

One of a Kind

The only one in New Zealand, the Technical Rescue Tenderbased in the busy Papatoetoe Fire Station in South Auckland is used for complex rescues, major vehicle crashes and building collapses etc. It is often called the Heavy Rescue Tender (by fire staff), which Auckland had two of before.

Fish From Glass

Last Saturday the Artisans Fair was held in Cafler Park, Whangarei.

This lady (from Annie Rose)was making fish from sticks of glass using a blowtorch.

Life Savers

The Whangarei Heads Surf Lifeguards at work, at Ocean Beach (East of Whangarei) last summer.

We owe them real gratitude for their work.

Heritage Park

The Whangarei Heritage Park is not far from the western edge of the city, where 11 clubs and organisations are sited. The have regular visitor days where people can experience what they have to offer.

NZ's Smallest Fire Station?

At Tongaporutu. a tiny seaside settlement near Mokau, in North Taranaki.

There are really interesting cliff faces and breakaway islands here.

Undies Away

An old photo of the Undies 500 road race run here by More FM. Always worth a laugh for some of the more creative costumes. They haven't held one this year that I know of.

Not Your Usual Shapes

The windows and door are really interesting shapes.
Rongotea is a small village west of Palmerston North.

Reel the Mail In

Such a cool idea.

Spotted at Onerahi - how you can get your mail without getting wet. Just use the line and pulleys at each end to bring the box up to the deck.

From Cows to Fires

Many rural fire brigades in New Zealand have their own tankers, for obvious reason. Some are converted milk tankers. The Te Kauwhata one above looks like it was one of these.

Have a Rocketing Xmas

One of floats that captured public interest at yesterday's Kamo Xmas Parade. A radio controlled rocket with trailer. The astronaut waved to the crowd as well.

One Moment, I'll Connect You

The Kauri Museum at Matakohe has an old Post Office building full of the old time equipment. Well worth a visit. Much more than just this there.

Seen Better Days

The remains of a once busy wharf pier at Port Whangarei. Most of the boats use the deep water port at Marsden Point now.

Maungakaramea's Pride

Earlier this year the Maungakaramea Rural Fire Force took delivery of a brand new fire engine, replacing their old one.
They are well into building a new fire station as well, having operated from an old shed.

Duck!

A skateboarder flies high at the Whangarei Skate park at a brilliantly fine day for the skateboarding competitions in February.

Just a Few Floats

What you can do with stuff washed up on the beach.
This well decorated home in the main street of Te Kopuru (south of Dargaville) has hundreds of ropes and buoys from ships, and other decorations.

Gnarly

This twisted leaf-free tree caught my eye while photographing Whangarei Harbour.

This Truck is Very Nice

Lovingly restored, one of Russell's early fire engines got an outing at Kawakawa Fire Brigade's parade in 2005.

He's In Front Of You

A judge watches during the national skydiving championships at Onerahi Airport (Whangarei) last summer.

Skydive Ballistic Blondes operates a public tandem dive operation here.

Just Walking the Dog

Sorry for the big gaps on posts, hope to be back to daily posts again.

This boy and his dog were enjoying the hot day at Sandspit, a picturesque seaside village east of Warkworth.

Back Over My Shoulder

We visited the hothouse at Botanica which is at the Council Fernery and indoor plant house.

Cambridge Fire Station

The Cambridge Fire Station is one of the nicer looking ones in New Zealand, and is well kept.

Unfortunately in recent years many new ones have been constructed of steel corrugated iron materials and often are painted in colours like green - well removed from the traditional red doors, so you could well go past them not realising what they were..

Up & Over

Waipu Cove hosted the 2008 Northern Region Surf LifesavingInflatable Rescue Boat competitions. The weather was great for it.

Nice Place to Go In

These are the stylish public toilets in Matakana, not far north of Auckland, sometimes referred to as Auckland's playground.

Whangarei is Hilly

The view from 242 metres at Mt Parihaka, with panoramic views of Whangarei and the harbour.

You can drive and park very near the top, which has a lookout and a War Memorial, with a red light that glows at night. There are bush trails around it, and one leading from the Hatea River to the top.

The Trees are Not Part of the Training Exercise

The trees caught fire when firefighters burnt an old house for practice, on the outskirts of Whangarei.

Hands Full

Each November a free family festival - Artbeat - is held in a central Whangarei park.

These jugglers were one of the attractions last year. We missed it this year as we went to New Plymouth last weekend. That's why the postings here haven't been every day.

Time in Blue

The Clock Tower in New Plymouth tonight. Tried to climb it but it was locked at Level 2.

Lake Life

The beautiful Kai Iwi Lakes, north of Dargaville, photographed in January.

It's a low cost place to camp, with lovely shallows for all ages to paddle in and a white sand beach, but has no electricity.

Nice Day for Reflecting

The view across Whangarei Harbour from One Tree Point, with Mount Manaia on the opposite shore, and Port Marsden visible on the right. The sand dam was there during construction of the Marsden Covemarina and housing development.

Red Fleet

Portland Volunteer Fire Brigade held celebrations to mark 50 years of service to their community last year, including a parade of these vehicles through Whangarei.

Fireworks Over The Beach

Last night we went to Ngunguru School's fireworks display, for Guy Fawkes. The school has a lovely outlook, onto the sandspit and beach.

Wave and Waka

The Wave and Waka sculpture is a recent addition to the entrance to Whangarei's inner harbour.

Blowing in the Wind

The Manawatu Gorge hills are host to Te Apiti, one of New Zealand's growing number of wind farms, providing clean renewable energy.

Big Squirt

Takahiwai, one of the tugs that also provide fire protection at Marsden Point for the port and oil refinery.

Just Been For a Quick Spin

The Whangarei Kart Club is currently replacing its track with an improved layout.

You can start karting at a young age, as can be seen here.

Beside the CBD

A 5 minute stroll away from the central business district and this is the view, the upper harbour and some of the many yachts moored there - local and international.

Some Railways Are Not Busy

The long disused section of the railway which runs through the main street of Kawakawa to the port of Opua in the Bay of Islands.

It is slowly being restored by the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway group, and regular short passenger trips are run with a steam locomotive from Kawakawa part way towards Opua.

This photo is from a stretch I walked besides a bay near the Opua end.

Not Your Average Fire Engine

This was photographed in 2007 at Waimihia Fire Depot on State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo.

I have never seen anything like it before or since.

Specifications are:-
Make: FORD
Model: QUAD
Year: 1942
Submodel: 4X4
Main colour: Red
Vehicle type: Special Purpose Vehicle
Body style: Other Truck
No of seats: 1
CC rating: 3,620
Fuel type: Petrol
Assembly type: NZ Assembled/Built
Country of origin: United States Of America
Gross vehicle mass: 6,800kg
Tare weight: 3,800
Axle type: 2-Axle
No of axles: 2
Wheelbase: 2,570

Brilliant Brillieaux

The "must attend" event every year in Northland is the Bay of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival.

One of my regular favorites - Tauranga's hard blues band Brilleaux performing at the Haruru Falls Resort, near Paihia.

Grand Hotel

109 years old and still going strong. It is the only hotel in the cbd and hosted the Queen in 1953.

Summer's Here

Martins Bay is one of the nicer beaches northeast of Auckland. Last weekend, although it was a holiday )long) weekend the beaches were far from crowded.

Small Ambulance

A St John Ambulance officer and motorcycle from Auckland, assisting at the Coast to Coast bike race in Whangarei last summer. With Auckland's congested traffic, these machines can get to many callouts quicker.

Old Warbird

This craft was part of the air show at Whangarei's Airport at Onerahi, about 2004.

Like a Fish Out of Water

Another of the many ships that are repaired or built in Whangarei.