For my final postcards I am going to revisit New Zealand. An all too brief visit almost 10 years ago and one which I had hoped to repeat, but my enthusiasm for long haul travel has very much diminished over the years. My overall impressions were the colours of green and blue, rounded hills in the Waikato region, wonderful trees often bent out of shape by the winds, black sand, tree ferns, the long white clouds and excellent coffee. No words this time, just pictures.
New Zealand Part 1
Ngarunui (sometimes called Ocean Beach, Main Beach or Wainui Beach) is the main sandy swimming beach in Raglan. A magnificent black sand surfing beach. We were staying at the far south-western end of the beach about 6km out of Raglan.The wonderful rounded hills of the region. This is on the way to Raglan where we stayed.Mount Karioi is an ancient volcano about 8km SW of RaglanPsoralea pinnata, called fountain bush is an erect shrub or small tree, which grows up to 4 m high, with blue, lilac and white, pea-shaped flowers which bloom in early summer. A south African plant which smells of Kool-Aid!Taken near the Te Toto Gorge Lookout. A beautiful view from a platform, hanging high on the air at the top of sheer cliff – it’s reached by a narrow winding gravel track so take care.View from Te Toto Gorge Lookout up the coast towards Auckland. It is a very long way down!Wonderful greenery provided by the tree fernsThe views from where we were staying situated on a hilltop above Ngarunui BeachLots of pretty wild flowers and grasses along the roadside
I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.
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18 thoughts on “Postcards from around the world”
I don’t think I’ll ever have the chance to get there. All the more thanks for taking me there in your pictures!
That beach is particularly beautiful. I know what you mean, I’ve gone off long haul gravel too.
You stayed in a beautiful area, Jude. What gorgeous views.
The views were amazing, I could easily have lived there.
TRAVEL WORDS 
I don’t think I’ll ever have the chance to get there. All the more thanks for taking me there in your pictures!
That beach is particularly beautiful. I know what you mean, I’ve gone off long haul gravel too.
You stayed in a beautiful area, Jude. What gorgeous views.
The views were amazing, I could easily have lived there.