New Zealand

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Fractures

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fractures

the cracking or breaking of a hard object
or material

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WeeklyPrompts-PC-Gardens

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Any future visit to Canada would…

…have to include a morning at…

…the Butchart Sunken Gardens…

…on Vancouver Island.

 

***

A bit closer to home is…

…the Hamilton Gardens…

…in New Zealand’s North Island.

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Weekly Prompt Photo Challenge:…Gardens

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Word-of-Day-Challenge-Gush

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(of a liquid) flow out of something

in a rapid and plentiful stream.

The Waikato River narrows from 100 metres

to a mere 15 metre wide canyon…

…allowing water to gush through

as it drains from Lake Taupo

in New Zealand’s

North Island

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Sunday-Stills-Favourite-Holiday-Spot

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Initially my thoughts turned to

Africa for this challenge.

However, a little more thought and

New  Zealand it is.

New Zealand is sometimes referred to

as Australia’s seventh state;

and I must confess it is a

home away from home in my opinion.

Now for some random images from our

2018 road trip around a small part

of New Zealand’s North Island.

Near Matamata we spent a couple

of nights at Buckland’s Airbnb.

This window view, from our room,

was enough to keep me happy.

 

If the view appears too rural for your liking,

there is always accommodation in Matamata itself.

We were there to visit the Hobbit Movie set

which is less than 5 kilometres from

Buckland’s  airbnb.

The third of Waitomo’s Cave was Ruakuri Cave.

The only cave where photography

was freely allowed.

To reach the cave floor we had

to negotiate the spiral down.

And there was no magic way of getting

out of the cave without negotiating

the same spiral to ground level.

While in the Ruakuri Cave…

…there are plenty of sights…

…to view or photograph.

Several nights were spent in Taupo,

located on the north-eastern shore

of Lake Taupo.

About 15 minutes out of Taupo is Huka Falls.

Not big in either width or height,

however, big in water throughput.

 

Taupo also provided an extensive range…

…of flora to photograph during our visit.

About 90 kilometres to the south of Taupo is

Tongariro National Park

where I was able to capture this image of

Mt Ruapehu

At Rotorua we spent a night or two at

Hamurana Lodge

a Boutique Hotel out of Rotorua.

Using Hamurana Lodge as our base

we were able to visit

Whakarewarewa – Living Maori Village…

…and enjoy lunch cooked in a thermal spring

the traditional Maori way.

We arrived back in Auckland a few days prior

to No 1 Son’s wedding.

Number 2 Son and his wife had been sort

of shadowing us during our road trip.

As Daughter-in-Law celebrated her

birthday the day before we arrived

in Auckland we all met up for

a family celebration.

Dinner in Auckland’s Sky Tower.

New Zealand is a peaceful friendly country

with a wide variety of attractions.

AND it is roughly a two and a half hour

flight from Melbourne.

Compare that with a 14 hour journey

from Sydney to Johannesburg.

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Sunday-Stills-Favourite-Vacation-Spot

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One-Word-Sunday-Point

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point

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Whether one is in

Victoria’s

Western District…

 

…Hobbiton

New Zealand…

…visiting the

Tower of London…

 

…or exploring Old York,

there is always a signpost

to point you to your

next destination.

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One Word Sunday Challenge:...Point

 

 

 

 

 

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ANZAC-Day-2021

ANZAC-Day-2021

 

Today, ANZAC Day 2021, in small towns

throughout Australia, New Zealand

and at many sites overseas…

…people of all ages will gather before sunrise

to attend Dawn Services and remember..


Wreaths will be laid at local monuments..

 

…to acknowledge the sacrifices made by those

who did, and did not, return from

the Great War and all subsequent conflicts

in which the Australian Military

has participated.

In the afternoon

Collingwood and Essendon football teams

will do battle in what has become one of

the highlights of the

Australian Football League calendar.

Due to COVID restrictions only a maximum

of 85,000 fans will be allowed into the

Melbourne Cricket Ground

to watch the match which will commence

after ANZAC Day ceremonies

are completed with all in attendance

observing a minutes silence.

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Lest We Forget

 

 

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Cees-MWMChallenge-April-Light-Neon-Green

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Unknown flower from

Taupo Gardens

New Zealand

Bruges bikes

Murano,

Italy

Very much closer to home.

Victoria,

Vancouver Island

Canada

 


From the Butterfly Gardens

Vancouver Island (BC)

Canada

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Cee’s-MWMChallenge-April-Light-Neon-Green

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