(Left)
My grandparents bought a bach in the mid 1960s as a summer home / vacation
cottage. After many years and renovations, this is what it looks like in
2003.
(Centre/Left)
As you can see, Hanmer Springs is nestled in the middle of the mountains, in
the centre of the South Island. It's sunny and hot during the summer, and it
snows during the winters to make a beautiful ski resort.
(Centre/Right)
The one thing I strongly remember about my trips to Hanmer as a child was the
bridge over the Waiau River. This is because its a one-lane wooden bridge that
has always looked a little unsubstantial for my tastes, some 200' above
the...
(Right)
Waiau River. The camera doesn't bring it out, but the water is a milky blue
as it is a fully mountain fed waterway.
(Left and Centre/Left)
These are a pair of pictures of the Southern Alps, on the road towards Hanmer
Springs.
(Centre)
This is a picture of the thermal pools of Hanmer. Alright. So its night,
and its in the middle of winter. You get the idea.
(Centre/Right and Right)
Many moons ago Hanmer Springs had one Post Office, which also housed the
townships only telephone. Ah, simpler days. For the last few years the
Post Office has been the name of a restaurant instead, serving exquisite food,
and as the years have progressed, excessively exquisite prices.
(Left)
Like I said, my father is a hoarder. Not only does he collect cars, but in
more recent years (Since '97 I believe) he collects airplanes. Actually, only
two airplanes - a pair of DeHavilland DH104 Devons, from the Royal New Zealand
Air Force.
(Centre and Right)
Helping mask up the airplane for some spraypainting. We're using a blue pastic
film that just happened to be findable at the time. Unfortunately the plastic
is as good as GladWrap/Saran Wrap, and sticks to itself like there's no tomorrow.
Thusly, standing on a wing and applying it from its 4 foot wide roll was a royal
pain in the arse.
While teaching my cousin to drive, who was 14 at the time, in the parking lot
of a certain Air Force Museum, he managed to screw up a chicane and plough
my fathers Morris 1300 into a concrete flower box. This is the flower box.
This is the car: Here,
here,
here, and
Here.
After my parents separated, in 1994, my father moved back to Christchurch. Some
years, and various abodes later (Including his mothers house, a miniscule flat,
and a hangar), this is his house, in the 'burbs of Christchurch.
Here are some pictures of my home city of Wellington, New Zealand.
Wellington city from Shelly Bay, across the water.
A Panorama of Wellington, from left to right, taken from Mount Victoria.
Mt Vic, Hataitai and outwards to the Eastern Suburbs, the Airport and south
to Rongotai and Kilbernie.
Kilbernie, and over the hill, Newtown.
The city and beyond, Newtown, Vogeltown, Kowhai Park and Brooklyn.
The central city, flanked by Brooklyn, Highbury and Kelburn.
The North end of the city, with the railway station and Stadium, behind is
Kelburn.
Looking Northwards of the city, showing Motorway 1, with Kaiwharawhara and
you just see the Ngauranga Gorge.
To give you an idea of what you're lookng at, I've ripped off a map for you.
Mt Victoria, where the picture is taken, is on the right edge of the square
containing the city centre. The photo starts by looking SouEasth to North.
Click here for the map.