Wharariki Beach Archway Islands New Zealand

Wharariki Beach and Archway Islands 

Puponga - New Zealand

Archway Islands from Cave

At the most northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand you have Cape Farewell and to the west you will find Wharariki Beach(top of the Kiwi's Head) A short 20min walk through Department of Conservation land (Puponga farm park) that was once owned by the Riley's. The walking track will bring you out at the top of a small sand dune with a view down the beach and the Archway Islands. Best time is at low tide and it can get very windy,  seals can be found coming ashore to rest in some of the caves along the beach, Oyster catchers black and white and black ones can be seen feeding along the waters edge with other sea birds.

Archway Islands - Wharariki Beach

Seal resting on Beach

Archway Islands

Top of the Sand dunes, Wharariki Beach

Getting There:

From Collingwood follow the signs to Puponga, crossing a large single lane bridge over the Aorere River, through Ferntown and on to Pakawau, turn right after crossing the bridge, Ocean on your right. Once you reach Puponga you can drive up to the Farewell spit lookout (there is a good coffee shop at the end of the road) Back out to the main road turn right 20mins and you will of reach the parking area where the trail starts.

Top of the Hill above carpark, looking towards Beach

 We stayed at the Collingwood Park Motel on the Main Street of Collingwood, very nice.

Red Fox on the Hunt

Red Fox hunting rodents under the snow

Watching this Red fox hunting for rodents was very interesting and entertaining  moving his head from side to side, listing to the rodents movements under the snow (about 2 feet deep) and then jumping up and nose diving into the snow and catching it. 

     The Jump                           

                                   

The Dive

The prize

Mountain Lion at my door

Mountain Lion visit

Sunday afternoon visit from a mountain lion near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 

We get Foxes, Coyotes, elk even Moose drop in from time to time to say Hi, but this is a first considering the open ground that is around us.

Thanks to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife for picking him/her up and relocating.  

Mountain lion in the shadows

Not a happy kitty

Mountain lion walking passed the window



Water Drop Photography

Waterdrop Photography

I have started to do a little bit of splash photography in my spare time, Once you have the setup that you like, Backdrops, water value, Pluto trigger, and a flash, Camera and lens. using deferent food colors and water thickness, liquid additives like Xanthan Gum (found on Amazon) Milk, Rise aid and the list goes on.

Water drop Cocktails

This process can be very addictive, using 1 drop to start, then 2 drops to start getting the collisions going, adding a 3 drop makes things interesting.

Two drop Heads

Watching the small screen on the camera to see what you getting after every shot and before you know it you have a total photo count of over 400.

Double Crown

Editing was done in Lightroom and/or Luminar

Lightning over Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Lightning near Steamboat Springs,CO

Lightning hitting ski field,Steamboat Springs, CO

Bald Eagles around Steamboat Springs, CO

We are lucky to live a place were you can see these eagles on a daily basis, flying over head, fishing out of the Yampa river or nearby ponds that have been stocked.

The national bird symbol of the United States

Doing his morning fly by

Resting after fishing

Winter time

One of the 2 local Bald eagle that are here all year round

Chicago, Illinois

I had to spend the day in Chicago in March this year and was surprise how much I enjoyed walking around this big city, it was a windy and cold day, coffee shops were on me list of stops to warm up and watch people go about their business (people watching should be a sport) 

Down town Chicago 

Hire bike stations seem to be everywhere 

Face on Wall

Walkway under the road that ended up at the beach

Taco trucks, downtown Chicago

Something that I enjoy very much, Tacos, also check out the Tattoo show at the Field Museum  (must see) to the end of April 2017.