Farewell to Our Old Neighborhood

One of the pretty but relatively modest ranches built in the sixties when the neighborhood was transformed from farmland into housing development out in the country.This used to be a Dutch Colonial (see also house on left), now a postmodern craftsman farmhouse.
A simple Split Level became a large brick facade home.

Farewell to Our Old Neighborhood

The original farmhouse has a discreet add-on in the same style (hidden behind the blue spruce).

Our trees are a great source of fresh air.
I believe that this was the first house which had extensive changes.

Farewell to Our Old Neighborhood

Two ways to transform a simple ranch into something grander.

Farewell to Our Neighborhood

We love our Japanese maple which flames red in fall.They added a Prairie style front garden.
A redo farmhouse style. (Wait and see what the other neighbors did!)

West Coast

The west coast still has wide stretches that are untouched by development - no wonder because the road is unendingly winding with one lane across bridges. If you happen to be a civil engineer, NZ needs you!


It was winter, the wheather turned on us. Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula disappeared in rain.My newly acquired jacket came in handy.
The monkeys in the Auckand zoo show how cold I felt.
Goodbye to NZ. I would like to come back in summer!

Wairangi

Wairangi on the North Island's west coast has historic significance in addition to its natural beauty.

Norfolk Pine

The Bay


The missionary's house who initiated the treaty to preserve peace between Maori and Pa'alangi.

Maori Carvings

This council house was built for the Treaty of Wairangi anniversary. It includes carvings from all the Maori tribes that signed the treaty.

Fern Trees

I was just as impressed by the numerous fern trees as I was by the kauri trees.The North Island has jungle!

Kauri Museum

The Kauri museum was very insightful. I learned about a tree and a pioneer industry I had never heard about before.

Kauri Trees

The awe-inspiring kauri trees were harvested by European crews and exported for their valuable wood. Their sap was used as varnish. Kauris are left from dinosaur times.
The jungle where they grow is a national park today.

Alligator

Alligator on our neighbor's lawn.

Maoris

They are part of a dance troupe performing in the Auckland museum. This museum has some awesome Polynesian art including carved war canoes and council houses.

Waka

The great Polynesian migrations happened on large traveling canoes, called waka.

The shed below was built for one of the ceremonial war canoes used by the NZ Maori. The canoe is a reproduction for the anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi that established New Zealand.Decorative bow. Mouse over title for an additional photo.

Copthorne Hotel

Sunset in Hokianga.

Stay here if you want an awseome view of Hokianga Harbor.

Hokianga Harbor

After miles and miles of travel on a narrow road in the jungle, we landed on a hill with this marvelous view of Hokianga Bay. The great Maori chief Kupe landed here and the first group of Polynesians made the bay their home. The tiny town of Omapere.
Yes, these are real sanddunes, an entire peninsula made of sand dunes. European sailors did not find this bay for a long time because its entrance is hidden by the dunes that extend into the ocean. Many shipwrecked trying to negotiate the shallow entrance to the estuary which is also buffeted by winds. Mouse over title for a satellite photo on Wiki.

Auckland, NZ

High time to return to the South Pacific :-)
This tower is an Auckland landmark.