Our family went camping recently. It was a typical kiwi camping excursion, full of sand, salt and stink (not too many showers available out there…). It was a great opportunity to take some photos, however, and I came across these...

We found this big boy in the Purangi Estury at Cooks Beach on February 9. It was a clear, hot, summer afternoon and he was just hanging out, soaking up some rays…until my son stuck a stick under him to have a closer look (don’t worry, no marine life was harmed in the making of this photo). Apparently these things...

This place is a little gem, tucked into the base of the Kaimai Range near Te Aroha. Waiorongomai Valley is an old gold mining settlement, now either in ruins or completely gone, with plenty of history and bush tracks a plenty. There are some great views back out over the plains as...

I love my visits to Cooks Beach. They are far too infrequent. But always memorable. There are some pretty spectacular beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula and Cooks is the best of the bunch. This pic was taken during a recent stay. The headland to the right of the pic is called Shakespeare Cliff and is the best spot to view...

I took this photo recently while I was out driving near the base of the Kaimai ranges, which rise near my home in Matamata. This photos was taken here (you can just make out the railway line). The stretch of Old Te Aroha road between Okauia and Te Aroha is really, really nice. You should drive it some...

It’s been a little while since I posted on this blog. That was a deliberate thing, as I’ve had much to process over the last month or so. I kept January clean (on this blog, at least) so I could come back fresh, uncluttered and inspired. Well, that was the plan. I have to say, I’m not quite there yet. But...

I took a few snaps on a recent kindergarten trip to Hamilton Zoo. Exhibit number 4: the Chimp, chilling out having finished off something mysterious for lunch. (Click on the image to enlarge to full...