I love Otago, and the one thing that differentiates Otago from the rest of New Zealand for me is the sight of golden-brown hills like these ones. This sort of hill is almost always within sight throughout Otago.
Author Archives: nightcycling
Double Zero Equals Zero
One Tree Hill hasn’t had a tree at its top for almost 10 years, hence its nick-name – None Tree Hill. In the next few years after consultation with local iwi has been completed, it is hoped that several native trees will be planted at the top of t…
The DNA of Movement
On the Auckland wharves is an area of reclaimed land which houses a large number of huge tanks containing oil. It is known as Tank Farm. Currently, this area is in the process of having these tanks dismantled and the area turned into apartment liv…
A Brief Moment of Quiet Reflection
I was driving between Roxburgh and Alexandra, crested a hill and saw this scene and kind of slid the car to the side of the road in my haste to take the photo. I was lucky that the police car behind me was still ascending the hill, and didn’t see …
One Last Fling
The silver fern (kaponga or ponga) is one of the main emblems (along with the kiwi and the colour black) associated with New Zealand and New Zealanders. This one was extraordinarily adept at trapping leaves from an overhead deciduous tree. It was …
Orchard Autumn
An orchard in Roxburgh, Central Otago. It seemed like the colours were firing everywhere I drove in Otago.
Misting
The shore of Lake Taupo. I got up early yesterday to take some early morning photos of the mountains (Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro), but there was so much fog that I almost didn’t bother going out. Closer to Taupo than where we were staying wa…
Less Evidence of Autumn
I love the cold, clear, crisp days of early winter. No wind today. Love it.
Booking Time
I love books and libraries. Ever since I learnt to read, I’ve spent much more time than I should reading books. Since I started using the internet, I read fewer books and I’d like to change that. I have a huge shelf of books waiting to be read, bu…
Spaghetti Junction Part 2
The northern part of Spaghetti Junction. Auckland’s Sky Tower can be seen to the right. Auckland’s Harbour Bridge is to the far left linking Auckland with the North Shore.
Spaghetti Junction Part 1
Officially, the name of this part of motorway is the Auckland Central Motorway Junction. I had to look that up as I have never heard it referred to in that way. Locals call it Spaghetti Junction. If you take a look at this link, you will see why. …
Autumn Paradise
Almost twenty years ago, I spent two summers picking fruit in Roxburgh, Central Otago. I love Roxburgh and it is one of the places in the world that I feel most at home. Despite that, I’ve only been back a couple of times since then, the last time…
Night Cycling 