Weta workshops, Across the Cook Straight and Home!

Wellington and it’s creative side is well known world wide in the Movie industry so we made a trek out to Miramar and Weta workshops.

I took the tour and a workshop, both of which the guides were American. 

The tour of the Movie props and artifacts, was interesting, but no photography was allowed. 

These photo’s were taken in the shop and entrance way.

This was the sculpture workshop, playing with a sort of doughy plasticine which is built up around a ball of aluminium foil.

This is how a lot of the props were made!

This was the overseas terminal back in the 1960’s 

where our ship the Southern Cross docked and we first set foot on New Zealand.

Nowadays it is a super flash apartment block, right beside the marina.

Another smooth crossing!

Picton coming into view!

The drive through the Rai valley still had some lovely autumn colours about.

It’s always good to be home on familiar turf.

This early morning sunrise over Richmond was unusual.

Back in my neighbourhood the camera still kept taking photos.

Below is the Richmond velodrome



and the track lighting.

Heavy industry down at the fibreboard plant ... has its own type of beauty

... when the light is right and you don't consider the steam to be visual pollution.

One must always keep one's eyes open ... I've rode past this drain hundreds of time, 

but this was the first time I've taken a photo of it!

Biking back from Nelson there was celebrations going on in the harbour, to raise funds for sea rescue activities

These chains on rocks Road are  an iconic Nelson feature, going back to the early 1898's 

The wall was built by prisoners from the Nelson goal and completed in 1898.

The chain fence was erected along part of the wall to protect the public from the vertical drop into the sea below. It is composed of a double row of chains between stanchions placed 3.2meters apart (10.49 feet)

We went up to play some music to the horses at the RDA

Here is Christine bringing them along…

They weren’t too sure ...  but Jimmy the white horse was very keen to blow it himself!

Occasionally we have Piwiawaka’s visit up there 

especially around the poo heaps, picking up little insects and flies.

That’s the end of this blog folks.

We hope you are well.

As always …Stay safe, have fun and be creative.

Jimu & Christine 

Wellington, Castle Point, Napier, Palmerston North and back to Wellington.

 With barely time to do the washing we were off again, this time to the North Island!

Ultimately we were heading to a wedding in Palmerston North but we had some time to fill in before hand!

After we crossed the straight we headed for Evans Bay 

Due to changes because of Covid 19 it is now easy to get a parkup here, it is close to a busy road and near the airport, so it’s not for light sleepers.

Right at the end of Wellington Airport Runway, this is where they come into land 

 We motored up through the Wairarapa and hung a right at Masterton after checking out he local Sunday Market.

Having been here before it is still worth revisiting, a fabulous part of the coastline, dramatic seas and superb scenery 

Castle point was fantastic for taking photos and testing out my new found skills.

Once in Napier we parked up on Marine Parade about 2klms south of the city.

I got both the bike and the unicyle off and rode the seafront track both into town and towards Hasting too! 

Checking out the light at sunrise and sunset each day and strolling around town early mornings, is a great way to see the city!



We were in Napier for three days and I revisited the Pier taking more photos....it’s amazing how the view changes with the time and the weather!

 Some around town city shots of Napier.

My god...they’ve squeezed a tree into this building...how neat is that!

 We went out to Craggy Ridge Wines ..... we were bowled by the whole set up here!

So we thought, it’s 1.30pm we’ll have lunch, but was told lunch doesn’t start till 2.30pm ????

 Anyway I took some free photos while we had some nibbles.

A Roller is parked in space #1 and back of the line is our Mitsubishi Rosa. 













Now back at Marine Parade Napier and another sunrise!

Palmerston North has a nice little free parkup right in town...the tree is real but the bus and the river on the wall is a mural

On Cuba street ... it’s a hip town Man!

Things go better with Coke

It’s numbers game!

We motored down to Wellington,parking yet again at Evans Bay and from there I biked into town 

This tells you about Wellington's weather ... it happens allot

Man its windy!

Checking out the city at night

The back view of Te Papa

So next we headed out to Weta Workshops and the South Island and home.

Plenty to follow, with more blogs.

Till then.

Stay safe, have fun and be creative.

Cheers Jimu & Christine.