A Rauparaha’s Copper Butterfly in New Zealand

Rauparaha's Copper butterfly near muriwai regional park, new zealand _3241

An image of a Rauparaha's Copper Butterfly near Muriwai, New Zealand

It was enjoyable making our way through the sand dunes at Muriwai on the North Island of New Zealand.  The observation deck looking over the Gannet colony was our destination, but delights awaited us along the way such as this pretty Rauparaha’s Copper Butterfly. Read more

Among the birds in the Waitakere Hills near Auckland

An image of Lone Kauri Lodge in New Zealand.

After picking up a rental car in Auckland, New Zealand, Bob set about driving us to our first accommodation in Karekare at the edge of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park in the Waitakere Hills.  What a warm welcome we received at Lone Kauri Lodge and what a nice touch to see the Canadian flag flying proudly from their flagpole. Read more

In the footsteps of Gollum at Tawhai Falls in Tongariro National Park

An image of Bob standing below Tawhai Falls in Tongariro National Park in New Zealand. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

An image of Tawhai waterfalls in Tongariro National Park on the North Island, in New Zealand. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

While in New Zealand, we had a real mixed bag of weather conditions.  Our time spent in Mt. Tongariro National Park was under grey skies for the most part with driving rain, snow, sleet or hail.  Our hopes of hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing were dashed owing to strong winds, so we made the best of things and opted for some other scenic hikes, one of which was the Tawhai Falls Walk. Read more

Hobbiton – Our Walk Through The Shire

An image of a hobbit hole with a yellow door and a wooden fence with a gate out front of it at Hobbiton, in New Zealand. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

Way before Bob and I decided to go to New Zealand, I held close to my heart the idea of one day visiting Hobbiton.  When we viewed the movie, The Hobbit, I fell in love with the whimsical Hobbit Holes that Bilbo Baggins and Frodo called home.  The dome-shaped dwellings captured the imagination of my inner child, and the seemingly utopian bucolic lifestyle struck a chord with me. Read more

Australasian Gannets at the Muriwai Gannet Colony

australasian-gannet-at-the-muriwai-gannet-colony-waitakere-new-zealand-2

Bob and I had a long list of sights to see in New Zealand and first up was the gannet colony at Muriwai Regional Park just outside of Auckland.  About an hour’s drive north of Lone Kauri Lodge where we were staying on the North Island, it made for the perfect day trip.  Over 2,000 Australasian Gannets make up the colony at Muriwai, which is one of only three mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand. Read more

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