2009 - Summer in New Zealand
JJMoon Diary
Barry and Margaret Wilmshurst
Sun 1 Mar 2009 07:55
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2009 Back home on JJ
Moon
 Opua, where we
are resident, is a village with one small shop, 2 restaurants, a
marina and various businesses related mainly to boats.
 JJ Moon with
the bike parked alongside.
The summer
here has been wonderful; one of the best in many years according to the
locals. While England has had record levels of snow we have been able to
admire the flora and fauna around Opua and Russell, just a ferry trip
away. Below are just a few photos to show the area.
 View across
the Bay of Islands
 Along the
shore path.
 The next bay
round with the agapanthus still in flower.
  Agapanthus
will always remind me of New Zealand. They are glorious in the spring but
are still looking great in late summer. I don't as yet know the name
of the flower in the second photo but it has a wonderful
fragrance.
 A trip across
to Russell on the ferry is always a pleasure. The photo shows the Russell
police station.
  I have wanted
to take a good photo of these wonderful Californian Quails which I first saw in
this area. Their little cocked feather on their heads really appeals to me
as they strut about. It's difficult though to get close enough and so far
these are my best efforts.
About 5
minutes drive from Opua is the small town of Pahia and just beyond is the Waitangi treaty
ground where the treaty was signed in 1840. In early February they
held the Waitaingi Festival to celebrate Waitangi Treaty Day (6
February) which included various entertainments and events.
 War canoes
looking majestic on the beach.
 The Royal New
Zealand Navy had a major presence at the Waitangi celebrations
but we came across this small group playing in the park and enjoyed excellent
jazz with a just few others.
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