Summer Playground

A weathered but wonderful playground at Black Gully Reserve, near Tapanui. West Otago. New Zealand. 28 December.

Old Timer

We went out for a country drive this morning, exploring some roads we hadn't travelled before. When we were well through our trip we came across this old building that appears to have been a farmhouse. Weatherboard house with corrugated iron roof. The front lower level has had its weatherboards removed and looks like it's...

Saloon And Stables

Historic mud-brick building in St Bathans, Central Otago. Originally an 1870s billiards saloon, and then stables were added in 1896. Photo taken 07 Dec. New Zealand

Very ‘Old School’

In April 1875 a new stone building was opened as a new one-room school for children in St Bathans (the part of the ruins nearest the lupins). In 1895 an additional room was added for infants (the part with a chimney). The school was abandoned in 1943 after earthquake damage. Central Otago, New Zealand. Photos...

Hill > Pit > Lake

On 07 Dec we drove to St Bathans, a gold town established in 1863. (1) The mud brick Vulcan Hotel is fab! (2) Pipes took water to the workings. (3) Blue Lake was originally 120m Kildare Hill which was mined to a 68m deep pit dubbed the 'glory hole'. Mining ceased in 1934 when the...

Blue Door, Church

As we drove home Nigel made a stop at the fuel station in Clinton so I hopped out and wandered up the road to take a few photos of a church I like to keep an eye on. Something's afoot there but I don't know what - therefore I don't know the fate of the...

All Yellow

Except those that aren't. We were driving back from Central Otago via Moa Flat and through Edievale at which point I asked Nigel to pull over. The reason was this beautiful clump of yellow lupins flowering on the roadside verge with a weathered rustic shed behind the blooms. A few metres further along the road...

Orchard, Cottage and Cob

Stewart Town wasn't formally named as such. It was an outpost of historic Bannockburn and close to the gold mining activity. David Stewart began the stone cottage in 1873. In the first photo you can see an isolated corner of cob wall that once was part of a cob wall extension to the cottage. David...

Masonic Lodge, Cromwell

Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge No. 98. Founded in 1870 for the Freemasons of Cromwell, with the Lodge building constructed in 1900. Local stone, and sited on high ground adjoining 'Old Cromwell Town'. By Lake Dunstan - last pic - with view to Bannockburn. Central Otago, New Zealand. The sign reveals the Lodge was built by "Mr...

The Little Stone Church

The first church featured below had St Andrew's | "The Little Stone Church" printed on its sign board. The second stone church was located very near. Neither were open to enter but they were lovely to look at from the outside. I found them while walking to Old Cromwell Town, an historic precinct.. both churches...

Favourite Finds

Favourite finds today, wandering around Cromwell, Central Otago, New Zealand. 1. "Annabelle" 2. Kiwi wind vane 3. Doggy welcome 4. Door (Anglican church)

Nice Detail

This lovely window detail caught my attention when we stopped to take a look at the Lovells Flat church, the gorgeous 1902 Presbyterian church that we managed to find our way to, on Sunday 16 October. Clutha District, New Zealand.