Pictures of New Zealand Photos Taihape Rangitikei Ron Castle

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Pictures of New Zealand
Photos by Photographer Ron Castle

Whenever I talk about New Zealand to friends in the USA, the typical first comment is something like "Oh, I have always wanted to go there" or something like that. There is a definite bond between many Americans and the picture of New Zealand that they have in their mind, be it from recent tourism commercials running on USA television, or from other pictures and photos from one of the most picturesque places in the world. We are fortunate to have friends and clients in New Zealand, and there is a definite allure to these almost always green South Sea islands where ecotourism is the number one and agriculture is the number two economic generator. With roughly 4.2 million folks living in an area larger than the UK, there is lots of open space to take pictures of New Zealand. And, while thoroughly modern, there are also, for me anyway, a cultural retro reminiscent of 1950's small town America when family farms were vibrant and rural communities were defined by something other than proximity to a Wal-Mart. If you see a New Zealand picture or photo you like, want to use it online or want a print, please contact me for permission and credit details, thanks. If you are a professional photographer and want good search engine rankings, read this.

Check out my:

Cumberland River trout fishing photographs from September 2005
New Orleans photographs that have never been published.
Dean River photographs from British Columbia August-September 2003
Pictures of New Zealand from December 2005 and January 2006
- Photos New Zealand Rivers Mountains Rangitikei Adventure Part One December 2005 January 2006
- New Zealand Photo Images Rangitikei River Adventure Part Two January 2006
- Ruahine Windstorm Makes a REAL Rangitikei Adventure Part Three January 2006
- New Zealand White Water Rafting Photos Rangitikei River Part Four January 2006
- Grade 5 White Water Rafting Pictures from River Valley Lodge
Photographs from Tennessee and around the world

We departed Nashville Christmas Eve 2005 and arrived Auckland on December 26, which is Boxing Day in New Zealand. This was our first aerial glimpse of Auckland, overcast with scattered showers.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

We flew from Auckland to Palmerston North where John Booth from Taihape picked us up. The first official stop was to refuel the car. NZ$1.359 per liter translates into roughly US$3.50 per US gallon.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

The second official stop was to get something to eat at the Churchyard Cafe. After 37 hours of travel and crossing the international date line, it is hard to say which meal this was supposed to be?
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

If you want espresso with milk, order a Flat White for NZ$3.00. The food was good.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Pam admiring the artistic aspects of the foam on her Flat White.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

We did a quick tour around town. Our youngest daughter has been looking at studying at Massey University.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Heading north and east from Palmerston to Taihape, the broad agricultural plain around Palmerston turns into rolling hills of the Rangitikei River valley.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Anything that looks like a white dot is a sheep. New Zealand's 39.2 million sheep outnumber their human companions about 6 to 1. Back in the early 1980's, New Zealand had a sheep population of about 80 million. Numbers of sheep have declined 21% since 1994. Deer farming for the international venison market has expanded, as have cattle.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

The limestone formations in the mid and lower Rangitikei River valley create canyons 100 meters (300 feet) or deeper.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

John and Pam admire the pastoral scenery.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Up before the sun on December 27, we hiked up the hill from John and Miriam's small farm to get a better view of the town of Taihape. This is Ron, unwashed and unshaven and still not sure what time it is.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Sunrise over Taihape. Without the clouds you could see Mount Ruhapeu which is still snow capped in New Zealand's equivalent of early July.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Tuesday morning chores include sorting the breeding ewes from the hoggots and moving the lambs to new pasture. Not up on your sheep terminology? Read here.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Pam discussing cooperation with one of the lambs.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

John and granddaughter Mackenzie running the gates.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

Pam, Liz and Miriam admiring photos of Mackenzie.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

This is a photograph of a composite of photographs of the headwaters of the Rangitikei River taken during the annual headwaters adventure camping, rafting and fishing trip. We are scheduled to depart on December 29 by helicopter into the New Zealand wilderness and to float back to civilization 8 days later. Note the current news story top right regarding a New Zealand man hit by a helicopter rotor blade. No rotor blades for me, thanks.
Pictures of New Zealand by Ron Castle

See more pictures of New Zealand and the Rangitikei River adventure here.

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Ron Castle Webs • 401 Lynchburg Road • Winchester, Tennessee 37398-1621 USA
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