Went For a Walk

[Zardnaar]

Lasted over two hours. Went to the botanical gardens. Weather wasn't the best and it rained.
CFCs thoughts?





Bit grim and dark early on.

Sun came out though.

Motorway into my city.






And residential area.


Cafe area in park.


Ducks



Sunken garden

 

[Zardnaar]

Pt 2


Ticket windows 19th century train station.


Foyer entrance train station.



Steam train built in my city 1956.


Side of train.




Inside the cabin.



Foot bridge.

 

[EgonSpengler]

I enjoy long walks myself. It looks like you have some good areas around you.

I live in a neighborhood bounded by a number of decent-sized parks, and I stroll around them every week or so, usually with my headphones on. One of the parks has a small public golf course. One is a cemetery. Another is affiliated with Harvard University, its land deeded to Harvard College in the 19th Century by two wealthy businessmen for the purpose of horticultural and agricultural research (one of them was a whaling magnate, which sounds a bit morbid today; the other was in shipping).

Wildlife is variable. Chipmunks, rabbits, the ubiquitous squirrels. In the Summer, I see signs in the parks warning dog owners about coyotes, but I've never seen one. The most interesting I see are usually birds. Ducks and geese enjoy the waterways, and can make quite a racket. Once in a blue moon, I'll see a swan. I'll see or hear a redtailed hawk once in a while. Mourning doves are common. In the later Summer and Fall, I see groups of 3-4 wild turkeys a lot. They're kind of a PITA. Arrogant little pricks. They'll just strut down the middle of the street or along the sidewalk, and you don't want to get too close if you're not armed. I've never tried my luck with a turkey, but they're big enough they could probably mess you up before you broke their neck. I just cross the street.

 

[Zardnaar]

I enjoy long walks myself. It looks like you have some good areas around you.

I live in a neighborhood bounded by a number of decent-sized parks, and I stroll around them every week or so, usually with my headphones on. One of the parks has a small public golf course. One is a cemetery. Another is affiliated with Harvard University, its land deeded to Harvard College in the 19th Century by two wealthy businessmen for the purpose of horticultural and agricultural research (one of them was a whaling magnate, which sounds a bit morbid today; the other was in shipping).

Wildlife is variable. Chipmunks, rabbits, the ubiquitous squirrels. In the Summer, I see signs in the parks warning dog owners about coyotes, but I've never seen one. The most interesting I see are usually birds. Ducks and geese enjoy the waterways, and can make quite a racket. Once in a blue moon, I'll see a swan. I'll see or hear a redtailed hawk once in a while. Mourning doves are common. In the later Summer and Fall, I see groups of 3-4 wild turkeys a lot. They're kind of a PITA. Arrogant little pricks. They'll just strut down the middle of the street or along the sidewalk, and you don't want to get too close if you're not armed. I've never tried my luck with a turkey, but they're big enough they could probably mess you up before you broke their neck. I just cross the street.

I could hear Tui birdcalls. Going to an ecosanctuary on Friday depending on the weather.

Tui song.

Lots of walks in the city. Gonna go find a waterfall as well.

 

[warpus]

Looks like an amazing place to have nearby to go on walks through. At first glance I immediately thought I was reminded of the Wellington Botanical Gardens, but then realized this is Dunedin (where I've never been before)

 

[Zardnaar]

Looks like an amazing place to have nearby to go on walks through. At first glance I immediately thought I was reminded of the Wellington Botanical Gardens, but then realized this is Dunedin (where I've never been before)

To me Wellington is kinda a larger scale Dunedin. Similar vibe and terrain on the hills and harbor. It's off the tourist trail a bit as the main loop to Queenstown and West Coast is generally North if you've flown in from Christchurch. We get tourists but it's not that touristy.

Road to Ross Creek Forest.



Forest


More forest.



Bought some boots for hiking.

Yesterday's efforts.

https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/ecosanctuary-pt-2.674735/

 

[Fippy]

Nice pics
Can never go wrong with exploring nature.

 

[warpus]

That shot from the trail remind me of parts of the Milford Track. Brings back some nostalgia for me for sure.. Or actually now that I think about it.. it's sort of closer to the Abel Tasman Coastal Track.

To me Wellington is kinda a larger scale Dunedin. Similar vibe and terrain on the hills and harbor. It's off the tourist trail a bit as the main loop to Queenstown and West Coast is generally North if you've flown in from Christchurch. We get tourists but it's not that touristy.

Yeah, it's the reason I didn't end up there, there weren't any reasons to head in that direction other than maybe Stewart island, and even so there's more direct routes. From what I remember Dunedin was sort of on my radar as a nice small town out of the way of tourists, but in the end all the other things I wanted to see in the country filled in all of my available itinerary time

 

[Zardnaar]

That shot from the trail remind me of parts of the Milford Track. Brings back some nostalgia for me for sure.. Or actually now that I think about it.. it's sort of closer to the Abel Tasman Coastal Track.



Yeah, it's the reason I didn't end up there, there weren't any reasons to head in that direction other than maybe Stewart island, and even so there's more direct routes. From what I remember Dunedin was sort of on my radar as a nice small town out of the way of tourists, but in the end all the other things I wanted to see in the country filled in all of my available itinerary time

Yep they've added tourist ships that stop here but it's not that touristy. Did you go down west coast into Wanaka/Queenstown/Milford or go via Waitiaki Valley/Tekapo way down to Cromwell then Queenstown?

 

[warpus]

My journey went like this: Auckland (flight) Queenstown (bus) Te Anau (bus&boat) Milford Track (boat) Milford Track (bus) Routeburn Track (bus) Queenstown (bus) Franz Josef via Wanaka (bus) Greymouth (train) Christchurch (train) Picton I think (bus) Motueka (boat) Abel Tasman (bus) back to Picton (ferry) north island

I am def. returning to New Zealand one day and Dunedin & Stewart island are probably going to be on my hit list. I like solitude and it seems like my kind of place

 

[Zardnaar]

My journey went like this: Auckland (flight) Queenstown (bus) Te Anau (bus&boat) Milford Track (boat) Milford Track (bus) Routeburn Track (bus) Queenstown (bus) Franz Josef via Wanaka (bus) Greymouth (train) Christchurch (train) Picton I think (bus) Motueka (boat) Abel Tasman (bus) back to Picton (ferry) north island

I am def. returning to New Zealand one day and Dunedin & Stewart island are probably going to be on my hit list. I like solitude and it seems like my kind of place

There's a few points worth a look you missed.

Oban/Stewart Island, Nugget Point, Caitlin's and there's some good spots in East Otago north of Dunedin.

A decent look around the Marlborough Sounds/wineries recommend. Looks like you missed the West Coast and Waitaki Valley Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook areas.

You could also spend a week in Abel Tasman around Nelson.

If you did it again Picton to Nelson down west coast, cross over to Wanaka/Queenstown. Go to Cromwell maybe a quick diversion to Clyde/Alexandra. Waitaki Valley down to Oamaru then Dunedin, Nugget Point, Caitlin's. Something like that.

 

[warpus]

Yeah I saw so many places I wanted to visit but there was only so much time. I basically had to focus on my A+ list and ignore the B list or anything below and even ignore some A-listers. I met a girl on the Routeburn Track who was headed to Stewart island after the hike.. I should have probably went with her but if I had done that I would have missed out on the glaciers and probably christchurch and oh yeah - I totally forgot about Kaikoura, which I loved for some reason.

The girl ended up saying that Stewart island was worth it, I still have her on my social media. So I def. want to go there to see what I missed out on, whenever I end up returning.

I did splurge on a scenic flight around Mt. Cook, so I got to see it from pretty epic vantage points. Ideally I was hoping to do a hike on the other side - but I couldn't figure out a way to see both the glaciers and then swing around to do the hike.. there was just no time and so the glacier & a tiny plane Mt. Cook flight ended up winning out.

I did see some hops growing from the train (or bus?), that's the closest I got to wine country.

Whenever I end up heading back, I'll def have to ask you for some tips

 

[Zardnaar]

Yeah I saw so many places I wanted to visit but there was only so much time. I basically had to focus on my A+ list and ignore the B list or anything below and even ignore some A-listers. I met a girl on the Routeburn Track who was headed to Stewart island after the hike.. I should have probably went with her but if I had done that I would have missed out on the glaciers and probably christchurch and oh yeah - I totally forgot about Kaikoura, which I loved for some reason.

The girl ended up saying that Stewart island was worth it, I still have her on my social media. So I def. want to go there to see what I missed out on, whenever I end up returning.

I did splurge on a scenic flight around Mt. Cook, so I got to see it from pretty epic vantage points. Ideally I was hoping to do a hike on the other side - but I couldn't figure out a way to see both the glaciers and then swing around to do the hike.. there was just no time and so the glacier & a tiny plane Mt. Cook flight ended up winning out.

I did see some hops growing from the train (or bus?), that's the closest I got to wine country.

Whenever I end up heading back, I'll def have to ask you for some tips

Two main tips.
1. NZs a bit bigger than it looks on a map.
2. Time management. Two weeks minimum for a quick look around if you have less time maybe focus a specific area/event.

 

[warpus]

I just looked it up and it seems as a Canadian I can stay for 3 months at a time and need to arrive with a ticket sending me somewhere eligible when I leave. Last time I was there for 5 weeks, so we'll see what happens next time I guess. No way would my boss approve me leaving for longer than 2 months (and probably less than that), and I would def. not come for anything less than 3 weeks, since the flight is so long. But this return to NZ trip probably won't happen for another 5-10 years at least (but we'll see, can't say no to a cheap flight if the timing is right)

New Zealand has got to be one of the best countries for walking and strolling around, in terms of every corner of the country having something pretty nearby you can walk through. If I could, I would love to just drop in without a plan and visit random cities and just laze around and occasionally go on a walk. That sounds like a good time to me

 

[Zardnaar]

I just looked it up and it seems as a Canadian I can stay for 3 months at a time and need to arrive with a ticket sending me somewhere eligible when I leave. Last time I was there for 5 weeks, so we'll see what happens next time I guess. No way would my boss approve me leaving for longer than 2 months (and probably less than that), and I would def. not come for anything less than 3 weeks, since the flight is so long. But this return to NZ trip probably won't happen for another 5-10 years at least (but we'll see, can't say no to a cheap flight if the timing is right)

New Zealand has got to be one of the best countries for walking and strolling around, in terms of every corner of the country having something pretty nearby you can walk through. If I could, I would love to just drop in without a plan and visit random cities and just laze around and occasionally go on a walk. That sounds like a good time to me

That's not a bad way to do it. Longer walks will eat into the time but it's really what you're into.

SIL and friends go off into the Alps for 2-5 days they know a few spots. You have to book some of the tracks now.

 

[Zardnaar]

https://www.google.com/search?q=wal...hY2tzKAA,ru_phdesc:XVSaAjivecA,trex_id:vMeOvd


Tomorrows plan.

 

[Zardnaar]

Today's effort. Ross Creek reservoir.


9am ten minute drive from my house.



Down the path.




Even by our standards it's pretty here. Quite a few people about.

 

[Zardnaar]

Tempted to climb in.



No wet feet for me. Wife not so lucky.



Not bad.


Better.

 

[Angst]

Søren Kierkegaard used to walk around the lakes in Copenhagen depressed. It's nice at least to know that I'm following in someone's footsteps.

 

[Zardnaar]

Søren Kierkegaard used to walk around the lakes in Copenhagen depressed. It's nice at least to know that I'm following in someone's footsteps.

Not a lake