What a wonderful place New Zealand is during summer. The country comes alive with boats, surfboards, bikes, slushies and ice creams that drip onto the footpath. The days are long, the weather is deliciously warm and the summer evenings perfect for drinking a glass or two of your favourite drop while the air is filled with the smell of the classically Kiwi bbq sizzling away as the sun slips from sight. Yes, it’s these idealistic and wistful perspective’s of summer I hold on to as I patiently wait for 9 months to pass and summer to roll around once more on December the 1st. Of course, my memories of summer might suggest I live in fictitious times as Dunedin’s summer doesn’t seem to truly get going until mid January. Let’s remember the weather leading up to New Years Day had been average at best and 3 days of heavy rain caused widespread flooding. Thankfully though summer found us here in the south of Aeotearoa. Meaning, we could soak up some rays while following our Prime Ministers advice. Explore your own backyard. John's Blog https://blog.caswellimages.com/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI ©
Here’s a fact for you, 80 species of moths have been recorded on the Aramoana Saltmarsh and further to that, the tidal flats at Aramoana are the most important habitat for wading birds in Otago. While we are on the subject of birds, when Hoiho penguins (like the ones that live in the dunes at Aramoana near Keyhole rock) go out to sea to feed, they travel up to 15 kilometres from the shore and down to depths of 100 metres. Yet, we wouldn’t have all that if they had built an aluminium smelter there in the mid 1970’s. Thank goodness Aramoana was saved. John's Blog https://blog.caswellimages.com/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
New Zealand’s only castle continues to remain one of Dunedin’s highest ranked tourist attractions. The extensive and expansive property holds a commanding position on the peninsula and as impressive as it is during the day, it is equally as spooky at night. Here are some facts to get you thinking: Land for the Castle was purchased in 1870 with construction starting in 1871. The original Castle was completed in 1874 with additions continuing until 1887. It took more than 200 workmen over three years to build the outer shell of Larnach’s Castle. It took master craftsmen from Europe 12 years to complete the interior of the castle. Materials used to build the castle include marble from Italy, slate from Wales, glass from Venice and native wood from around New Zealand including kauri, rimu and honeysuckle. When finished the Castle had 43 rooms and required a staff of 46 servants. The Ballroom built in 1885 is 3,000 square foot. In 1906 The Castle was used as a hospital for mental patients (an overflow of patients from Seacliff Lunatic Asylum) and shell-shocked soldiers. The Baker family (current owners) have owned the Castle since 1962. There have been numerous reports of ghosts over the years including an incident that took place in 1994 when Castle of Lies, a play on the Larnach family, premiered in the grand ballroom. The original cost of construction was estimated as being between £100,000 - £150,000 which converted into today's money is somewhere between $600 -$900 million. John's Blog https://blog.caswellimages.com/ The latest print price guide: https://bit.ly/3oLw9OI
