I haven't travelled far abroad, but I have made the most of what our country offers.  Living in Christchurch and having parents in Te Anau and Waiwera I get to travel most of the South Island each time just to visit.

If you asked me the most unreal place I have been to I would say Milford Sound, my parents shouted Georgia and I a trip there late 2012.  First up we didn't have jackets, luckily my parents own a store called Fab & Finesse in Tea Anau that sells all the jackets you need for the bloody cold conditions that Fiordland throws at you (link to their FB page below).

We set off early in the morning to get there, the landscape was typical Te Anau on the way to Homer Tunnel (lake and farmland)  Homer tunnel was pretty cool, Dark and poorly lit, carved out none of this tile walls and fluorescent lights.  When you get through the tunnel the view is amazing, snow to the ground low cloud, mountains and windy roads - oh and the odd Kea haha. It was like a new world - I was just annoyed that I was driving so I couldn't get a snap.

Here are a few shots I managed to get, as you can see it was pretty wet and wild out there, excuse the low res images, I had to use my iphone because my lens would just get slaughtered by the rain.




I notice down South (home) is so much better for getting a good shot.  It so much more un touched and lush down there.  If you are ever in the area of Te Anau make sure you pop into see my folks at Fab & Finesse on the main street there.

I have had a couple of pictures used on websites and in magazines.  People get very anti about their stuff being used.  Personally I love it.  Not everyone gets the opportunity to see these sites and of course travel around to see them.  Hopefully I inspire someone at some stage to travel to these areas and see these beautiful sites with their own eyes.

I cant wait to start travelling the world (hopefully next year) and get to snap some new cultures and sites.  Im thinking Europe is where my camera wants to go next haha.


    Rapaki

    Waiwera

    Sumner Beach, Christchurch

    Wetlands Road, Te Anau, Southland

    Rapaki, Canterbury
    Te Anau, Southland

    Frog Rock, North Canterbury


   Links;

   Fab & Finesse
   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fab-Finesse/241396005947453

   Milford Sound Trip
   http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/destinations/milford-sound/

   Christchurch
   http://www.christchurch.org.nz/

   Te Anau
   http://www.fiordland.org.nz/About-Fiordland/Te-Anau.asp

This year Easter is a 4 day weekend, I don't get down to see my family very often so I thought I would pair a trip down to my Mums new place in Waiwera with a trip up the South Island on the way home to visit my clients.

I always love getting away from the city, my job is quite demanding at the best of times so Its great to get away from the hussle and bussle and spend time with the family in the middle of no where.

The Trip down was interesting, the rivers were flooded and I had to cross 2 bridges that were completely taken over from the rivers we once knew, my mazda coped amazingly well - buy an axella they are awesome cars.

 
I got to mums place in good time considering the weather, it took me about 5 and a half hours.  I get out of my car and have a small anxiety attack because I HATE my car being dirty, obviously the mixture of flood waters, rain and gravel roads does not go too well with this.




My Mum is horse crazy.

She has always had them as long as I can remember, I would rather jump on a motor bike and have a blat on that, a much comfier and faster option.

Mum has always had a funny farm with miniature horses, wayyy too many cats, dogs and birds etc.  I managed to get a really good snap of one of her horses called Atom, hes an old boy very gentle and friendly.

We were throwing sticks in a man made pond that is only a few years old to the dogs, to our surprise fish started popping up from the dogs current.  Later on I noticed some Yabbies chasing the dogs as the swam hahaha my parents are stoaked that their pond that they thought was just a muddy pit has some really cool creatures in there.



It's Tuesday tomorrow so I am taking the opportunity while I am travelling home to pop in and see some of my valued clients on the way back up.  My first meeting is at 9 in Balclutha, I am so excited to finally put a face to the name after all this time.  Im hoping this trip will be worth while as Sign Network have just launched a signage guide to Harcourts agents and I am so excited to introduce it to the South Island.

All and all its been a great opportunity to get away from the city and just breathe!!  I realised the first night I was here that I have really missed looking out the window and watching the sun go down,  the horses grazing in the distance and the birds flying back to tuck in for the night.


Talk soon,
Shayden