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    Work treated us to a day out of the office to kick back and relax. We went to the Auckland Zoo. Naturally, I took some shots.

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  • up the stream

    Century old Redwoods by a freshwater stream. Rotorua.

  • image

    Taking my 75 vintage in for its half year safety I noticed this 70. Nice.

  • spring 1

    Once in a while, going light on your gear leads to missing an image. It is a weigh off I am usually fine with, but on this occasion, it was a real shame I didn’t anticipate the need and carry my polarizing filter! With it, I think the photos really could have at least partially shown the beauty of this spot.

    On the west side of Rotorua, we visited the natural springs of Te Puna-a-Hangurua. The main spring (pictured above) is the biggest in New Zealand’s North Island and flows 4,500,00 litres of water each hour, after taking around 70 years to surface!.

    spring 2

    It really was so beautiful and blue, encouraging one to jump in for a swim – although this is not allowed at the initial exit point. Way back in 1957 they sent two skin divers  down whom recovered 5000 pennies (coin money) dating back to 1860 – the ‘loot’ then donated to children’s charities. There certainly was not 5000 coins there today, but I suspect they clean it out periodically as there was still a fair bit of coinage for people likely tossing one in for good luck.

    spring 3

    Eventually, after passing through many points of interest and waterfalls, the water exits into the Pacific Ocean.

    spring 4