Many of you will know by now that New Zealand holds a very special place in my heart. Here is a photo that I have been wanting to share for quite some time. I made it in January 2010, while CD and I were visiting Squiddy and Batty. We spent a few days in the town of Ohakune (oh-a KOO-nee), near the southwestern edge of Mt. Ruapehu, an active volcano in the National Park, which served so well as Mount Doom (in Mordor) in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. A number of rivers originate on its slopes, and the place where we stayed was near the flow of one of them, the Mangawhero Stream. On one glorious morning we hiked along the bank upstream for a couple of miles, and I made this shot from a little foot bridge that crossed from one bank to the other. Who could possibly doubt that there could be elves, hobbits, and other magical, enchanted folk here?
krikitarts 
It does look a little like a fantasy place! I like the contrast between the informal bank on the left and the more formal grassed area on the right. I also like the way you’ve captured the movement in the grasses.
It was a very windy day and I felt very fortunate to be able to catch the detail in the heads of the tall grass (it looks like Pampas grass but it’s not–it’s called toetoe, which is pronounced “toy-toy”), as they were bobbing and dancing around quite merrily.
I see them and I believe!! What a truly enchanting photo. I would love to go there. :)
If you ever get the chance, I can direct you to this very spot, if you wish. It’s well worth it!
I was just saying to my hubby this morning that I want to travel once we kick the brats out of our house after college, so maybe I’ll add this to the travel list. :)
I cannot begin to say enough about New Zealand! If you’ve never been there, I would most strongly encourage you to put it toward (or at) the very top of your wish list!
Done!
Beautiful!
Thanks, Sandy!
Well, of course the enchanted folk are here. I’m enchanted by it! Mountains, hills, river, vegetation…and it’s so colorful. Truly enchanting.
I, too, was totally captivated by the beauty of this place. I could have spent a week or two exploring this one walking trail! And, yes, the colors in NZ really are a bit different. I think it has something to do with the thinner ozone layer letting more UV light filter through.
What a beautiful location, Gary…and what an image. Good for you, in capturing it. I can almost see all of those little guys walking about…carrying their smoke-pots from gilded chains, off to the vineyards…or lilac groves…. :)
Hahaha! Now there’s an image, Scott! I can see that you’re not going to let me forget my little jest…
Not real soon, Gary! ;)
That’s a remarkable picture, there’s so much greenery going on it looks almost like an artists impression. An over enthusiastic artist! Great shot.
The range of colors and textures was really quite overwhelming, and I just stood there for several minutes trying to take it all in before reaching for my camera. Thanks, Finn–I’m so glad you like it!
Lovely pic Gary, and Okahune is a great place to visit. Greetings from windy Wellington :)
Thanks, Alicia–it certainly is! We got to spend three days there and the weather was just perfect for hiking. It’s the first time I’ve been on the slopes of Mount Doom, and I loved it!