 |
Throughout the South Island there seems to be a
tradition of writing a message on a stone. There are so many miles
of 'nothing', perhaps it's a good idea. Some make interesting
reading if you've a lot of time to fill |
 |
 |
Driftwood sculpture on the beach at Hotitika and an
armchair to admire the spectacle ~ not for long methinks, it's made of
concrete |
 |
 |
The Pancake rocks at Punakaiki.
Best seen at high tide. This is low tide - that's our luck, eh?
We didn't wait ... |
 |
 |
We might wait here though.
New barrels and vats
The net is to keep the birds off and means the grapes are nearly ready
Wither Hills delicious Pinot Noir at Blenheim |
 |
 |
Back on the North Island ...
Look closely at this plane. It's a children's playground slide but it is a real plane. How
cool is that !
A house in the same village and typical of so many
in NZ. Brick chimneys, tin roof, wood cladding and sash windows |
 |
 |
Taupo steamfield
Most of the details on the right are on an information board at the
lookout ...
|
Wairakei Power Station uses steam
extracted from the geothermal liquids produced in this steamfield to
generate electricity. It's been here since the 1950s. There have been
more than 200 wells drilled in this steamfield alone and 60 are
currently in production.
Wells up to 2000 metres deep tap into zones at temperatures of 230 -
260C. When the fluid reaches the surface it is separated at the well
head into dry steam and hot water in a cyclone separator.
The hot water is either collected and piped to secondary 'flash'
separators where additional dry steam is produced at lower pressure, or
reduced to atmospheric pressure in well head silencers. The residual hot
water is either piped to the power station, to reinjection wells on the
steamfield perimeter or discharged to open drains.
That's spectacular
Around 1400 tonnes per hour of steam how
do you weigh steam? is produced in the field and
transmitted to the power station through insulated pipelines varying in
diameter from 300 to 1200mm. Steam travels at about 200 kph in the
pipelines.
Many of these steam wells have been in production since the power
station was commissioned in 1958 generating renewable steam and
sustainable energy.
John says, now you understood all that of
course, and will be able to answer questions when asked. We may test you
later. |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
The Seabird Coast
at Miranda
Below, the bird hide, complete with white heron. |
 |
 |
 |
Our $7 lunch. Our favourite fish and chips
from Kaiaua.
Plenty of company for a night at Rays Rest |
 |
 |
 |
Wonderful old knarled trees at Tepapakanga, we found the driftwood BBQ
there too.
Below left: Walkway at Omana, Rangitoto is
in the background (the dormant (?)
volcano just off Auckland)
Below centre: John's latest toy, he flies
it in the camper, you can just see it in front of the curtain
(below right) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| There was a perigee moon, apparently
356577 km or 221566 miles away (19.3.2011)
and the fishing seemed to be good too |
 |
 |
 |
Painting, organised by Benefitz to raise
funds for Christchurch; 
the boys gave up looking for the beer tent ! |
 |
 |
 |
