Townsville - Queensland

I am currently in Townsville - Queensland for a few weeks for work. I arrived on Tuesday the 21st of March and will be here til easter exploring the sites and doing some work... Easter time I will be traveling back to Auckland to pick up tarsh and then catching a plane to Perth for two weeks for a wedding and a holiday in the West..... I think at this stage I will be back in Townsville after Easter for a few more weeks. Check out some local scenery of Townsville.......

Magnetic Island from Castle Hill.

Castle Hill from the City Centre.

View from my apartment.

The City Centre from Castle Hill.

Castle Hill @ 300m high.

Otautu Bay

A common ritual - cleaning fish on Sunset.

Otautu Bay after Sunset.

Kids playing at Sunset.

More Otautu Bay Sunsets.

Yet another gorgeous Sunset whilst on Holidays.

More Photos of Otautu Bay

Otautu Bay at night with the glow of Auckland's lights.

Otautu Bay at night.

Graeme relaxing on holiday.

Pam enjoying the moment.

Mike having a bourban whilst Maureen enjoys her footspa.

Even More Photos of Otautu Bay

Blogger to be updated soon on holiday goings-on. . .

Shadow enjoying the Beach.

Otautu Bay - One Tree Hill.

Otautu Bay Camping Grounds.

Overlooking Otautu Bay from One Tree Hill.

Just to prove my walk to the top of One Tree Hill.

Unusual visitors - A pod of Killer Whales in the Bay.

Otautu Bay - Stoney Bay

Whilst on holiday at Otautu Bay (on the western side of the corromandel) there were a couple of days with wind, so whilst a few days are okay at camp, a few too many and camp fever would have set in. So a couple of days were spent exploring and on one particular day we travelled to the tip of the Corromandel on the eastern side to a place called Stoney Bay. The bay was sheltered from the wind but the beach was full of large stones - go figure. A long drive into the bay due to the skinny gravel roads and mountainous terrain, but was well worth once there. There seems to be camping all year round with a long drop and solar shower amentities. I managed to get some snorkelling done around some of the rocky outcrops, which was nice and cold before some lunch and the drive home.

Stoney Bay.

A few campers taking in the shade at Stoney Bay.

A creek near Stoney Bay turn off.

Stoney Bay rocks.

The tip of the Corromandel on the eastern side.

Otautu Bay - Scavenger Hunt

Over the Summer holidays spent at Otautu Bay, a small group of us decided to have a scavenger hunt New Year's Eve 2005. This included 10 items we had to photograph before sunset and then get a judge to rate the best photographs. The list of items we had to take photos of were; 1. A photo with someone riding a pig. 2. A picture with a snapper 3. The largest group photo. 4. An animal made out of bits and pieces around the campsite. 5. A picture of John Goudie doing hand shooters. 6. A photo of the best moustache. 7. Something made out of beach wood. 8. A beer bottle structure. 9. A bombie of the local wharf. and finally 10. A photo of the team at sunset. Now this was great fun collecting these photos, with different versions of the items from both teams inlcuding our riding a wooden pig to the other teams rodeo ride of a large "live" pig. Really good fun and will probably become a tradition on New Years Eve. A few samples of ours below.

A pig made out of bits and pieces around the camp site.

A group photo of some of the campers.

A photo with a snapper. Live or Stuffed.

A beer bottle structure of New Zealand.

Finally a picture of the sunset on New Years Eve 2005.

Christmas 2005

Christmas 2005 was spent in Tauranga, New Zealand, and this was the first time in 24 years that I have spent Christmas away from my Family in Western Australia. So as far as christmas' go without my family it was great....different but great. I spent it with Tarsh, Graeme, Pam, Jonelle, and Charles and I was spoilt with plenty of pressies to unwrap. The morning was followed by a big cooked breakie, then a lovely hot lunch and a bbq dinner, with a few crownies to wash it all down with. As always a long day but a great one.

Tarsh's note to santa !

The Christmas stockings FULL!

The beginning of unwrapping time...

GHD Christmas Party

Last year the GHD christmas party was a fancy dress and the theme was anything that started with a G H or a D or a combination of all three. So not much thought went into my idea up until the last minute, in which I went as a Golly Wog or Doug Howlett(a Rugby Player for the All Blacks with black wavy hair) or at least thats what I told everyone. Tarsh went dressed up as a devil and Mark as disco stu with Rando as a Gay Horny Devil(A combination of the three-good effort). A great night was had with eating, drinking, dancing and more with the food and booze flowing til late and early into the morning, or at least it did for some of us.

Mark, Rando and me ready for the big night.

About half way through the night, and I have already mis placed my hair do...

About three quarters through the night (I think) and I have found my hair again...

The View from My Verandah

The Sky Tower's lights are decorated as a Christmas Tree as it comes into the festive season.

Ohakune Ski Trip

Back in late November the GHD Young Professionals planned a weekend ski trip to Ohakune. So as the usual, an early departure from work on a Friday and before we knew it we were at Ohakune, with the help of Gavin's Driving skills. Unfortunately for the entire weekend we didnt manage to get up the mountain as the winds were up and the lifts shut. So apart from the copious amounts of alcohol we consumed in the evenings, the day's were filled with visiting tourist locations. Waiouru Army Museum, the Big Carrot, a scenic lake walk were just some of our destinations visited, with a quick stop off in Taupo to visit Huka Falls and the Prawn farm before heading back to Auckland. All in all a great weekend was had, even though no snow boarding was done. Maybe next time !

The YP crew after the Rotokura Walk.

The Big Carrot in Ohakune!

Some of the Yp Crew at the Huka Falls.

Mark, Gavin and me playing guns at the Waiouru Army Museum.

Mark, Rando, Gavin, Bryan and me at Lake Taupo

More Ohakune Photos

More gun playing. . .

Gavin (Shooter), Mark and Rando on hand to help...

A photo at the Tangiwai Rail Disaster which occured on Christmas eve in 1953.

Hard to explain, but a late night and plenty of drinks.

Boys Fishing Weekend in Whitianga

Now December is always a busy month with christmas parties, buying christmas presents, and just general flow towards the end of the year. Now with all of that happening myself and 3 other work buddies took a weekend off to travel down to Whitianga to Mark's batch for a boys fishing weekend. Headed down Friday arvo for a few beers on the deck and then into fishing and diving the next day. Saturday was a great day with plenty of fishing done, not much caught but a nice flat day and great scenery. After the lack of fishing and the thought of buying steak for dinner, we headed to a couple of Mark's secret spots for some crayfish and scallops. So After a slow start to the day we ended up with 7 crayfish, 80 scallops and 1 fish. So no bets on what we had for dinner and breakfast and it was delicious. In all a great weekend and I am looking forward to the next boys fishing trip in the New Year.

Great Rock formations.

Mark (The Skipper)

Bryan...nothing more needs to be said

Deano

Enjoying the days catch.