Carlile House Ponsonby Auckland New Zealand

Another crazy busy week for me but finally I am back posting with the eerie ghostly theme continuing from last week.

This week we visit Carlile House located in Ponsonby Auckland city (84 Richmond Road Grey Lynn).

Apparently 43 young orphan boys died of smoke inhalation in 1912. The building is haunted by these children and an eerie feeling of eyes peering down upon you is felt as you walk around the grounds of the building.

Definitely one of Auckland's best scary attractions it is located on the main street next to a church in the middle of a residential area!

Here is one persons experience of their visit to Carlile House:

http://www.massivemagazine.org.nz/blog/5421/the-ghosts-of-carlile-house/

Here are some pictures and an eerie YouTube video :)











Well that's a short and sweet post for this week. :)

Next week I will bring you a surprise even for me! Because I don't know what it will be yet. :)

Until then have a fantastic week and weekend!

North Head Devonport Auckland New Zealand

North Head Devonport Auckland New Zealand

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/auckland/central-and-south-auckland/north-head-historic-reserve/

http://www.devonport.co.nz/Mt-Victoria-North-Head

North Head is a strategic military emplacement that was used for observation and defense of the Auckland Harbor since the late 1800's.

The view from  North Head is spectacular overlooking the city, Rangitoto island and looking down towards the north shore beaches. However one of the main attractions are the underground tunnels. Running all over the hill the underground tunnels are fantastic to explore and a good place to take a date for the excitement and intimate locations that you can find there among spectacular scenery and nature. ^^

Many legends circulate about some North Head tunnels being sealed off and there being guns and even a plane still being stored in some secret room. People have told stories of them wading up water pipes from the sea side of the hill to find secret caches of arms. I have not been able to verify any of these claims but they do make for a good story. ^^

Possibly one of the better locations to take some cool photos or do a photo shoot as it has a unique feel to it with really interesting locations.

Here are some pictures and a YouTube video.













Gosh I have been busy the last few weeks. I'm not sure that I have slept that much and I cant remember if I even posted last week? Probably not... However I am back and this is part one of my eerie places to visit in Auckland. Next week we may head to Ponsonby to check out a great photo shoot location and eerie building.

I hope you have a great week and see you next time! ^^

Packard & Pioneer Museum Maungatapere New Zealand

Packard & Pioneer Museum Maungatapere New Zealand.

http://www.packardandpioneer.co.nz/

Well its been a while since I have posted. Life has been hectic with work and moving to a new apartment so I have not had the time I needed to get on here and post. However I am here now to tell you about the Packard Museum in the upper North Island of new Zealand.

About 2 hours drive north from Auckland city is a little area known as Maungatapere. There is a coffee shop an art gallery, petrol station, A bike place (if I remember correctly) and the Packard Museum.

Housing literally hundreds of vehicles this complex has fantasticly restored vehicles and to the other extreme "junk" vehicles of all kinds. If you remember the yellow road working vehicles they are all here in various stages of disrepair. Tanks, machine guns, anti aircraft guns, trucks of all kinds, tractors and cars everywhere as well as trains, carts and all sorts of old things are all around.

The second floor houses the classic motorcycles as well as sewing machines, typewriters and old push around vacuum cleaners. Oh and telephones.

One could either call this a treasure trove, a hobby that got out of control or a glorified junk yard.

The "Tour" lasts around an hour or more where the group is guided through various warehouses of vehicles and climaxes with the storage area for the Packard collection of lovingly restored classic cars.

Check out the link at the top of the page for times and prices.

Well worth a look if you are interested in vehicles, motors and the like.



 













Well that all for this week. I may have another busy moving weekend this weekend but hopefully I will have something to talk about  next week. ^^

Until  then have a great weekend!

The Ellerslie Intermarque Concours and Classic Car Show 2014

The Ellerslie Intermarque Concours and Classic Car Show 2014

Sunday the 9th of February 2014

http://www.concours.org.nz/

Well this is a late post! But recently I have gotten a new job so I am spending a lot of time learning the new processes and procedures as well as the business and its structure so not much time to spare these days!

I also went up north this weekend to visit a car museum which I will report on next week. However to day is all about the Ellerslie Car Show.

I was rather impressed at the size of the show covering a vast area around the horse racing track. All sorts of cars were represented from the ultra modern to the very classic. All cars were in fantastic or immaculate condition. The venue was great with tailored lawns and shrubbery it made for a nice and elegant setting to display the vehicles.

Admission was $15 however I was admitted free (by sheer luck and fortune :) but again the food vendors were taking advantage by offering hot-dogs on a stick for $4.50 (if I remember rightly) Shaved ice in a cup for $4 and other horrendous prices for simple food. I am not sure if it is the vendors or the venue which dictates these prices but needless to say I didn't buy anything.

The day started off slow as I was one of the first few through the gate but to my surprise the overcast day opened up to a sunny afternoon and many more people ventured out.

I must say that this is one of the better car shows put on and it was well set out and was positioned in a well groomed setting.

I was especially looking forward to seeing the Back to the Future car which was inside the main building on display and I was not disappointed!

Lets have a look at some pictures and a YouTube video of the day:























As I mentioned before next week I will take you to the Packard Museum located near Whangerei.

Until then have a fantastic week! ^^

Auckland Pet Animal Expo 2013

Auckland Pet and Animal Expo 2103
ASB Showgrounds 28 September 2013

This week we step back into the archives to last year when I went to the Pet Expo.

This is an annual event held at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland:
http://www.petanimalexpo.co.nz/

An interesting idea for a show to say the least but a good day out if you have small children.... well it might be a good day if your child doesn't get headbutted by a goat :) (which did actually happen to someones child).

Horses can be ridden for a cost, goats and pigs can be petted and fed and you can see animal entertainment such as sheep dogs or show dogs performing tricks.

Police dogs, tiny dogs, big dogs, cats, birds and many other kinds of animals are on show for the public.

Lots of products were available to buy for your pet and you could even purchase a pet if I remember correctly.

Still an unusual show.  One of the first shows I went to after arriving back in New Zealand and I was unsure what to expect. There was a camera shy owner of some cats... a strange thing when coming back from Korea where everyone is taking pictures either with their camera or smart phone... but this is New Zealand I guess.

Good if you have young children. Enough said. ^^

Here a few pictures and a video:









This weekend is the classic car show on at Ellerslie Race Course on the 9th of February. I will be there taking pictures of the Delorean and what ever else is on offer.

So all going well that will be the update next week! ^^

Until then have a great weekend and I will see you next time! ^^

4 & Rotary Nationals 2014 New Zealand

Well I have had a super busy week getting projects completed and goals achieved!.... and posting my blog update late again. ^^

Last weekend I attended the "V" 4 & Rotary Nationals 2014 in Auckland New Zealand.

http://www.4androtary.co.nz/

Hundreds of cars were on display (Maybe over 1,000?) at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland City. A lot of good examples of show cars and street cars as well as many car clubs were represented at the show. Attendance was not bad... having come back from South Korea where over 1 million people are in attendance at a motor show it is hard to gauge if there was a large turnout at this event. But it looked like a lot of people were there. ^^

The ASB Showgrounds venue was an excellent improvement upon a show I went to maybe 10 years ago in a shed in a paddock between Auckland and Hamilton and felt like more of an international event center.
Now all we need in New Zealand is an international standard Motor Show and an Auto Salon. However we are far removed from the international markets and we don't have a car manufacturing industry so I can't see it happening. Which reminds me...

If you have ever attended an international show of this kind for example in Bangkok, Manila, Tokyo, Seoul, Busan, Osaka, Beijing..... you will notice the professionalism of the car models or "racing queens". Personally I think New Zealand lacks a sense of pride or professionalism when it comes to promotional models. Yes again I am criticizing my own country but companies employ these girls to promote their products and doing that job means that you will be in the public eye. Smiling at cameras and posing for shots is part of the job. Enjoying what you do should be part of your personality. Looking annoyed, carrying yourself badly and generally giving off a negative vibe is not part of the job. Don't get me wrong, there are 2 promo girls that make an effort... yes 2.

But enough of that. Also there was a New Zealand Model Search competition which had 13 competitors who competed over the 2 days of the show. I photographed the first round (costumes) before I left the showgrounds. Pictures will follow and are also in the YouTube video.

Food prices were similar to last weeks Kemeu show so they were reasonable and if you were resourceful you could find some vending machines. So no complaints here.

Overall a good experience and I am looking forward to a bigger and better show next year!























That's all for this week. I have no idea yet what i am going to post for next week! So it will be a surprise for all of us.

Until then have a fantastic weekend! ^^

Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival 2014 New Zealand

Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival 2014 New Zealand.
Sunday 19 January 2014

http://www.kumeuhotrodshow.co.nz/

This weekend I was able to head out to Kumeu to check out the classic car and hot rod festival. The biggest of its Kind in New Zealand drawing thousands of people from all over the country to exhibit sell and show off their creations. Held in an achre or 2 of paddocks the show consists of car displays, live music, car parts and second hand goods, apparel, new parts, huge range of food stalls, an entertainment area for the kids and a event area for engine blow outs and the like.

Saturday is the day to head out that way as it is the main attraction day attracting thousands of display vehicles and visitors. Unfortunately I had other commitments for that day so Sunday was Kumeu Car Show "Lite" with still an impressive collection of cars but less a few thousand people and a few cars.

I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of things at the event. A $15 entry was reasonable and the prices of food was reasonable as well. For example you could get a pizza for $10 so not as ridiculous as Hamton Downs $6 hotdog. T-shirts etc were also well priced to sell aome I saw 4 for $20!

It was a good day out if you remembered to wear your sunblock and a hat. Unfortunately there seems to be no other venue in New Zealand big enough to hold this event but I guess Kiwi's are used to being out in the sun in a paddock. It goes along with the culture.

Here are a few pictures and a video slideshow:



















Next week I am off to the 4 and Rotary Nationals Show at ASB Showgrounds. Should be interesting... I will have another update for you next week focusing on this event so until then have a fantastic week and weekend! ^^