This post by our 10 year old son Shahaar is long overdue as he has been wanting to write his next photography based travel post for a while now. He really enjoyed writing and sharing his past two travel photography based posts. The first one was mostly based in Bangkok and moving to Auckland. The second was based around his travels in New Zealand. This collection he had taken lots of pictures from his time in Thailand (again), England and New Zealand, but he only wanted to post his ‘wilderness’ outdoor based pictures, so together we chose images from all the regional parks around Auckland and Rotorua. In his own words…I added the links later!
In May 2015 we did our first campervan trip and went to Rotorua for a few days. We swam in hotsprings and saw bursting geysers. We also walked on this swinging bridge (that picture is at the end) and hiked in Rainbow Mountain Reserve.
A few weeks ago, we went on a hike around Shakespeare regional park and it was lambing season. We saw lots of cute lambs and my parents also saw colourful parrots but me and my sister missed out because we were way ahead of them on the trail. I saw fantails and really tried to get a picture but it would fly away too quickly.
You see a lot of blue and green in New Zealand. We hiked to a lookout point at the top of the hill and then hiked down to the beach.
We go fishing near our house at Ladies Bay and one time a starfish got caught on the hook, but we let it go. We caught a big fish that day. It is winter now so can’t go fishing, but we will go again when the weather is warmer.
Swing bridge in Rotorua
Linked to Monday Escapes, Nature’s Notes, Weekly Photo Challenge: Connected, Weekend Travel Inspiration Weekend Wanderlust Our World Tuesday and Travel Photo Thursday
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I visited Rotorua many years ago on a group trip, but I feel like I missed out on a lot of the great experiences (as is often the case with group trips) because of our packed itinerary. I definitely would love to go back, I may still skip that swing bridge though. Yikes!
That is one interesting looking starfish. Glad you let it go. That swing bridge looks pretty cool. A little scary perhaps when on it.
Congratulations to your 10-year old! He is a definite blogger AND photographer. You are training him well!
Thanks Carol 🙂 don’t know how much training as much as encouraging him to share his hobby (photography) but definitely having to push him to write words to go with the pictures!
Your son is a star! He may be an up and coming photographer and travel blogger. I have been to Rotorua and although it is a little smelly I loved the thermal pools and the geysers. Actually New Zealand is a totally undervalued travel destination. I have been there three times and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time.
Sounds like you had a fantastic time Shahaar! And really beautiful photos – congrats on catching a big fish – I’ve tried to go fishing so many times but never caught anything. I don’t think I’m very good – I would have even been happy if I could have caught a starfish like you! And the lambs are so cute 🙂 I will have to try and go to New Zealand too 🙂
Fun to see the world through a 10-year-old’s eyes!
Thanks Colleen 🙂 I had fun choosing with him and putting them up on the website too!
It’s great to see NZ through a 10 year old lens…and words. I last visited Roturua on our honeymoon over 20 years ago… But I’d love to go back. Anywhere with hot water is my happy place!
Hot water anything does it for me too 🙂 First time experience hot water waterfalls, so amazing!
“You see a lot of blue and green in New Zealand” – and that is exactly why I’ve been wanting to visit NZ for years! Great post and lovely photos, young man!
I think it’s so amazing your son likes to contribute to your blog. He’s quite the photographer too! Tell him “Thank you for showing me a bit of New Zealand! I can’t wait to go there myself!”
Beautiful and picturesque images of nature.
I think it’s incredible when kids apply themselves with purpose:) even more special when it’s in the parents’ footsteps (I might be a little biased as it always makes me happy when my son writes for my blog:)
What a nice park to visit. I would like to walk across that swinging bridge. The starfish is cool. Lovely images. Thanks for sharing, enjoy your week!
How sweet that he wrote the post <3
Great photos!!!
Thank you for joining #MondayEscapes
Great post Shahaar! I love the look of that starfish – do you know what it is? I’ve never seen one quite like it!
Shahaar, I truly enjoyed all you photos and your travel story about Roturua, which is now on our list of places to go because of your pictures. I loved all your photos and words to match. Keep up the good work!
Shahaar … Thank you so much for sharing some of your wonderful photos with Nature Notes. I love that you are such a nature lover and such a good photographer. You are so lucky to have the opportunity to visits these different countries and to share them. Thank you again… Michelle
I have been showing Shahaar all these lovely messages and positive feedback he has received on his post 🙂 Thanks so much for helping to encourage him, it made him happy!
Beautiful! You really know how to handle a camera! Good job, I am looking forward following your work!
We love New Zealand. We’ve been there twice but both times were to the South Island. You are right there is a lot of blue and green in New Zealand.
Lovely photos. I especially like the ones of the starfish and the red capped mushroom with white dots. My 10-year-old is also a big fan of photography. I gifted her a camera for her birthday after getting tired of having to hand over mine all the time when she wanted to take a picture. We’re headed to the Microsoft store tomorrow for a Digital Photography Class for kids.