Christchurch / Canterbury / New Zealand GTG?

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

07/14/2007 06:34:07 AM · #1

Hi-ho,

I tried to arrange one a while ago (Like two years ago) and got no takers, but thought I'd try again.

Wondering if there are a few other folks who would be interested in getting together to talk rubbish and take photos of something in this neck of the woods?

Possibly even a field trip for some landscape stuff up in the Alps, as I was planning a trip to Manuka point sometime soon anyway.. Where I took this a couple of weeks back:

There will be a pile more snow up there now, and I was thinking of going up at Dawn, so not a trip for the bed-ridden.

It's a shingle road, and if you're a little crazy you could do it in a normal car, but a 4x4 is recommended. I've got three spare seats in mine, and we could go back down to Methven for lunch in one of the ski bunny cafe's.. :-).

(It's up the south side of the Rakaia river valley for those who don't know)

Anyone?

Message edited by author 2007-07-14 06:35:11.

SandyP

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 USM

07/14/2007 10:21:30 AM · #2

Oh man! What I'd give to go on a photo shoot in New Zealand -- in the mountains. I've never been there but my daughter-in-law was a foreign exchange student there, and between her pictures and stories, and pictures I've seen here on dpc and in movies, it is on my shortest list of places I have to see in my lifetime.

I'm super jealous!!! Unfortunately, Texas is just too far to make it this year :(

yakatme

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/14/2007 11:04:26 AM · #3

Originally posted by KiwiChris:

It's a shingle road, and if you're a little crazy you could do it in a normal car, but a 4x4 is recommended.

You wouldn't believe the places that I've taken a "normal" car. I prefer a 4X4, but if one isn't available it won't stop me.

I'm definitely interested!!! New Zealand is on the top of my list of places that I want to go to in the next two years. To go with a bunch of DPC'ers or at least start off my trip that way is absolutely ideal.

Please keep me posted by PM if I seem to miss important updates on this thread.

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

07/14/2007 12:47:58 PM · #4

Maybe next year.. I will be much closer then.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/14/2007 04:21:38 PM · #5

What a shame I'm in the wrong island :(

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

07/14/2007 04:24:03 PM · #6

Originally posted by joynim:

What a shame I'm in the wrong island :(

Too far for me too unfortunately Charlie. Hi Chris :))

07/14/2007 04:31:32 PM · #7

We should have one on wellington .............in the middle for both of you :)

07/14/2007 05:07:52 PM · #8

Originally posted by yakatme:

You wouldn't believe the places that I've taken a "normal" car. I prefer a 4X4, but if one isn't available it won't stop me.

:-)...

I can agree whole-heartedly.

This is our old Mazda 323 back in 2003, took it about 10k's up past Glen Lyon station/lake Ohau. That was a cool trip, we had 4 people in the wee car and had a great time laughing at what we were doing to the car!

Th only down side taking a 2wd into some of these places is that you get nervous about getting home again once you get past a certain point! Depdending on how serious things are getting of course. The Manuka point road will possibly be snow-bound, and has some fairly deep fords to cross..

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/14/2007 05:16:43 PM · #9

Wellington... Hmmmmmm,

Nick could probably come then as well, which would almost make it a party! :-).

Well, I'm keen on this dawn trip before mid-august, but we could look at a wellington GTG for summer.Give folks enough time to arrange travel etc.

Not quite as photogenic as the alps, but we could go and stalk some politicians!

Te PaPa and around the waterfront a great for a bit of roaming photography, up mount Victoria (Is it mnt Vic, the one with the lookout) at night.

I can stay with friends over in J-Ville, How about you Sue? A non-secific time in Summer, for a couple of days. You could take the train down and catch some scenery! For that matter, we would probably take the train up for the same reason, come up and see you.. :-)

Nuzzer

Canon EOS-7D

07/14/2007 05:38:41 PM · #10

Originally posted by KiwiChris:

I might be keen on a North Island GTG. I could do Wellington given enough notice.

3DsArcher

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

07/14/2007 06:25:47 PM · #11

I would probably be in for a Wellington GTG as well in summer. Your South Island GTG looks good too but finances are a little tight for me at the moment otherwise I would be in.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

07/14/2007 09:50:18 PM · #12

Darn, we won't be down there until either late Oct or early Nov :(

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

07/15/2007 01:34:17 AM · #13

Wow looks like a summer GTG in Wellington might be a goer :)

griz210

Nikon D300s

07/15/2007 02:22:44 AM · #14

wow!! wouldn't love to join you on this gtg. New ZeaLand is on the top of the list of places i want to visit. Next year or the year after the wife and i are talking about maybe trying to visit there. If we do hope you have a gtg while we are there, if so i will sure try to make it. Good luck on this one this year.

07/15/2007 03:25:32 PM · #15

Bump for the Monday morning crowd in NZ for he original trip...

(If there is a Monday morning DPC crowd in NZ? :) )

07/16/2007 03:03:13 AM · #16

One last bump for evening crowd..

Still looking to see if anyone wants to get up at sparrow fart to take photos in sub-zero temperatures.. :-)

rinac

Pentax K20D

Pentax SMC-F 50mm f/1.7

07/17/2007 05:39:54 AM · #17

Would love to come down, but unable to travel for at least another 6 weeks due to health :(

For any others who are interested, I always try to keep an eye on Air New Zealand's Grab a seat. Just missed out on $1 fares Auckland/Wellington this afternoon. Ya gotta be quick!

07/17/2007 06:33:03 AM · #18

Originally posted by rinac:

OMG thanks for that have added to favourites tho i presume you have to pay full fare back!

rinac

Pentax K20D

Pentax SMC-F 50mm f/1.7

07/18/2007 04:54:34 PM · #19

Originally posted by joynim:

tho i presume you have to pay full fare back!

Actually, the $1 fares (which is a rarity) were the same to and from all destinations. Travel dates are usually short windows though, and sometimes a couple of months ahead. So being able to think fast AND have a friend on to it (for returns) at the same time is a must. Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss :)

Chris, if I spot any fares down that way for your time frame, I'll give this another bump for ya. Good luck!

07/19/2007 07:20:33 AM · #20

Hi-ho,

Probably looking at Sunday 5th of August... I'm working this weekend, and Saturday 4th of got a kiddie birthday party. :-).

So, last call for folks in the South Island up for a mini GTG in the snow... Or at least I'm hoping for snow!

cnwhiteside

07/23/2007 08:08:50 AM · #21

Air NZ grabaseat prices are really cheap and if you can get them they save you heaps. You really have to be flexible though as the dates are not always what you want. I did found this site that emails you grabaseat flights each morning. It's really convenient as it saves you having to check Air NZ's website each day. It is at www.dealspotter.co.nz.