Wānaka - New Zealand

Happy New Year postcrossers and postcards collectors in general. 

Have you already received your 1st cards of the year? My 1st one arrived last monday after almost a month traveling all the way from New Zealand. My pal Hans went on an epic trip in a few Asian and Oceania countries and was so kind to send me this card. 

This is a view of the milky way above Wānaka and Treble Cone.

Photo Copyright © 2015 Mike Mackinven

Wānaka is town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. As one of the most beautiful places of New Zealand’s South Island, you can find some breathtaking views of blue lakes, the vast Southern Alps, or cool evergreen forests.
With naturally clear, dark skies, very little light pollution and a spectacular landscape as a backdrop Wānaka is a great place to capture night sky photographs of the stars, Milky Way, and – if you’re lucky – the Aurora Australis (otherwise known as the Southern Lights). - in: https://www.lakewanaka.co.nz

DE-12648399

White Island is New Zealand's most active cone volcano. It is situated 48 km (30 mi) from the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. The island covers an area of approximately 325 ha (800 acres),[2] which is just the peak of a much larger submarine volcano. 

 

Photo: Tony Stone / Kim Westerskov

DE-12648399, sent by Andrea.

The island was a popular tourist destination, known for its volcanic activity but on 9 December 2019 it explosively erupted and twenty-two people of the 47 that were on the island at the time have died, either in the explosion or from injuries sustained, including two whose bodies were never found and were later declared dead. A further 25 people suffered injuries, with the majority needing intensive care for severe burns. - in: wikipedia

As a result of the eruption event, there are currently no on-land tours of the island in operation. 

Cape Reinga - New Zealand

I really don't have many cards from New Zealand. Don't know how many but only 5 of them are officials. 

Photography Copyright © Pikitia 2010 Ltd

NZ-208848, sent by Nicky.

"Cape Reinga is the northwesternmost tip of the Aupouri Peninsula, at the northern end of the North Island of New Zealand. Cape Reinga is located over 100 km north of the nearest small town of Kaitaia. The name of the cape comes from the Māori word 'Reinga', meaning the 'Underworld'. Another Māori name is 'Te Rerenga Wairua', meaning the leaping-off place of spirits. Both refer to the Māori belief that the cape is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld.

The lighthouse was built in 1941 and first lit during May of that year. It was the last manned light to be built in New Zealand (...). 
In 1987, the lighthouse was fully automated and the lighthouse keepers were withdrawn. 
The lighthouse is a common New Zealand icon and a popular tourist destination although the lighthouse itself is not open to the public. - in: wikipedia.

Lake Tekapo - New Zealand

I don't have many cards from New Zealand. The 1st of the these Lake Tekapo cards was one of my 1st from there and it was sent by Adrienne almost 11 years ago!!! Time really flies fast with postcrossing.

Lake Tekapo is second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand. 

Photo by: Andrew Fear

AU-194220, sent by Aijing.

On the shores on the lake you'll see the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, where the altar window frames a perfect view of the Southern Alps beyond the lake. The church was built in 1935 for the pioneer families of the Mackenzie district and is still used as a place of worship. The church is a popular photo spot for visitors. - in: https://www.newzealand.com/sg/lake-tekapo/

Mount Hutt - New Zealand

Third and last New Zealand card sent by Andrzej. 

The New Zealand Souvenir Co. Ltd 

Mount Hutt rises to the west of the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand, above the braided upper reaches of the Rakaia River, and 80 kilometres west of Christchurch. Its summit is 2190 metres above sea level.

The mountain is home to a commercial alpine ski area with the largest skiable area in the South Island (3.65 square kilometres), and a vertical height of 683 metres. - in: wikipedia

Milford Sound - New Zealand

Located in the south west of New Zealand’s South Island, Milford Sound sits within Fiordland National Park, part of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. 

Produced by Colorview Publication 1997 Ltd

Bounded by steep cliffs and dense rainforest, Milford Sound is by far the best known of all of the fiords in New Zealand, and the only one that can be accessed by road. Rain or shine, Milford Sound continues to captivate even the most experienced traveller. At the pinnacle of Milford Sound is the iconic Mitre Peak - standing a proud 1,692 metres above sea level, it is certainly an impressive sight to behold.  It is approximately 16km from the head of the fiord to the open sea, which means visitors can comfortably travel the length of the fiord to open ocean and return on one of the many cruise options. - in: http://www.milford-sound.co.nz/about-milford-sound/

Franz Josef Glacier - New Zealand

The spectacular New Zealand landscapes are famous all over the world and some of those landscapes include glaciers. Franz Josef Glacier is one of New Zealand’s largest and most-visited ones. 

Produced by Colorview Publication 2004 Ltd

Franz Josef Glacier area has some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand. Just six kilometres from the centre of the village, Franz Josef Glacier(Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) descends from the tops of the Southern Alps (Kā Tiritiri o te Moana) into rainforest close to sea level.  This provides a very rare opportunity to experience a dynamic glacier in a temperate environment, within easy driving and walking distance from the main highway.

Franz Josef is the name of both the glacier and the nearby village, though the Maori names are different.  The small but lively Franz Josef Waiau village is surrounded by lush rainforest with the high snow-capped Alps above.

Within a short distance of the village are a number of options for taking in the natural attractions including a cycleway, walks of varying length, guided walks, kayaking, and action adventures like rafting or skydiving.  You can take a visit to the white heron colony or the world’s rarest kiwi. - in: http://www.glaciercountry.co.nz/explore-our-regions/franz-josef-glacier/

Emerald Lakes - New Zealand

Lets keep with volcanoes with a beautiful volcanic scenary in Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand’s most popular one day hike in Tongariro National Park. 

This beautiful card was sent by Adrienne. 

Photo © Edward Shaw

On the back of the card: Crossing spectacular volcanic terrain in the presence of two active volcanoes helps to make the Tongariro Crossing one of the best day walks in New Zealand. The water filled explosion craters, known as Emerald Lakes, get their brilliant greenish colour from the minerals which have leached from the adjoining thermal area. 

Many Themes RR - Group 1597 (Kuba_pn)

Agnieszka lives in Australia and sent card from Poland, New Zealand and Singapore. 

Foto: K. Jablonski

Grunwaldzki Bridge is a suspension bridge over the River Oder in Wrocław, Poland, built over the years 1908-1910. Initially the bridge was called the Imperial Bridge (Kaiserbrücke), then the Bridge of Freedom (Freiheitsbrücke). Architectural designer of the bridge was a city councilor, Richard Plüddemann. The bridge opened on 10 October 1910 in the presence of Emperor Wilhelm II.

It is one of the longest bridges of its kind in Poland being 112.5 meters long, 18 meters wide and weighing 2.3 thousand tons. It was constructed of Silesian granite.

The bridge was damaged during World War II but by September 1947 it had been repaired and was opened again. Across the bridge currently go the national road 98 and tram lines. - in: wikipedia

Tiki Postcard * Pictorial Publications Limited

Blenheim is situated in the Marlborough region of New Zealand on the north east corner of the South Island, due west of Wellington city. Blenheim's attractions include its wine industry, the Marlborough Sounds, gourmet foods and adventure activities. - in: http://www.cityofblenheim.co.nz/

Featured on the left is the War Memorial Clock Tower and Fountain  in Seymour Square. The colourful gardens of the same square are seen on top right. At bottom right the Pollard Park incorporates the tranquil setting of the Waterlea Gardens. 

 

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Developed by Las Vegas Sands (LVS), it is the world's most expensive building, at US$ 4.7 billion, including the cost of the prime land.

The iconic design has transformed Singapore's skyline and tourism landscape since it opened on 27 April 2010. The property has an hotel, convention and exhibition facilities, theatres, entertainment venues, retailers and restaurants. - in: wikipedia

NZ-89985

Lois sent me an Auckland card with the War Memorial Museum, one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. 

Inaugurated in November 28th, 1929, the museum is one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist style, and sitting on a grassed plinth (the remains of a dormant volcano) in the Auckland Domain, a large public park close to the Auckland CBD.

© Scenix Marketing, Auckland

NZ-89985, sent by Lois. 

The museum houses a large collection of Māori and Pacific Island artefacts and treasures, including for example three entire buildings, including Hotunui, a large carved meeting house built in 1878 at Thames, and Te Toki a Tapiri, a waka taua (war canoe) from 1830. 

The museum also stores a photographic collection of 1.2 million images, and stores and exhibits 1.5 million natural history specimens from the fields of botany, entomology, geology, land vertebrates and marine biology. The stated goal is to eventually possess specimens from all New Zealand species.

There is also an extensive permanent exhibition covering wars, both within New Zealand and New Zealand's participation in overseas conflicts. This exhibition is linked to the War Memorial, and for example shows models of Maori pas (earth fortifications) and original Spitfire and Mitsubishi Zero aeroplanes. The Museum holds the largest collection of applied and decorative arts in New Zealand and selections are currently displayed in the Landmarks and Encounters Galleries.

Parts of the museum, as well as the Cenotaph and its surrounding consecrated grounds (Court of Honour) in front of the Museum, also serve as a war memorial, mainly to those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. There are two 'Halls of Memory' within the museum, whose walls, together with a number of additional marble slabs, list the names of all known New Zealand soldiers from the Auckland Region killed in major conflicts during the 20th Century. - in: wikipedia

Cape Egmont Lighthouse - New Zealand

Sonja really wanted one of my cards and asked if i'd like to trade with her. I said yes and this was the card i chose. A volcano and a lighthouse, just great!!

© Oliver Bolch

The card was sent from Germany but it shows Cape Egmont Lighthouse and Mt. Taranaki, an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. The 2518-metre-high mountain is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world. Because of its resemblance to Mount Fuji, Taranaki provided the backdrop for the movie The Last Samurai.

Cape Egmont Lighthouse is a lighthouse at Cape Egmont in the Taranaki Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand. The light was manufactured by Simpson & Co., Pimlico, London, in 1864 and erected on Mana Island to the north west of Porirua in 1865 and in 1877 the light was dismantled and moved to Cape Egmont.

The light was fully automated in 1986. - in: wikipedia

NZ-62159

I don't even remember the last time i received a card from New Zealand but it was a long time ago. This an official with a beautiful landscape of Aoraki/Mt. Cook. The purple flowers are mountain lupins.

Kiwi Vista Company Limited

NZ-62159 sent by Annie.

Although wild mountain lupins have a harmful effect on New Zealand's natural environment, witnessing their blanket of brilliant colour, provides everlasting memories.

Maybe you don't know but the yellow legume seeds of lupins, commonly called lupin beans, are very popular in Portugal. Frequently served free of charge in bars alongside a glass of beer but can be quite tricky to consumer to a novice and there is a 'knack' to eating them.
Using you teeth you must tear the outer skin, bite down to 'pop' the bean out and into your mouth. Getting the hang of this can produce some amusing situations.

NZ-42815

Today is a national holiday and that means no mail but yesterday my mailbox was full. I've received 15 cards and 3 of them were officials. This one is from New Zealand.

NZ-42815, sent by Fran.

"Mt John Observatory is a high-tech research observatory, founded in 1965 as a joint project between the universities of Pennsylvania and Canterbury. It is at Lake Tekapo, in the centre of New Zealand’s South Island – where there is the greatest chance of dark, clear skies.
A large 1-metre Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain telescope was installed at Mt John in 1986. Known as the McLellan telescope, it is used mainly for high-resolution spectroscopy of stars with a Hercules vacuum echelle spectrograph (spectroscopy is the study of the way atoms absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation). The data can be used to measure star velocities, temperatures, pressures, chemical composition, rotation rates and other parameters." - in: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/astronomy-overview/4

GTKY Christmas cards RR

Finally some mail in my mailbox :) My 1st Christmas card :D

On the "getting to know you" thread in the postcrossing forum, we decided to creat a RR for handmade Christmas cards. This was my 1st time making cards, and so far, i'm enjoying my cards. I hope the girls also like them too :P
This card was sent by Sally "twinkley" from New Zealand. Thank you Sally!!

New Zealand, Portugal

These are the cards i've received today. A volcano card from New Zealand sent by Sally "twinkley". She read i like volcanos and she asked me if i wanted to receive another one from NZ. The second card is from Portugal and it was sent by Helena "leninha".

On the back og the card: Mt Ruapehu (2779m) erupting in September 1995 just at sunset, viewed from the National Park township.
"Mount Ruapehu is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. Ruapehu is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the largest active volcano in New Zealand.

Mt. Ruapehu served as the setting for Mt. Doom in the The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. It is predominately featured in The Return of the King as Frodo and Sam stumble up—and then get stuck coming down—its slopes." - in: wikipedia

This is the Alferrarede Castle in Alferrarede. This castle is classified as a National Monument but is a private property. The Counts of Alferrarede live there.

Tongariro National Park - New Zealand

A few days ago i was just cheking some tags on the postcrossing forum, when i decided to saw which cards Adrienne "adriennegarry" was offering on the "you choose tag 2". I immediately fell in love with this card and I had to tag her! This is now, one of my favorite cards and i've just added volcanoes to my wishlist :)

On the back of the cards: "Tongariro National Park, in the central North Island, encompasses some of the most active volcanoes in New Zealand. Captured during a moment of perfection are Mt. Ngauruhoe, in the foreground, and Mt. Ruapehu behind."

"Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand, located in the central North Island. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as one of the 25 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites.
Tongariro National Park was the fourth National Park established in the world. The active volcanic mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro are located in the centre of the park." - in: wikipedia.

More 2 Unesco cards

These are the cards i've received today, 2 new unesco cards from New Zealand and Hungary. They've been sent by Jane "enajpostcards".

"Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Māori) is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey, and is acclaimed as New Zealand's own most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling had previously called it the eighth Wonder of the World." - in: wikipedia.

"Puszta is a concept often associated with the Hungarian traditional landscape. It means "steppe", a full vegetation and bushy land, wilderness, a grassy kind of semi-desert. With a capital letter and a definite article, it refers to flat parts of the Alföld (the Great Hungarian Plain). It is originally inhabited by cowherds, shepherds, and horseherds. From 1999, The Puszta (or Hortobágy National Park) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hungary." - in: wikipedia.