Sinai

Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Nov 2005: The usual way to ascend Mount Sinai is via a group bus trip from Dahab in the late evening- then do the guided tour from about midnight to the summit. The reason being you will be at the top when the sun rises in the east… It’s a cool idea […]

Marycrest

Horowhenua, NZ, Sept 2012: There’s not a lot of information freely available about Marycrest, a former catholic girls’ “rehabilitation” school at Te Horo on the Kapiti Coast. From what I can ascertain, it was founded in 1953 by Sister Mary Teresa Kennedy and Mary St Finton of the French based Good Shepherd Sisters. According to researcher Roscoe […]

Lake A

Lake Alice, Rangitikei NZ, Sept 2012: Another drive-by the infamous Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital. I was watched closely by a number of people on the site, but with the aid of a telephoto lens grabbed a few long range shots. Most of the buildings seem to be gone or in the process of being demolished. […]

Home

Whanganui, New Zealand, Sept 2012: This former Hospital and rest home in Wanganui was closed in 2003. The buildings remain in fairly good order despite spots of vandalism. It’s quite a large facility with nice grounds and location right on the Whanganui river. It’s current status and future is unknown…

Coolstore

Patea, Taranaki NZ, Sept 2012: Revisited the abandoned Patea coolstore recently. At it’s height it stored and chilled cheeses from the area, and meat from the adjacent Patea Freezing works… Situated right on the bank of the Patea river, freight was loaded directly onto ships for national redistribution and export… At over a century old- […]

Purnell House

Whanganui, New Zealand, Sept 2012: From the little I know, Purnell House was originally the accomodation ward for the nearby Wanganui Highschool. Today I’m not sure of it’s use, though it does seem to be semi occupied and has definately seen better days.

Awatuna

South Taranaki, NZ, Aug 2012: Awatuna Dairy Factory- one of many that dot the Taranaki landscape. Before the advent of the milk tanker and the colossal Fonterra factory near Hawera, Whareroa, these milk factories were the lifeline of Taranaki dairy farmers. Spaced at roughly five miles apart, they allowed local farmers easy delivery of milk […]

Turuturumōkai

Hawera, Taranaki, NZ June 2012: Turuturumokai is a former Maori pā (fortifified village) situated just outside the South Taranaki town of Hawera. Originally there were three pā linked together with a population of around 400 people. In the 16th century there was an attack on Turuturu Mokai by a neighbouring pa. They failed with grave consequences, […]

Haus

Foxton, Horowhenua, NZ, June2012: An abandoned house I noticed while passing through Foxton. It’s seen better days and looks more suited to a horror film set- ie. Hitchcocks infamous 1960 film Psycho.