Limestone Island is well named - for it is almost entirely made of Limestone. Once the site of a quarry, it is now managed by the municipality of Whangarei with support from a local cement company. There is a caretaker on the island and much work has been down to restore native vegetation, stabilize historic structures, and provide paths and signage. While I was ashore visiting, a tour boat arrived and 20 or 30 visitors rambled around the ruins and walked the paths that circle the island.
I anchored off one of the quarries and rowed ashore, landing on the beach under Victorian ruins of the manager's house. The quarry here is small by modern standards and I am glad that the mainland provided a more suitable place for a quarry early in the last century, preserving this little island for visiting boaters and tourists. Following are pictures I took while walking around the island.
I anchored off one of the quarries and rowed ashore, landing on the beach under Victorian ruins of the manager's house. The quarry here is small by modern standards and I am glad that the mainland provided a more suitable place for a quarry early in the last century, preserving this little island for visiting boaters and tourists. Following are pictures I took while walking around the island.
The edge of the quarry reflected in an excavated hollow - now a thriving pond. The broad leaved plant is flax, which was once cultivated here and grows all over the island |
I like the edgy textures of the rock contrasting with the soft bushes above. |
Panorama from the quarry looking toward Whangarei. Onerahi is to the right. A derrick at the water edge was used to load the limestone on barges. |
House as it would have appeared in the late 19th century. What a difference a roof makes! |
Walk to the cement works and lime kilns on the other side of the island. Shipwreck beach lies just past the flax plant. |
Iron from the wreck of the Victoria - a coastal scow wrecked here more than 100 years ago. |
More great textures and colours (with saturation increased for effect) |
Lime kilns used in cement manufacture appear to be in good condition |
I love the echo between the curve of the vine and that of the brick arch |
The structure of some of the columns is laid bare by the weather making interesting patterns |
View back to McLeod Bay with old cement wharf to left |
A Maori Pa (hill fort) looks out over the new cement plant on the mainland shore. These wooden survey marks are common in NZ. |
Returning along the central ridge - Onerahi to the left. An airport covers the flat top of the hill just out of the frame. |
Leaving Limestone Island. |
Just half a jib and making 5-6 knots in 20 knots of south wind. |
4 comments:
Don't know if you have yet heard about the accident in La Paz involving John on your sister ship Time Piece. FMI see the blog from Tom and Jeanne on Eagle: http://www.sailblogs.com/member/bigleftturn/
Thanks for letting us know - what an awful accident. I will get in touch with John directly or via the blog.
Lovely pictures as usual. I especially loved your echo picture!
Thanks Ann! This was my last sailing trip for a long time. Back in Canada now.
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