G'day from New Zealand

[robbiebgraham]

Hi All,
I'm a woodturner based in a small village called Waitahanui, which is on the edge of Lake Taupo, in the central North Island.
I have a Gallery called Wildwood and I make and sell mostly nonfunctional art woodturning. My wife Sue is an artist as well and paints watercolours and acrylics. The painting and my woodturning work well together in the gallery they seem to complement one-another.
You can view our work at http://www.wildwoodgallery.co.nz
I have also started an album on this site and will add new pieces as I make them.
Have a nice day.
Cheers,
Robbie

[munruben]

Hi Robbie and welcome to the forum. I had the pleasure of being at one of your demonstrations over here in Brisbane a couple of weeks or so ago. Great work and an excellent demonstration. If any other members get the opportunity to see Robbie in action, don't miss it. Great to see you here Robbie.

[damian]

Welcome.

I wonder can I ask a question off topic ? My ladyfriend and I are considering a trip to the north island in october. We aren't fond of hot mud and maori dancing so we thought we'd do either the west or east coast. It would be nice to visit Lake Taupo of course but we can't do everything.

Could I trouble you for your thoughts on eastlands (Gisbon, Ruatoria etc) and the west coast (New Plymouth, Hamilton etc). We're interested in scenery and local towns and stuff, not "touristy" stuff...

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[robbiebgraham]

Welcome.

I wonder can I ask a question off topic ? My ladyfriend and I are considering a trip to the north island in october. We aren't fond of hot mud and maori dancing so we thought we'd do either the west or east coast. It would be nice to visit Lake Taupo of course but we can't do everything.

Could I trouble you for your thoughts on eastlands (Gisbon, Ruatoria etc) and the west coast (New Plymouth, Hamilton etc). We're interested in scenery and local towns and stuff, not "touristy" stuff...

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Thanks,

If I had a choice between the two I would go down the eastern side to the east cape. If you are arriving into Auckland drive down to Waihi and follow the coast down to Gisborne. The East cape is quite a drive but worth it as the scenery is fantastic and very good fishing if you are into that. You can continue down to just short of Napier and go back to Auckland vie Taupo. On the west coast you don't follow the cost much noth of New Plymouth and they can be fairly long drives out to the coast.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Robbie
It depends on how much time you have.

[Ed Reiss]

...must be something in the air or water in NZ that gives you guys a real artistic way with your turnings

Welcome to the insanity Robbie

[robbiebgraham]

Hi Robbie and welcome to the forum. I had the pleasure of being at one of your demonstrations over here in Brisbane a couple of weeks or so ago. Great work and an excellent demonstration. If any other members get the opportunity to see Robbie in action, don't miss it. Great to see you here Robbie.

Thanks,
I did enjoy that day myself and had a great audience. Love to come back some time and have better weather. Our drive down to Sydney the next few day was a bit of a wash out and we couldn't go down the Pacific Highway because of the flooding.
Hope to have better luck next time.
Cheers,
Robbie

[damian]

I am sorry your visit to Australia was rained out. Unfortunately we don't have much control over that

Thank you for the comments. My plan at this stage is to fly into wellington, get a car, prebook hotels, dive up either side over about a week and spend another week in northlands, fly out of auckland. We can only travel a few hours a day (2-3) so we thought wellington, palmerston north, napier, onto gisborne, somewhere on the cape, somewhere around bay of plenty, coromandel, auckland, around northlands then off...

Is it true how they pronounce whakatane ? or were our kiwi friends having a lend of us ? I don't want to have a punchup with anyone...

[robbiebgraham]

Damian, Sounds like a good plan to me, you will see the best of the coast in my opinion.
Wh is pronounced like an F in Maori. It would be best to pronounce it like Fockatane.
Cheers,
Robbie

[damian]

So they weren't joking. I'm sorry but I can't help but gigle every time I hear it out loud.

Hopefully we'll have time to swing inland and see the lake.

I hope you enjoy the forum experience. It's a tad mad at times, but lots of good stuff here!

[Ad de Crom]

Hi Robbie, welcome aboard.
Took a look to your website, and enjoyed it.
Some real stunning pieces of work.
Nice place to live so close to the bay.
Hope to see more of your work.
Ad

[albasia_rudy]

G'day , Mate. I'm from Indonesia. I've been longing for so long ....many friends from all over the world keep telling me NZ has the best view in the world. Nice to meet you.

Rudy
www.paulowniatree.blogspot.com

[artme]

G'day Robbie and welcome to the madness and the friendship.

Hi All,
I'm a woodturner based in a small village called Waitahanui, which is on the edge of Lake Taupo, in the central North Island. Robbie

Are not all places in NZ small villages

Seriously though I have been to that area and loved it.

[robbiebgraham]

Thankyou all, for the warm welcome.
Cheers,
Robbie

[Manuka Jock]

Gidday Robbie , 'bout time ya got here

Love your work , and the paintings too ,
been checking your site out for a while .
I was gonna nick some your ideas and use 'em , but me skills ain't up to it ...
cheers ,
Jock

hey , stick your website addy on the bottom of your posts in the signature area

[robbiebgraham]

Gidday Robbie , 'bout time ya got here

Thanks Jock, Looks like a very active and fun forum, not like some I belong to
Do you have an album on this site?
Cheers,
Robbie
http://www.wildwoodgallery.co.nz