Date: Sunday 6 April 2025
Meeting place: Rolleston BP 9am
Weather: 18 degrees, beautiful day for photography
Participants: 15 keen photographers
Destinations Visited:
1. Aviation Museum
387 Seafield road, Elgin, Ashburton
https://www.aviationmuseum.co.nz/about/
Aviation Museum, cost $10pp.
From The Past, For The Future.
This place is a real credit to New Zealand it has 400 members worldwide.
The Ashburton Aviation Museum, nestled in the heart of charming Mid-Canterbury. Here lies a hidden gem showcasing one of the country’s most extensive aircraft collections, all meticulously preserved and curated by our team of dedicated volunteers.
Wow, this place is well worth a visit – 40 Aircraft, 7 Gliders, 6 Helicopters, 11 Engines, 6 Large Model Aircraft, 4 Cockpits, Flight Simulator, Space Ball, Control Tower and Radio Shack complete with working Morse Code Radio.
Members got to try their hand at some morse code, which I might add is a lot harder than it looks. Climb to the top of the control tower and touch a ball that had fallen out of space. Wonder around all of the exhibits that have been lovingly restored.
2. Plains Railway
20 Maronan Road, Tinwald, Ashburton
https://www.plainsrailway.co.nz
Plains Railway, Cash donation, $15pp for a ride on the train
The story of The Plains Vintage Railway and Historical Museum begins nearly 130 years ago, in May 1878. It was in this year that the first section of the branch line railway that would in time become the ‘Mt Somers Branch’ and later, operating on the first approximately 3 kilometres – to the old Frasers Road railway crossing – The Plains Railway was laid. The branch was different from a great many of the other branch-line railways built by the New Zealand Government Railways at the time, in that its sole purpose was not the opening up of the land for agricultural activities, but instead for the cartage of lignite coal and lime from deposits behind Mt Somers – an extinct volcano, on the edge of the Southern Alps.
The steam engine K88 was running and so were the photographers to catch a photo of that as it billowed out steam.
We also got to see so many beautifully restored fire engines from days gone by. The care that had gone into restoring the fire engines was a credit to those that made these engines look like new.
3. Trotts garden
371 Racecourse Road, Ashburton
Trott’s garden, $10pp, or the Ashburton domain, they are both worth a visit.
The New Zealand Gardens Trust awarded Trott’s – six stars and designated it as a NZ Garden of International Significance, Alan was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 2017 for his services to horticulture. The creation of Trott’s Garden has been a journey of dedication and imagination, as over the years it has been transformed from a bare paddock, into the extraordinary contemporary garden it is today.
4. Ashburton Domain
337 West Street, Ashburton
Free
The Ashburton Domain is 37 hectares of open space, lawns, gardens and recreational facilities. It is the jewel in Ashburton’s crown.
5. Lunch Kellys Café and Bar
234 East St, Ashburton
Kelly’s Cafe & Bar has been an institution in the Ashburton Bar scene since 1996. Kelly Irish pub is renowned for great hearty food and beverages along with good craic. We had a most enjoyable lunch catching up with old friends and new And many enjoyed a well-deserved Guinness..
6. Scavenger hunt
Our fearless leader also added an additional challenge. We had 6 different topics and had to use our imagination and creativity and capture a photo relating to this topic.
Conclusion:
There was truly something for everyone on this field trip.
Each location offered unique photographic subjects, and the lunch at Kellys Irish Pub added a memorable touch to our day.
There were ample opportunities to capture the essence of days gone, or go for a relaxing stroll through the gardens. It truly was a great day had by all.