About urbex New Zealand
Urbex New Zealand is a group of friends who all meet together through Urbex communities and formed this website. With a unique perspective with what is seen through our eyes when it comes to visiting old abandoned and derelict places. We are also there to catch local history and historic places while they still stand.
Urbex is short for URBan EXploration which is the definition of pretty much what we're all about. It's all about exploring and enjoying these disused, unseen places whether it be a hospital, tunnel or old house. We wont let them be forgotten as we see the beauty in the decaying, rotten structures. Its all a part of the life cycle of Birth, Life and Death. All physical things undergo this cycle, inanimate objects are not immune.
The purpose of the website is to showcase some of our favourite locations, and perhaps even take the viewer on an imagined journey with sideways in time to show a part of daily life lots of people dont get to see and perhaps even inspire you to try out urban exploring yourself. Almost everyone has some experience at least from their childhood with the "Haunted house up the road" sort of thing. Some of us continue with those experiences, our curiosity always gets the best of us and sometimes gets us into some tight spots.
Most people have at least a vague interest at any age, especially if theres a couple of great photos to accompany a good story.
Over the last several years we have been to so many different places, this is a hobby we have been known to do more than a few times a week. It all depends on what else is happening in our lives, or if theres any new locations to get to, or if we feel like revisiting the old ones to see whats changed. There is a lot that we don't write about, and a lot of photos we don't put up. Bradd has more than 5000 photos spread over more than 100 locations. We are always meeting people that have been in contact through the website or social media and gone to various locations with them, but most only come out once or twice before disappearing again. If you want to get in touch, or meet and go to a location in real life, try emailing us, we meet a lot of people as long as they make at least a little effort. We are also interested in any news or new locations obviously, and will be keen to go along with you. Otherwise, enjoy!
- Nathan
"Why would you want to poke around in an old abandoned building?" is something we get asked ALL the time. Below is a response Nathan had on one of his previous websites.
"I've always been fascinated by old houses, hospitals and pretty much anything that is either defunct or screams out with history that will benefit myself or others. When you visit these types of places you get a real feeling of what the hospital or house was like when it was in operation, it's a bit like a blank piece of canvas when you stroll along, take a few photo's and let your imagination run wild. The most exciting part is discovering how things worked well before I existed. It's almost like jumping back in time when I visit places like The old Brickworks and houses built pre 1900's. There is so much to learn from these beautiful places - the world was a very different place during the depression and before computers, so it's a real escape and it sort of gives each location a new perspective for a new generation."
People often ask me the history of our group:
For Nathan it all started back in early 2006 when his friend suggested they go check out the then derelict Lake Alice hospital. From there he was hooked on exploring disused/abandoned places. He was so fascinated about Lake Alice that he started a website in March 2008 about the hospital (www.lakealicehospital.com) putting online any research and photos. At the same time there was a website called SlackNinja around, this was a NZ based Urban Exploration website, shut down around 2010 but by 2009 Nathan had started uploading his own photos and explorations on a now defunct website called Urban Explorers. From the Slack Ninja website Nathan and in 2011 together they formed Urbex.co.nz. for a short time had a Urbex website under his own name. With now over 20+ members. Current Wellington group Urbex Central (urbexcentral.com) meet and formed through our now defunct forum, we now mainly interact on facebook. So they are kind of like a spin of group, and in 2015 a new group called Minex (Mine and caving group) friends of Urbex NZ will slowly make there way onto the Urban Exploration scene.
Urbex is short for URBan EXploration which is the definition of pretty much what we're all about. It's all about exploring and enjoying these disused, unseen places whether it be a hospital, tunnel or old house. We wont let them be forgotten as we see the beauty in the decaying, rotten structures. Its all a part of the life cycle of Birth, Life and Death. All physical things undergo this cycle, inanimate objects are not immune.
The purpose of the website is to showcase some of our favourite locations, and perhaps even take the viewer on an imagined journey with sideways in time to show a part of daily life lots of people dont get to see and perhaps even inspire you to try out urban exploring yourself. Almost everyone has some experience at least from their childhood with the "Haunted house up the road" sort of thing. Some of us continue with those experiences, our curiosity always gets the best of us and sometimes gets us into some tight spots.
Most people have at least a vague interest at any age, especially if theres a couple of great photos to accompany a good story.
Over the last several years we have been to so many different places, this is a hobby we have been known to do more than a few times a week. It all depends on what else is happening in our lives, or if theres any new locations to get to, or if we feel like revisiting the old ones to see whats changed. There is a lot that we don't write about, and a lot of photos we don't put up. Bradd has more than 5000 photos spread over more than 100 locations. We are always meeting people that have been in contact through the website or social media and gone to various locations with them, but most only come out once or twice before disappearing again. If you want to get in touch, or meet and go to a location in real life, try emailing us, we meet a lot of people as long as they make at least a little effort. We are also interested in any news or new locations obviously, and will be keen to go along with you. Otherwise, enjoy!
- Nathan
"Why would you want to poke around in an old abandoned building?" is something we get asked ALL the time. Below is a response Nathan had on one of his previous websites.
"I've always been fascinated by old houses, hospitals and pretty much anything that is either defunct or screams out with history that will benefit myself or others. When you visit these types of places you get a real feeling of what the hospital or house was like when it was in operation, it's a bit like a blank piece of canvas when you stroll along, take a few photo's and let your imagination run wild. The most exciting part is discovering how things worked well before I existed. It's almost like jumping back in time when I visit places like The old Brickworks and houses built pre 1900's. There is so much to learn from these beautiful places - the world was a very different place during the depression and before computers, so it's a real escape and it sort of gives each location a new perspective for a new generation."
People often ask me the history of our group:
For Nathan it all started back in early 2006 when his friend suggested they go check out the then derelict Lake Alice hospital. From there he was hooked on exploring disused/abandoned places. He was so fascinated about Lake Alice that he started a website in March 2008 about the hospital (www.lakealicehospital.com) putting online any research and photos. At the same time there was a website called SlackNinja around, this was a NZ based Urban Exploration website, shut down around 2010 but by 2009 Nathan had started uploading his own photos and explorations on a now defunct website called Urban Explorers. From the Slack Ninja website Nathan and in 2011 together they formed Urbex.co.nz. for a short time had a Urbex website under his own name. With now over 20+ members. Current Wellington group Urbex Central (urbexcentral.com) meet and formed through our now defunct forum, we now mainly interact on facebook. So they are kind of like a spin of group, and in 2015 a new group called Minex (Mine and caving group) friends of Urbex NZ will slowly make there way onto the Urban Exploration scene.
If you're interested in Urban Exploration then join us on our Facebook, Tumblr or send us a submission via email and get interacting.
