Getting to the trail a little later in the day than expected turned out rather well, the sun had lost it’s heat and started to drop behind the hills. I was hoping to ride my bike in to Riordans Hut in the Kahurangi National Park, and figured if I didn’t mess around I’d get there just before dark. The golden evening light was very distracting combined with the breathtaking views. I lost a lot of time riding along the rolling ridges and just made it to the turn off as the sun was performing its last show. With nothing but the sound of slate rocks flipping under my tyres the sun finally settled behind the mountains. I rode over the last ridge as the evening started to cool and was greeted by the little hut nestled amongst the bush just on dusk. Riordans Hut is a 3 bunker, with a lot of character, originally build in 1926. Lovingly restored in 2003 with hand-sawn cedar flitches, and a hefty open fireplace it was rather cosy in summer, but I imagine it would get rather drafty in winter as there were gaps between the wall flitches. Observing the colour of the land and fauna in the Kahurangi National Park, it is always interesting to note that there is quite a difference to the neighbouring Nelson Lakes National Park. I am currently working on three paintings from these national parks and the refresher of colour palette from this visit was valuable.
A while ago I explored the Arthurs Pass area with my good friend Dulkara, we walked up the Taramaku River, bush bashed through the thick & steep bush up to the open tops where we spent three days traversing the ridges. On the second afternoon, after lots of up and down ridge-line scrambling we approached Lake Morgan...
Camp Stream Hut, a historic musterers hut on the Te Araroa trail near Tekapo with Roundhill in the background. A magical place to visit, especially in the late afternoon although once the sun falls it becomes bitterly cold. On this particular trip the walk out was sodden with snow melt and my feet lost feeling in the last main river. Brr…
Inspired by an almost dreamlike trip along ridge lines, past Lake Morgan and to the top of Mt O’Shanessy the painting is slowly taking shape. I really wanted to capture those warm, golden, summer West Coast rays that you...
