Exiting The Ferry In Darkness But With Christmas Cheer…

Family Kiwidutch dock in Wellington after a long drive to Picton and a three and a half hour journey on one of the Cook Straight ferries. It’s dark and we still have at least forty minutes to drive. Our destination is Wainuiomata, a suburb of Lower Hutt. To get there we need to drive up the coast and over a very large hill. The last leg of this journey is always the best because we will have the warmest of welcomes from wonderful friends at the end.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

I wonder how many times this campervan has been pulled over by police for a “random” check?

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The route we need to drive…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

First onto the ferry, but last off…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

I am delighted to see that this worker has gotten into the Christmas Spirit,  he has literally lit up his hard hat like a Christmas tree… he waved to us as well but sadly those photographs turned out completely fuzzy. He made me smile.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

A warehouse type shop, open very late to cater to the ultra last minute Christmas shopper… (or someone who wants to do some DIY during the holiday week ahead when many shops and businesses close).

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Into Cook Straight…

Family Kiwidutch are travelling from the South Island to the North Island of New Zealand via one of the Cook Straight ferry’s. The Arapawa Island headlands at the exit of Queen Charlotte Sound is one of the “exits” of the Marlborough Sounds and the shortest route for the Interisland Ferry’s to exit into Cook Straight. From here it is the open seas of the Straight until we get into Wellington Harbour. It can be very rough in these unsheltered waters but on this trip we were lucky.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

With the headland  (above) of Arapawa Island on our right, the view to our left on full zoom of the camera (below) becomes the receding East coast coastline. The Southern Alps have their tops wrapped a cloud, a phenomenon which earned New Zealand it’s Maori name: “Aotearoa“, (Land of the Long White Cloud).

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The “normal” camera view…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Dusk falls on Arapawa Island…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

We are now in the Cook Straight, one of the roughest pieces of sea in the world due to the “funnel” effect of having the expanses of the Tasman Sea on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Today the weather is playing nice and our journey is smooth.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Arapawa Island is the darker part on the right, the long arm of  the Tory Channel is the lighter part to the left. “Tōtaranui” (Queen Charlotte Sound) is the waterway we have just travelled which runs between the two.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Arapawa Island, (large headland to the left, with Raukawa Rock in the distance. (Full zoom, the camera is struggling, especially since daylight is fading fast)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Arapawa

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Arapawa Island, shades of light and texture.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The sun goes down…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Then with a last blaze of glory for the day…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

It’s almost completely dark by the time I took these, the interior lights of the ship have me the necessary light to see the lighthouse on the Heads of Wellington Harbour.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

This Coastline Slips Into My Dreams…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

In December 2017 Family Kiwidutch were in New Zealand, and Christmas Eve found us on one of the Cook Straight ferries.

Although the Southern Alps of my childhood lay in the border regions of South Canterbury and Otago, and I dream of their snow capped peaks, Marlborough Sounds  feature also on occasion in my nighttime journeys.

I am attempting to draw more, so this post has two-fold purpose for me: to show our passage from the Sounds into the Cook Straight, and to give me reference material for what I hope will be one day an expansion of my artistic endeavours.

We’ve often taken the late boat over the Straight and done this section in the dark,  the weather has been less than perfect, or it has been my turn to look after our valuables at our seats below.

This time I am top-side at just the right moment. It’s a strange thing that just as I photograph the South Island slipping away into the distance in reality, in my dreams the images of this place just get stronger.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Arapawa Island  and the  Arapawa Homestead (photograph above)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

To the right of us: Arapawa Island…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

Cruising Through The Marlborough Sounds…

Directly before Christmas Family Kiwidutch find themselves cruising on the Interisland ferry though the beautiful islands and inlets of New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds. Located in the very north of the South Island, these Sounds hide many tiny beaches and holiday houses, only a small fraction of those are visible on our route, and only a small fraction are accessible by road. Yachts and boats are the staple mode of transport here, bringing many New Zealanders to quiet, peaceful and stunningly beautiful holiday spots.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

I am fairly sure that these dead trees we see are caused by possums.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Evidence of landslips from the quakes in the region and in particular, the November 2016 Kaikoura / Hanmer Springs quake.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Not just people going fishing…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Coming close to the heads, and this “exit” to the Cook Straight…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The InterIslander Ferry, …Topside.

Once again we find ourselves travelling on the interisland ferry. A photographic post taking a look at our ride…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The Dock, Before We Make Waves…

Following yesterday’s post, we have boarded one of the Ferries that traverse New Zealand’s Cook Straight between the North and South Islands. Before we leave the dock I take a few photographs for my arty reference library. I’m also an unwilling sailor, so it helps take my mind off the journey ahead. I’m interested in the colours, textures and perspective.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)