Category: Blog 2020

We had just spent the night at the lovely Danseys Pass Hotel. I discovered this hotel on my last photographic trip a few years ago (Sept 2017) and vowed to stay at the hotel if we re visited Danseys Pass.

 It was a wonderful stay with lovely food. At breakfast we were warned that if we were proceeding up the pass to Duntroon there would be a delay as the farmers were sheep mustering in the morning.

Well we were delayed on the pass but the farmers offered for us to join the muster. The Hotel owner was there and one of the farmers was his brother! That was a great experience personally and photographically. The dogs were so friendly as well and disciplined. They all did their job well and it illustrated the bond between dogs and humans.

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31 January 2021

We travelled to Central Otago with another two couples to celebrate  (part of the reason) my significant birthday. Hint, I get free public transport.

This time we based ourselves around Central Otago. As far north as Mt Cook and as far south as Clyde.

Highlights include a visit to old Clyde township, Hawk House (which deserves its own space below) , curling at Naseby, eating at the Waipiata pub (twice in a row), Lake Ohau lodge, and walking the Hooker Valley track for the third time.

In my photos this time I tried to capture the essence of Central Otago. This includes the  Big Sky, golden brown grass, wire fences and meatpies.

Sorry if you’re hungry but no meat pies in this blog but follow the link for the Michellin Meat pie guide-“yeah right”  as the expression goes.

Every vista I photographed I kept on saying “big sky, big sky” and you know what, it is a big sky! Hence the style of Grahame Sydney‘s paintings.

But the biggest pleasure, apart from the company we were with, was the space, open roads, no traffic ,

and friendly people. All of this under the same roof- yeah the big sky.

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30 Jan 2021

We had the privilege to stay at  Thehawk house for a few nights at the beginning of our Central Otago Holiday late July 2020.

The location was amazing with great views over the valley. I tried to capture the landscapes at different times (ie sunrise, sunset), different lenses and different angles. I am sure on other days the scenery would be even more dramatic.

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