Winter Escape

This winter we have been sticking close to home for various reasons including COVID risks and the iffy economy, but primarily rotten weather. There have been lots of Southern Ocean lows and associated fronts plus some subtropical lows from the north that have regularly passed over New Zealand. Not very conducive to extended explorations away from winter quarters.

However, this past week the urge to roam prevailed and we escaped for a brief visit to Mackenzie Basin and the Mount Cook / Lake Pukaki area which is about a four-hour drive from the house. Just far enough to get a real change of scene but not too far to return to home base before the next bad weather system rolls in.

I never expect to get many good photos on a four-day trip, even one or two would be reasonable so I was pleased that the photography was good every day. You just never know.

Mackenzie Basin is a large area in the central South Island that has lots of striking scenery, but the Mount Cook Village area is a jewel and very accessible. It’s lovely any time of year but particularly interesting with fresh snow on the mountains.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. For the doubters, the unreal pink sunrise on Mount Sefton has no Photoshop color adjustments. It’s that delicious reddish pink from the sun just before it rises above the horizon and before it turns more orange then yellow.