Otago Pillows

My second time hiking up to Brow Peak. This time the weather was terrible until we turned back along the ridge towards Big Hill Saddle. The skies cleared and I was totally gobsmacked by Otago's rolling tussock!

The iconic Victorian buildings of Otago University, remind visitors of its early European settlers.

The view from Pigeon Island.

The emblem for the USCSS Otago, a ship crewed by 82Bit Gaming's Alien RPG players.

Aspiring Flats - Otago

Matanaka Farm is near Waikouaiti in Otago, New Zealand. The five buildings are the oldest surviving farm buildings that are still in their original position in the country. The farm is owned and administered by Heritage New Zealand

Otago Harbour, New Zealand 3H1002.0410 Nikon D300 | Nikon 18-200VR @ 56 mm f/18 1/100s ISO200 | Raw Featured in Nautical (4 August 2016) Featured in A Love of Boats (7 August 2016) Featured in Harbour Life (17 August 2016) Featured in Haka...Land of the Long White Cloud... (11 September 2016)

Still one my favourite three places, on this return trip I manage to camp right at the front of the basin. It was a pretty unreal experience. Although they cut down half the treefall, which was half the fun of the trail! This was painted on the way out of the valley before the clouds came in.

Still in my favourite three places, on this return trip I manage to camp right at the front of the basin. It was a pretty unreal experience. Although they cut down half the treefall, which was half the fun of the trail!

New Zealand Road Signage - Bluff (Southland/Otago)

New Zealand Road Signage - Oban (Southland/Otago)

New Zealand Road Signage - Riverton (Southland/Otago)

New Zealand Road Signage - Owaka (Southland/Otago)

New Zealand Road Signage - Mataura (Southland/Otago)

New Zealand Road Signage - Edendale (Southland/Otago)

New Zealand Road Signage - Winton (Southland/Otago)

New Zealand Road Signage - Clinton (Southland/Otago)

Sunrise lighting up everything around Lake Wanaka -- the clouds, the mountains of Mount Aspiring National Park, and the lake itself -- in a gorgeous pastel pink colour. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it was worth the early wakeup call (as well as standing knee-deep in freezing water to get the shot)!

Fluffy grass seed heads of the toetoe plant wavering in the breeze against a bright blue sky.

Hooker Lake

"That Wanaka Tree," Wanaka's most famous resident, standing tall above the water on Christmas Day, 2014.

All I can think of when I see this photo is how cold my feet were when I took it! I decided not to inundate my boots, so instead waded into the glacial Matukituki River barefoot. The pins and needles had me dancing on the bank for minutes afterward!

Mount Cook framed

clay cliffs

flax seed heads

Arrow River from Gibbston Valley Watercolour

The gorgeous Matukituki River in Mount Aspiring National Park, as seen from the swing bridge for hikers heading into the eastern Matukituki Valley.

The gorgeous view of the Remarkables as we cross the Kawarau River in Queenstown. What a perfect day to arrive there!

lake pukaki

clouds and trees

Cruising down the gravel road between Treble Cone and the Rob Roy Glacier in the Matukituki Valley.

tree trunks

reaching high

Walter Peak - New Zealand

Winding down a second totally accidental ski season in Otago. I didn't ride as much this year as I was distracted by hiking, but a couple of fresh dumps in spring got me all fired up! Chur for the good time Cardies!

New Zealand - South Island, Moeraki Boulders at sunrise with a beautiful purple hue.