Good Morning, New Zealand!
Sheep in a Field, Nelson
“I tried to let down my defenses and see how does my body, my mind, and my hand react to what I see. And that’s been easy here, because I feel there is something with the people and the landscape that work in sync.”
Kaikōura
His journey began in Kaikōura, a coastal town known for seafood and wildlife nestled 2-hours north of Christchurch where mountains meet the sea.
Kaikōura Ranges, Kaikōura
“The ocean was this bright blue, just beaming at us. But then when you turn left, all of a sudden you have this snow covered mountainside.”
Dusky Dolphins, Kaikōura
“Kaikōura seems to be a blessed place…how it’s situated on the ocean with all the wildlife in nature.”
Roadside Wildflowers, Kaikōura
“What I find so special here is the variety of landscapes and things you can see. The diversity of landscapes and of light, especially natural impressions, has been stunning.”
Abel Tasman
After a few days on the South Island’s Pacific Coast, Christoph drove north through the scenic wineries of Marlborough on his way to Nelson Tasman, where another type of coastline awaited him.
Te Pukatea Bay, Abel Tasman National Park
“At Abel Tasman, there is this perfect golden beach. I think there were like one or two people there. I don’t think I’ve seen that kind of a magical beach in my life.”
Te Pukatea Bay, Abel Tasman National Park
“All of the people that I’ve met here…they love to hike, they love to swim, they have a strong culture of being outside…they’re in sync with their surroundings.”
Tasman Bay, Nelson
“I had the sense it rubs off on you a little bit. While you’re with people in nature, you start to open up.”
Roadside sign, Nelson Tasman
“The people here love their surroundings, and they love to share it.”
Māori Carving, Abel Tasman National Park
“Māori culture is a living culture…Even though the carving is a solitary sculpture, all the different elements are telling stories. And the stories, of course, need two parts: one is the carver who tells the story in the image, but it also needs the recipient to read these different styles.”
Bay of Plenty
Next up was a short flight to the North Island’s Bay of Plenty, home to a diverse and beautiful landscape.
Kohi Point Walkway, Ohope Beach
“After a while, you feel like you belong here.”
PŌHUTU GEYSER, TE PUIA, ROTORUA
“My favorite moment in Rotorua was looking at the geyser.”
Bridge at Te Puia, Rotorua
“My recommendation is to come to New Zealand and experience the nature through the eyes and the hearts of the people”.