Occasionally Auckland Sketchbook escapes the city to somewhere interesting — and close. This time the sketchbook got a workout in The Bay of Islands . Only 3.5 hours by car and a world away from work. The sketch above was made in down-town Paihia, it doesn't look it, but it is literally behind the main street. The view is the back of an old homestead called Williams House . I was attracted by the orchard of very old fig trees on the left that had me imagining eating juicy ripe figs. Sadly they weren't in season but it must be a fun place at harvest time. Right over the other side of the bay you will find his falling down old house on Matauwhi Bay. For a while there the water had a turquoise glow until the sun went into hiding. This is Pompallier House and Clendon Cottage in Russell sketched with my back to the sea. I may have used a little too much artistic licence in moving them close enough together to fit on my page so don't look too closely. Anyway, I have sketched Po...
It's still worth a visit though. They do an interesting tour explaining the mission history, family history and their part in early Tauranga. The house reminded me a little of the Treaty House at Waitangi, both constructed around 1834. Check out their website for some more background.
We spread out on the front lawn in the shade and sketched, enjoying the break from the sun. The garden has some impressive old specimens of both native and introduced trees. On the right of the sketch you can see an enormous Queensland Bunya Bunya tree. Looking like a super spikey Norfolk Pine (or a Chilean Monkey Puzzle tree)with enormous spikey pine cones — you wouldn't want to stand under it.
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