Escape to the Bay of Islands

posted by Murray Dewhurst on
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...
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Hit the beach

posted by Murray Dewhurst on


 

[by Murray Dewhurst in New Zealand]

I always get a kick out of showing beach sketches at the this time of year when many of you are locked deep in winter. Ii know, I know, I'll be drooling over you summer sketches soon too as the seasons change!

We spent New Years week up the Coromandel Peninsular, a popular area for kiwis to holiday in the summer which is well known for beautiful beaches. I chose the title Hit the beach for this post, but in reality it was more that the beach hit me! This year the surf was rough with constantly changing powerful rips (as big waves crash on the shore, they create a rip current that pulls out again into the sea), so for the first time that I've experienced the beaches were closed for swimming. We still got in the water – a lot – but had to be very aware of conditions!

Hahei Beach swimmers relaxing between water blasts

My sketches tried to capture the energy of the surf and people in and around it. At the top you can see Hot Water Beach, which is well known for it's thermal hot spring water that rises up through the sand. All you have to do is dig a sand castle around yourself to retain the water – and to let a bit of the cold surf in – otherwise you'll get scalded!



At the bottom is Cathedral Cove. It's usually packed with tourists but with international travel non-existent, and as there's a long hot walk to get there, I expected it to be quiet, but no – it was full of kiwis holiday. Despite the beach closed sign many were in the water, while unimpressed surf lifesavers watched on from their tower.

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