Summer 2024
Counting birds and blessings
As a born and bred Wellingtonian, Kapiti Island has formed the backdrop of many of my most-loved memories. Whether glimpsing her shrouded visage on a misty winter road trip up the coast, or hiking up to a lookout on a sweltering day to watch the blindingly blue sea lap her sides and the sun speckle her peaks, she’s always been there.
Enchanted isle
Waking up before the sun for an adventure has a particular feeling tied to it. The air seems crisper, your tummy feels fuzzy, and a sense that anything is possible pervades everything around you. On the morning my fiancé Jas and I embarked on a trip to Kapiti Island overnight, the mood was exactly that.
Bluebird skies and rows of vines
By the time the plane reached altitude, we were already preparing the cabin for landing on our 30-minute flight from Wellington to Blenheim. Just a hop, skip, and a jump and yet on this side of the Cook Strait, we were greeted by bluebird skies and rows of vines stretching out towards the mountains.
Rendered speechless
On a Friday morning, my friend Alex and I shot for a sky full of stars. Leaving Welly on a drizzly, cloudy day, it was hard to fathom that on the other end of our flight to Te Waipounamu, a clear sky might be waiting for us. We were bound for the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, where the stargazing is second to none.
