Saturday, June 7, 2008

New Zealand Artist's Tour: Riverton, Mount Nicholas

Riverton

Riverton is is a small fishing community on south coast of South Island opposite Bluff and Invercargill on the Forveaux Strait. From Riverton you can see Stewart Island in the distance, sitting on the horizon as depicted in the painting below .

Riverton is a quiet town with a camp site and a few shops. The road in either direction from Riverton is a scenic coastal road, not as picturesque as the Catlins though but an enjoyable drive. The weather here can be cold and wet as it blows in from the south from The Antarctic .

Mount Nicholas


Mount Nicholas is a mountain on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. The Mount Nicholas sheep station quay is at the foot of the mountain and the sheep station stretch's from the quay to the Mavora lakes junction , some 45 kilometres away .

My intention was to walk from the quay to to the Mavora lakes which took two days as I took my time admiring the scenery. Also there is a steep climb leading up from this spot to a higher plateau.

The climb is some 800 metres which was not fully indicated on the map I had .The walk is a lonely one as there is no traffic along the road except for some vehicles leaving the sheep station in the evening .

If you feel adventurous I would recommend the walk as the scenery is different from that seen else where in New Zealand. If you are cycling then you should definitely have a go.

The Remarkables

The Remarkables are synonomous with Queenstown but in their own right The Remarkables are an attraction in them selves . They are well known for their Ski fields but in the summer you can still drive to the top for a commanding view of Lake Wakatipu .

To get to the top of the Remarkables you need to take the road out of Queenstown and then turn right as if you are going south to Bluff. There is a turning that leads off into a field. The track will lead up the side of the mountain to the top . The track has a sheer drop and can be hair raising for anybody who does not have a head for heights .

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