Earthsea Gallery

The alpine area of Nelson Lakes National Park is another of our favourite tramping and kayaking destinations. Glacial activity has gouged out two large, almost parallel troughs to form Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoroa. The spectacular mountains rising up from these lakes are the northern tip of the Southern Alps. Dense beech forest covers the mountainsides and a diverse alpine flora is abundant on the tops. Peter photographed 'Lake Rotoroa' early one morning in October but within minutes a breeze came up and rippled the lake. This painting was commissioned by a friend whose family history is forever entwined in this area.