A Lost Land

In the far corner of the world lies a lost land.

The name it is given nowadays is 'Fiordland'. I have visited its outskirts several times, and very rarely ventured into the outermost valleys of this land. But never have I truly ventured into it, and I have only looked out yonder across Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri. Of all the incredibly beautiful places in the South Island, this area has long since been my favourite. It has a deeper spiritual energy to it, and is often shrouded in rain and cloud.

I have often wondered what has drawn me to this place. My imagination draws many conclusions, and likes to wander there on its own accord. I fancy that there are still dinosaurs in there, or the remains of some highly advanced civilisation that once lived on Gondwana land long ago when New Zealand was part of a much broader land mass. But only on the outskirts can I have these thoughts, for if I was to venture in, I would be faced with a challenging landscape to overcome. Sheer cliffs, giant mountains, steep valleys, rainfall, snow, lakes deep and mysterious...

I live in Dunedin, one of the nearby cities. I got a bit lost in the grind of it all, working hard to try to make some kind of living as an artist, playing in bands, finishing a music degree... I needed a break. A true break, away from the hustle. Lake Manapouri captured my interest, so I went there for a week. I cut off all internet access, and indulged only in the presence of the mountains and my favourite book: The Lord of the Rings, made all the more special that many of the scenes from the movies were filmed in the area. This video is a snapshot of that little break I had last week, in Manapouri. All filmed on my iPhone 13.

I hope it inspires a little magic in your life :)