Mt Olympus Station

Way back in April, before the winter months set in, the Marlborough Camera Club had a day trip to the Mt Olympus Station, way down the Waihopai Valley.   Unfortunately it was set up and only a set number of people could go, due to the availability of four wheel drive access.  So, I wasn't able to go.  However, being a committee member has it perks, and I got to go to the station on the Wednesday beforehand to suss out the area to to find out what was available photographically.  I didn't actually get to go to the top of Mt Olympus, but I did get to see a fair bit of the station and loved it.

The station is run by Lynn Russell singlehandedly.    Yep - a 3000 acre sheep and beef station, run by a single woman.  I'm impressed.  I find it hard to manage my 783 square metres of land, let alone a 3000 acre station!  You know - keeping the lawns mowed.  Having the cat catch rabbits.  Irrigating my vegetable garden....

Anyway, we arrived at the station, and was invited in first for a cuppa in the 100yo farm house.. It was cosy warm and really pretty. 

Beautiful place to be.  After drinking a cuppa, Lynn put us in the truck.  I rode in the back taking photos as I went...I couldn't help but think that if I hadn't moved down to the South Island, I wouldn't be having such wonderful opportunities such as this.


This was the flatbed truck I was on. As we left the farmhouse, the 100yo woolshed and surrounding buildings got smaller...

The road was lined with the trees in their autumn colours...

Just look at those blue skies above the ranges. One of the reasons I love it down here.

We went through lots of different paddocks and gates...

past streams lined with trees with their autumn coats on...

I can just imagine coming down here with a picnic basket full of bacon and egg pie, champagne and strawberries...

The surrounding hills had commercial pine forests, which made an interesting contrast with the autumn colours...

Looking up... a lone tree enjoying the view...

of interesting rock formations...

These rock formations were apparently featured in the NZ National Geographic magazine and the photographers had been out there a few months before...

A quick break to water the dog... he had loads of fun!

And then it was time for us to start heading back to the farmhouse. The late afternoon sun through the trees gave it a silvery glow..

and the sun also gave us an even bigger contrast from the commercial pine forest...

Lynn stopped to show us a bee hive. Rather big, and still alive - I used my long lens to get this, as I didn't want to get to close... Understandably...

And just up from here we met one of station's big male natives..

Then it was back to the 100yo woolshed..

I could fossick around here forever with my camera. It was a photographers paradise inside and outside the shed...

old horseshoes - lots of them...

old tools...

and a very old pack saddle...

The shed was just packed full of history, with branding irons and old machines. I wish I could have stayed longer, and I so wished I had had my tripod on me! I had left it at home in error!

I had a great afternoon, and got home just as the sun was setting. I had to rush and get my camera for this one though..

Perfect end to a perfect day in paradise!