Leaving Waiheke

I spent many years living on Waiheke Island, commuting back and forward across the water.

Arriving home after time in some far-flung city was always a quiet joy. The ferry cutting through the harbour. The skyline fading behind. The island drawing closer.

Leaving was different. A mix of sadness and anticipation. The early morning crossings, when the light was just beginning to break and the island slowly receded into silhouette.

This image was taken on one of those mornings. An early flight ahead. The wake stretching behind. The sky lit in deep orange and gold as the sun pushed over the hills.

What I love here is the feeling of in-between. Not fully here. Not fully there. Just that moment suspended between departure and possibility.

It’s bold. Warm. Emotional.

This piece suits larger living spaces, dining rooms, or offices where colour can carry the room. It brings warmth and energy, but also memory — a reminder of movement, home, and the places that shape us.