Mitre Point at Milford Sound

Oil on Panel
9 x 12″
25 September 2022
44.66871°S 167.92503°E

Mitre Peak in Milford Sound is the iconic dramatic entrance to the fiords of Te Waipounamu or the South Island of New Zealand. A highlight of Eric Rhoads Plein air magazine tour of New Zealand. Just before heading out on an overnight boat tour of the fiords – a true bucket list event for me – we stopped for too brief of a time to paint this. I am forever grateful to have experienced this.

The Māori call this place Piopiotahi, after the extinct piopio bird. According to the Māori legend of Māui, a single piopio flew to the fiord to mourn Māui’s death. Piopiotahi is the bird, Piopo, and “tahi,” meaning “one” in Māori. All New Zealand places have both Māori and Pākehā (English) names. The treaty of Waitangi settlement in 1998 with the Ngāi Tahu iwi (tribe) respects both Māori and Pākehā names. Little did I know that I would soon visit Waitangi and learn so much more about this treaty that started in 1876.

We were on the first cruise after New Zealand opened to tourists after the pandemic shut down. Apparently, in proper tourist mode, 25 boats lined up to gawk at the waterfalls. This area gets an average of 252 inches of rain per year. It has rained 10 inches in 24 hours in the past. When we visited in late spring, it was fairly dry. The waterfalls in the fiords are remarkable, sprinkling rainbows through the air.

We were incredibly lucky to make this overnight cruise—the power of the fiords multiplies at night and early morning. Light at Mitre Peak in Milford Sound is elusive during the golden hours, playing with the towering rock walls and waterfalls. This mesmerizing place was more mysterious because we were the few tourists on the sound—a true blessing.

The captain took us out to the Tasman Sea. He showed us how the inlet hides the grandeur of the fiords. Captain Cook totally missed this one! We had incredible weather for our last stop on the South Island.

 It was an amazing experience I will never forget.