Sefton Bivvy Perched Above the Hooker Valley, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand Original acrylic painting on cedar framed board By Michelle Bellamy 500 x 500mm Completed 2023 SOLD
The views from Sefton Bivouac, the oldest hut in the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park are spectacular. The bivvy is perched on a ledge with panoramic views down the Hooker Valley and across to the Sealy Range with the cold crumbing ice cliffs of Te Waewae Glacier sitting right behind. The main shadowed range in this painting is the majestic Kirikirikatata/Mt Cook Range that sits between the Hooker Lake and the Tasman Lake with the Burnett Mountains as a backdrop behind this ridge-line.
The Aroarokaehe Range above Sefton Bivvy seems to frequently attract the clouds, and these can close in and hang low around the bivvy (1635m above sea level) obscuring the wonderful views. It took patience and a few trips up the mountain to have the chance to enjoy the grandeur of the area.
Although completely exposed the bivvy has survived the elements very well, and still sits on its original site, having hosted many generations of climbers over the years. It was repaired once from snow damage the year after it was built and the bright orange paint job was spruced up in 2019.
