Northerly gales (again!) so no big New Year's Eve fireworks display, for safety reasons. Still - nature's light show, while not as bright or quite as loud, was impressive. The late afternoon light at Island Bay was moody and dramatic with the clouds whipped into interesting contrasts and textures. No sign of the South Island, hiding behind the clouds in the distance, but Taputeranga keeps watch over the bay...
Further along the south coast towards Owhiro Bay, and later at sunset - another light show...
The soft colours of sunset in the golden glow of evening, with contrasting clouds and seagulls seeming to scud along in constant motion - yes, those little dots that look like sensor dust on my coastal photos are the ubiquitous seagulls - a happy constant, the gulls and the beauty of the everchanging vista.