Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
When we moved back to New Zealand, and Dunedin, more than 17 years ago, we discovered a beach that has become a bit of a sanctuary for us. My kids grew up camping down there in tents, surfing in the waves, swimming in the river, and rock pools.
My youngest, Keo, wasn't even born the first time he went there. Now it has become one of his own favourite places to visit. He's become fixated on the waves that break there, but equally loves the campfires, seafood and adventures down there ... as well as the characters that arrive there when a decent swell is running.
It's a magical sort of place. The last few km of the drive in have a corridor of native bush that almost closes right in overhead. That section feels like you're passing through from one world to another. All your worries and stresses of modern-day life are filtered out by the passage through that bush, and the world that greets you is simple, beautiful and uncluttered. Waves, ocean, rain, wind, campfires and the friendly faces of all the others who appreciate this same world.
As the world gets madder and even more bizarre, we're lucky to have these places to escape to.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS We have a special on our New Zealand's Best Gourmet Pies book – if you buy a book through our Box of Light website and add in one of our limited-edition tea towels, you'll get the tea towel completely free. That's $22 worth and a great way to get ahead with your Xmas gifts.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: