We won’t mention the ‘C’ word. This is a deliberate distraction from all that stuff.

Perhaps the best part of my day, are those few sweet moments of clarity when I wake. That split second of ignorance before reality kicks in and you remember you have yet another day stuck in the house. Exactly the same day as yesterday – and the one before it. I don’t doubt that most of you are in a very similar situation and yearning for the post-pandemic future, whatever that may look like. Unfortunately, my little time machine doesn’t have a forward gear, but it does have reverse. So, please allow me to transport you to an alternate dimension: those great days of old.

Remember the summer of 2020? Weekends at the bach, swimming at the beach, exploring the great outdoors. Seems like a different world, but it was just a few weeks ago that these pictures were taken. Phil Shaw, ‘big dawg’ at architectural firm ICR Studio, asked me to shoot a few of their recent projects. Their clients are many and varied: High-end residential developments alongside retail sites, commercial projects and even his own family bach. I could show you photos of them all, but the Kawau bach is the little gem that wields the magic.

Set up high on the hillside above a tranquil estuary, the bright orange frontage is a pique of colour among the green foliage. Elevated enough to maximise the views, yet still just a stone’s throw from the waters edge, the building is a refreshing contrast to the traditional baches it sits alongside. I could waffle-on lyrically but there’s really no need. The images do a far better job than my cliched observations.

I’d never been to Kawau Island before except for a brief visit in my late 20’s where I attended the Furono fishing competition: brief sojourn among 3000 fisher-folk whose primary objective was to drink like fish, not catch them. This, my second visit, would be a somewhat more civilized affair. Traveling with a good mate and our two tribes, we explored the island’s paths, swam at the beaches and cast lines off the wharf. A treasured last hurrah before lockdown.

The bach interior is a shrine to Kiwiana. An homage to all that is classic and kiwi. Somehow this diverse assortment of design and memorabilia is cleverly woven into a cohesive whole. Attention to detail is fastidious – the more you look, the more you find.

Beyond the open plan living space, there is the ultimate in glamping opulence. A luxuriously appointed tent with all the creature comforts to hand: wooden frame, double bed, soft furnishings and even a crystal chandelier. It proved the ultimate sleep-out location for our young girls, who lived it up like princesses.

I was probably not the most welcome visitor to Kawau that weekend. I broke the morning silence with the high pitched whine of a drone, at 7am on a sleepy Sunday. Not the ideal wake-up call for those idling in their baches. I doubt it will be of any recompense for them to know that the morning flight yielded some beautiful images. Though I do of course send my apologies.

Whilst I buzzed the drone around, the girls launched a kayak and set sail to explore parts unknown. A gentle paddle upriver to peruse the inner reaches of the mangrove forest. Beach, bush and bach, all fused together to create the perfect weekend escape. Truly a paradise on our doorstep; I’d clearly underestimated the charms of Kawau. It’s a self-contained entity, just an hour from civilization, yet a world away from 2020.

Every year has peaks and troughs; 2020 however, has sunk to a grinding halt. The typical ebb and flow of life has been paused, and quite when we can hit the ‘play’ button again is anyone’s guess. Needless to say, I am amping to get out there and at it, just as soon as possible. Until then, it’s a case of hunkering down and making the best of this most unusual situation. Time to think, time to plan, time for family and ‘FaceTime friends’. These things that make life special, are the things that life gets in the way of, so enjoy them while you have the luxury of time.

This article first appeared in Alex Wallace’s email newsletter – sign up here and visit alexwallace.co.nz to see more of Wallace’s photography work.