During some moments in time, recent time that is – less years in fact than can be counted on one hand alone, Queenstown Botanic Gardens changes in ways that only manifest on a few early winter nights each June.
With the onset of a dusk, hand-in-hand with sub zero temperatures, thousands of people can be seen walking the icy paths to the public gardens in a corner of Queenstown Bay.
There among the trees and ice covered waters magic unfolds as children and adults alike enter a realm where lights float and dance in and on the reflections of ice covered waters – places where minds come alight with imagination.
The by now beguiled wanderers will often be prone to stumbling bought on by magic imbalances, and the spells of wandering fairies.
And for every score of steps stumbled or walked, another “experience” comes to light.
Deeper in the forest it becomes even more immersive – lights climb trees, reflections dance on the forest floor like bright leaves in an autumn wind – a wind that carries beguiling music to which the lights dance.
Inspired by the LUMA Southern Light Project – Queenstown Gardens. All images © Donald Lousley southernlight.co.nz photography