Wānaka has a habit of getting under people’s skin, and for Dutch photographer Sterre Heijnen, that feeling arrived fast.
After a year exploring Aotearoa, she kept returning to Wānaka – drawn by its light, its quiet pockets of wilderness, and the sense of belonging she found.
Her exhibition, Breathe Aotearoa, brought together moments from her travels, including five photographs taken locally. In a generous nod to the community that welcomed her, Sterre donated 100% of the exhibition proceeds to the Love Wānaka Community Fund, supporting climate, conservation, and biodiversity projects across the region.
Below, she reflects on what drew her here, the moments that defined her photography, and why giving back felt like the right way to close this chapter of her journey.
I first visited Wānaka in March and only stayed for a couple of days while travelling through the South Island. Coming from the Netherlands – one of the flattest countries in the world – I was immediately struck by Wānaka’s mountains. The scale and stillness of the landscape felt completely different to anything I’d known before.
Like many people, I did the Roys Peak hike, and standing up there made me realise I absolutely needed to come back and explore more of what the mountains had to offer. So in April, I returned and hiked to French Ridge Hut – a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience. Reaching the summit and seeing my first ever kea up there felt like such a magical moment that really stayed with me.
After that, Wānaka started to feel less like a stop along the way and more like a place I wanted to settle into. I decided to make it my base for the winter, and from June through to November I lived in Wānaka – spending time snowboarding at Treble Cone, hiking whenever I could, and documenting the landscape through my photography.
I’ve always been drawn to nature. Being outdoors helps me slow down and feel more present, and that became especially important while travelling through Aotearoa. The landscapes here invite you to spend time in places that feel both powerful and peaceful.
Hiking became my way of getting to know the country, and I naturally brought my camera along. Photography is a way for me to hold onto moments and look back on them, and over time it also became a way to share the beauty of the landscape with others.
The ‘Summit Kea’ photo was taken after I climbed the Treble Cone summit, snowboard in hand and camera in my backpack, hoping to capture some shots of the mountains. It was an extremely windy day, but the views were stunning as always. Just as I reached the top, a kea flew over and landed right next to me.
The bird started playfully circling around me and exploring the snow, and I quickly grabbed my camera. That’s when I captured the moment of the kea taking off, framed against the mountains in the background.
Being alone at the summit, looking out over Lake Wānaka with this extraordinary and playful bird flying around me, felt completely magical. It was one of those rare moments when everything aligned. It’s a memory I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Throughout my year in New Zealand, Wānaka truly began to feel like home. I met some incredible, inspiring people and spent as much time as possible surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Being in this environment gave me so much peace and happiness that I wanted to find a way to give back and help preserve the nature that had given me so much.
When I learned about Love Wānaka and saw the incredible impact of their initiatives, it felt like the perfect way to express my gratitude for this special place and to support the community and landscapes that had inspired my work.
For Sterre, Wānaka wasn’t just another stop on the backpacker trail — it became a place that shaped her year in Aotearoa and left a lasting impression. Breathe Aotearoa reflected that connection, while her donation supported the landscapes and people that made her feel at home.
The exhibition formed part of Creative Spaces, a district-wide project bringing art into public places and strengthening community connection through creative expression. Sterre’s contribution was a celebration of place, a gesture of gratitude, and a reminder of how art can meaningfully support local regeneration.
Photos – Sterre Heijnen
