Artwork Information

Sandfly Bay is on the ocean coast of Otago Peninsula, near Dunedin. The bay is named for the way the sand ‘flies’ due to the south-south-easterly winds that sweep across the towering sand dunes and beautiful coastline. Sandfly Bay is also the protected habitat of the hoiho or yellow-eyed penguin. Nicholas Chevalier produced this oil painting from a watercolour sketch made on his first trip to New Zealand in the summer of 1865-6.

Archaeological findings tell us that Māori settled in the area more than 600 years ago. The natural processes of coastal erosion have uncovered remains including Māori artefacts, shells, whale and bird bones. (Te Moananui a Kiwa, 2005)