Although I visited this place months ago, on my honeymoon, it has stuck in my mind ever since, and I have wanted to write a post about it for a while.
Driving Creek Railway in Coromandel is a narrow gauge mountain railway, working pottery and wildlife sanctuary, and it's one of the most inspiring places I have ever visited. It combines art, engineering and conservation. The railway winds up from the potteries to a lookout at the top of the mountain, and the route is lined with sculptures and recycled art. It was designed by Barry Brickell, a potter, who built the railway so that he could easily access and transport the clay from the mountain back to his studio. Now the train is a major tourist attraction, and Barry has opened up his studios to visiting artists who occupy a room for a certain amount of time and display their work in the railway's galleries. The whole place is planted with native trees and is a sanctuary for native species.
It seems to me like the perfect legacy; being an artist and creating and exhibiting your art, while also working towards something bigger - in this man's case, saving the environment. It's a magical place. I loved all the sculptures peeking out from the bushes alongside the train tracks, and the walls made of recycled tyres and glass bottles.
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