Each year my son Mitch and I aim to catch up for a Photography adventure - sometimes just camping nearby, sometimes a roadtrip on the east coast, sometimes interstate. This time it was 17 Days in New Zealand, in Winter, focusing on the southern end of the South Island, in August. A roadtrip dedicated to Photography in a couple of key areas - Milford Sound and Fiordland, Haast Pass and the lower West Coast.
Prior to heading across the ditch we’d only booked accommodation for the first 4 nights - a cabin close to Milford Sound. For the rest of the trip we kept close watch on the weather to determine our “targets” for the next few days. For someone like me that likes to errh … ‘spreadsheet’ everything in advance, this ‘fast and loose’ approach was a lil’ unsettling! 😁
Happy to say this approach worked a treat! We had a great time catching up. Saw some stunning scenery, listened to some great music and podcasts, seeking out some great coffee vans, and made great use of the toasted sandwich maker we purchased on out first day!
We landed in Queenstown mid afternoon, quickly picked up our hire car (with snow chains just in case!❄️☃️❄️ ), grabbed food supplies for the next 5 days and headed down to Te Anau. Early next morning we made our way towards Milford Sound.
View from the cabin … when you could see it!
We were staying in cabin just 20mins from the main gates into Milford. Good planning by Mitch to book this months ago, as it was now closed.
This gave us quick access into and out of Milford to react to the ever present changing weather conditions. Also great access to the western side - Lake Gunn, Hollyford Track, Earl Mountain Tracks. We grabbed the key, dropped off our supplies and headed west to explore.
Mount Tūtoko
Off to Milford Sound.
With the weather being so variable, and the road to the Sound often closed during winter, we took every chance to go explore. Typically on the way to the tunnel, it was windy, wet and snow!
Once through to the west we were greeted with cloud topped mountains and sunshine! Beautiful! I haven’t been to Milford Sound for over 30 years. It was great to stand again on the foreshores edge, surrounded by towering peaks, a raging waterfall …. and those midges!!!
How good is Fiordland!
Green Boys at Lake Gunn
It’s been 4 years since my last trip to NZ, and I’d forgotten how vibrant and chaotic those beech forests can be!
While we were down south we took the opportunity to explore a couple of the beautiful walking tracks. The forest floors in the South Island are just something else. 😍 That vibrant green and those towering, twisted beech trees! And so accessible.
We explored both side of the Kepler Track, around Supply Bay and as well as along the Eglinton Valley.
Can’t go past Haast Pass!
Matildas!
Our next area to explore was Haast Pass - part of the stunning Mount Aspiring National Park. Makarora seemed the best place to stay … just a short drive to the Haast Pass Lookout. We ended up staying 4 nights here - the weather was not very helpful.
This did allow us to watch the Matildas, put the toasted Sandwhich maker to good use, and catch up on a bit of sleep!
Cave Men!
Some nice forest hikes, but we were keen to find a canyon we had heard about, and try and photograph from the inside. We weren’t quite prepared for the icy cold water we had to wade through!! ❄️
Gumbooots on, Mitch charged in first. After the initial shocked of the icy water flowing in over the boots, he turned to me and said “It’s just a bit …. fresh!” 😱
I’ll tell you now … it was more than a bit fresh! But well worth it. A beautiful spot with some lovely early morning light shining through.
West World
Our last area to explore was the lower west coast - Haast, a World Heritage area.
Sea stacks and rugged beaches with snow capped mountains as a backdrop! The beaches strewn with not “drift wood” but drift trees! The waves and swell often so large that entire trees and logs are washed up. One section of the Haast Highway, that runs close to the ocean, actually has a sign warning travellers that logs may be washed up on to the road! Mindful of the warning, we took our chances at exploring the beaches.
Our second night in Haast was accompanied by a massive storm - amazing lightening and thunder. Next morning we heard there were large snow dumps back on Haast Pass, and the pass was closed. We decided to go have a look. It was a bit eerie driving east towards the Gates, and not pass any other cars. Half way up we stopped next to a snow plough truck to check in with the driver. In his best Kiwi Gandolf voice he thundered “Don’t go past the Gates!”. We didn’t /couldn’t!
Next day we headed back over the pass, with a great stop at Thunder Creek Falls, trying out some slow shutter/abstract shots. A beautiful waterfall, that feeds into the Haast River.
Our last day we had a great walk around Queenstown. What a great setting … on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, and a back drop of The Remarkable’s! A good chance to reflect on the last 2 1/2 weeks. Another awesome catchup with Mitch, a great Photography adventure. A few highlights - Staying in the Eglington Valley, The Canyon sessions, Fiordland Forests, brunch at the Boasted Cafe, and our homemade toasted Rueban Sandwiches!
Hopefully it won’t be another 4 years until I get the opportunity to return. If you enjoyed this photo diary of our NZ Adventure, checkout my 2 videos -