Photography on Tour

As a Kiwi Guide for MoaTrek, a few years back I was made aware of the absolute importance of enabling opportunities for photographers to "capture" that magic moment, when I stopped our coach high above the banks of the Rakaia River in the South Island for a photo stop. While I explained the river’s features and formation, a gentleman from Singapore quietly set up his tripod and took a number of photos looking across the river, over the farmland and beyond to the snow-capped mountains. It was only later, when he showed me his photos, that I saw the scene anew.

Stretching beyond the river, his expert eye – and his camera - had focused on the land contours as they paralleled one another to the distant mountains; his photo contrasted the horizontal with the vertical; his enhancements of the image highlighted the colours which I had not seen; and his concentration on just a segment of the entirety brought the differing lights and shades to an otherwise bland scene. I was amazed. His skill with that camera showed an artist at work, not just a photographer. 

It was a lesson I try to remember on all my tours. There are people on this coach who will capture a moment, a movement, a light in the landscape that is not obvious to me. And, hence, I must be prepared to ensure they are given every opportunity to do just that – capture the moment ... record the memory.

So a MoaTrek tour aims to "multiply the moments" when our guests can get out of the coach and take those shots that for them will stimulate their recall at a later date and provide a gratifying memory of their trip to New Zealand. All our Kiwi Guides take every chance they can to stop and allow our visitors to get a photo or two – when it is safe to do so. They are not professional photographers but they are professional guides, who will go out of their way to enable you to take back some great memories.

New Zealand is a great place for photography because of the variety of landscapes, the clear air, the small population and the wide open spaces with so few people around. Then there is the extensive network of tracks that form part of the hiking network in New Zealand, the many viewing platforms and the frequent roadside rest areas that allow safe stopping along the main road networks, often sited in places with great views.

The high country of the South Island and the turquoise lakes of the Mackenzie Basin present unforgettable scenes. To capture these is a must and there will be lots of stops to get out, gain a spot and get a shot! We stop at the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, at the lake edge when the lupins are flowering in spring, at the roadside to view snow-capped Aoraki/Mt Cook across the azure blue waters of Lake Pukaki and stop again on the road leading directly to the mountain.

We stay overnight right in the heart of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park meaning early morning photos for our highest peaks are right out your door. Mornings at Aoraki/Mt Cook can be cool and crisp – ideal for a walk up the valley under the towering ice face of Mt Sefton, or on the boat trip on the glacier terminal lake with mini icebergs and blue ice features. A total change of scenery is the crossing of the Lindis Pass further south – the tawny tussock of the mountain grasslands is the dominant feature and a stop at the summit will give you a chance to add this to your portfolio.

Or Milford Sound. This awesome spectacle of nature is a real highlight for most people on our trips. The sheer audacity of the landscape with its near vertical cliffs, cascading waterfalls and impenetrable rainforests make this perfect for the landscape artists and wildlife photographers, with the possibility of keas, dolphins, seals, cormorants and more. We leave Queenstown early in the morning so that frequent stops can maximise our sightseeing and photo opportunities.

And even if it’s raining, there are the thundering waterfalls (the place gets 6800m, almost 270in per year!), raging rivers and the brooding clouds.

A lasting memory for all our guests is the return flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown where you get to record these majestic mountains from above. Now this flight – over the rugged peaks, waterfalls and lakes – does stay in people’s memories as one of the highlights of the entire trip. This scenic flight is included in our tour itinerary, not a paid optional extra, so you don't have to worry about budgeting extra for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Continuing on from the Southern Lakes, our journey to Wanaka, over the Haast Pass and up the West Coast will again be a feast for the landscape lovers and their cameras. There are huge glacial lakes, rivers, dramatic mountain scenes, wave-crashed coastlines, rain dripping forests and whitewashed glaciers at Franz Josef and Fox, though with recent retreats making the glaciers difficult to access, they are best recorded by scenic flights.

Scroll through our some of our favourite South Island landscape photos:

For these scenes one of the best times is through the central Te Ika a Maui (North Island) where the volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park rear up from the shrub and tussock plateau to their snow capped peaks. These are impressive, reaching to over 2,700m (9,000ft) and we stay overnight on the flanks of the largest of them all, Mt Ruapehu. Our mid-afternoon arrival allows time to do a short walk, anything from 20mins to 2½ hours, through the unique beech forests – a chance to take those close-up photos of the flora ... or those long distance ones of the other mountains ... or your fellow hikers alongside the tumbling mountain streams. 

And, as with so many of our overnight stops in mountain or coastal locations, keen photographers are able to get out in the evening sunset, or get up early to capture the morning light as it rises behind the mountains, capping Mt Ngauruhoe (the famed Mt. Doom of the Lord of The Rings movies) with a warming glow. 

Scroll through some of our favourite Tongariro National Park photos:

Or, if it’s wildlife that interests you, then MoaTrek trips include many places where you can get those great shots. The coastline at Muriwai Beach lends itself to "close encounters of the feathered kind" as the nesting gannets soar and wheel above us or fight and bicker over their nests, only a few metres from the raised observation deck. 

In the central North Island city of Rotorua the lake foreshore is great for wildlife – the black swans, the native scaup, cormorants, gulls, herons and Paradise ducks all abound around the lake edges. The internationally recognised wildlife refuge at Sulphur Bay, an easy walk from the hotel, hosts endangered species close to the lake edge, taking advantage of the warm, geothermal waters to rest and nest.

And for wildlife, there is nothing to match the Kaikoura coast and the fur seals. The road closely parallels the coast in many places so stops will be made to view the seals and shoot the scenes. Specially constructed viewing platforms enable an elevated and close vantage point for wildlife photography on this sector.

For those wanting to get more of the birdlife in New Zealand, then we recommend the flat-bottomed boat trip on Okarito Lagoon, West Coast, where sightings of white herons, Royal Spoonbills, cormorants, kingfishers, fantails, oyster catchers and native wood pigeons are all common and often close. A telephoto lens may be an advantage here but not a necessity.

Scroll through some of our favourite Wildlife photos:

New Zealand has a reputation for action and adventure activities, started when A J Hackett first leapt from a bridge near Queenstown with a rubber band tied around his ankles in 1988! Since then the town has been renowned as the Adventure Capital of New Zealand, but it was Sir Edmund Hillary’s pioneering climb to the summit of Everest in 1953 that began the adventure story.

Queenstown is the place for action photos – racing jet boats, colourful parapenters, the TSS "Earnslaw" steaming into Queenstown Bay, the Skyline Gondola – with each season having its own character and colours. We suggest going up the Skyline Gondola to the viewing deck about 30 minutes before dusk so you can get the best of the late afternoon light, then the lights of the town in the dusk and finally the fully lit town below. It’s all about timing! 

And with a whole day to partake of Optional Activities in Wellington, many of our guests return with great shots of wild fur seals from the coast, the city from the Cable car, close-ups from the Botanical Gardens, photos of their "foodie excursion" or a cycling trip in the hills.

Our Rotorua stop allows time for a choice of additional activities – the thrilling Canopy Walk, flying over volcanic White Island or strolling by bubbling mud pools in Kuirau Park, all provide chances for stunning shots.

But it is for Abel Tasman National Park that photographers need to prepare by ensuring plenty of memory space, appropriate lenses and a searching eye. The day is one of golden sand beaches, landscapes and water activities such as kayakers, boaters, wind surfers, hikers and swimmers. Be prepared for bright light as this is one of New Zealand’s favourite summer haunts with high sunshine hours, glistening water and white sand beaches that can challenge photographers.

Scroll through some of our favourite action photos from tours:

MoaTrek guides also take a lot of photos during the trip, often focusing on our guests and their adventures, to have a record of the journey to share with everyone afterwards. Each tour guest is then able to access the guide’s photos, upload their own or download others, an aspect of the tour really valued by our clients. Galleries of former guests' photos can be accessed by others to see the moments they valued on tour.

One of the things many passengers enjoy is taking images of fellow travellers indulging in various activities, be it hiking the valleys, supping the evening wine or tasting the delicious food. These images of their time in New Zealand serve to recall the companionship of the trip and the experiences shared together, a special part of a small group tour. The vineyards of Marlborough will delight with their serried rows of vines, their colours (especially in spring and autumn), and the lunch setting under the pergola of vines with a glass of the estate's wine to complement the company. This is a favourite spot for guests to seize some moments when their travelling companions are relaxed, happy and contented – and often unaware!

A special highlight for many as we near Rotorua is the cruise on the catamaran "Tuia" across the lake to private hot pools – a special experience remembered by many for its relaxed ambience of bean bags on the deck, a billowing sail and a glass of bubbles in hand – can you capture that?

One of the delights of a small group MoaTrek tour is the chance to get "up close and personal" with the locals and nowhere is this better realised than when we have lunch with our friends Ian and Diana Mackenzie at their farm property on the Canterbury Plains. The magnificent grounds, the glorious homestead, the garden setting for lunch and the ever congenial hosts make this a special moment. The gathering of our group in this setting provides so many chances to capture the character of the garden, the warmth of the welcome and the delight of hosts and guests over their lunch.

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, is ideal for capturing street scenes, people shots and city life. The sea diving platform cut into the waterfront walkway provides excellent opportunities to get the "action’ shot" – the young teenagers diving and jumping from the platforms, delighting the gathering crowd and satisfying the photographer! But there’s also the cafes, buskers, skaters and strollers - a great place for shooting "the people" scenes of this vibrant little capital.

Scroll through some of our favourite people photos:

Probably what comes to mind when most people around the world think of New Zealand is our stunning landscapes and scenery and if you Google "New Zealand Photos", that's what comes up first. But one recent guest (and super keen photographer) Charles Anderson told us how much he enjoyed taking photos of the buildings and architecture in the towns and cities. From the Neo Gothic Cathedral in Christchurch, to the Neo Classical Parliament House in Wellington and the Category A listed Historic Tepid Baths in Auckland, through to Edwardian style country homesteads and late 20th Century structures like the Beehive, you will find our stays in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will provide plenty of subject matter.

Scroll through some of our favourite Architecture and Building photos from recent tour guest Charles Anderson:

The encounter with the great trees of the Waipoua kauri forests at Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest, begins your introduction to Te Ao Māori (The World of the Māori). Here the high canopy of trees encloses a green, luscious growth of ferns and creepers, with the possibility of capturing light through the magnificent tree ferns (for which New Zealand is famous), or intimate shots of flowering rata or soft-coloured native fuchsias. The short, off-road excursion will be led by a local Māori guide who will explain the significance of the forest, chant a karakia (prayer) to the spirits and sing a short waiata (song) acknowledging the forests and its mauri (life force). For many this is a very special, and spiritual, memory.

An evening of Māori culture is a must for many and for those wanting to later recall the powhiri (welcome), waiata (songs) and haka (action dance) of a Māori concert, there is an evening dinner and concert available during our stay in Rotorua.  Photography is permitted and some great shots can be obtained throughout the welcome ceremony, feasting and performances. 

Another place which delights the visitor is the marae (meeting ground) of Ohinemutu, only a short 10 minute walk from our Rotorua hotel and unusual for its free access, most marae requiring a formal welcome. Here, however, visitors can enter the grounds of the marae and photograph the intricately carved wharenui (big meeting house) and other buildings.  

Māori tour operators and staff will be frequently encountered during your time in New Zealand and especially in Te Ika a Maui (the North Island). They are welcoming hosts and friendly and informative guides, often owning and running their own visitor encounters. One great example of this on our tour is the Kawiti Caves in Northland, an amazing little journey into the underworld hosted by descendants of Chief Kawiti, who fought alongside Hōne Heke in the Flagstaff War. 

Scroll through some of our favourite Māori Culture photos:

This region around the lakes of Tekapo and Pukaki and up to Aoraki/Mt Cook are all part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, a place where low light pollution levels and lack of urbanised areas mean exceptionally clear night skies. This is a wonderful chance for both amateur and professional photographers to gain some wonderful images of the night sky, including the Southern Cross, the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds.

For those guests who express an interest, your guide may take you out from the hotel to see these formations, so brilliantly clear in the cool night air. There is also an evening Star Gazing tour run by the Hermitage Hotel in Mt Cook, which is another opportunity to take those night sky photos.

There is also a new International Dark Sky Reserve at Great Barrier Island, which is accessible from Auckland. You would need to stay at least one night on the island to experience the Night Sky here, but if night sky photography is something you really want to do in New Zealand then all that's required is a few extra nights in Auckland before your tour.

Scroll through some of the best Night Sky photos from Aoraki Mackenize Dark Sky Reserve

The first night on the shores of the Hokianga harbour, so central to the Maori history of Aotearoa (New Zealand), really is a photographers dream. The golden dunes on the opposite shore, the huge pohutukawa tree framing the small wharf here and the evening sunsets ensure everyone is vying to get the best shot as the evening darkness settles. 

Other Photographic spots I love (and see guests making the most of) include the Bay of Islands, named for its numerous islands, has some great places to get excellent photos. From the soft lights of the morning sun coming straight over the water to our hotel, to the excitement of manoeuvring the cruise boat through the cavernous Hole-in-the-Rock or the dolphins that frequent the bay. 

And then if its colour you want, the visit to Waiotapu is just for you. The guided walk of this impressive geothermal valley still leaves time to snap the colours of the pools, the sulphur extrusions and the vivid thermal waters. It really is a rainbow of colour here.

The journey across Cook Strait to Te Wahi Pounamu (South Island) can be either exhilarating (read storm-tossed!) or engaging (read tranquil), but either way the photo opportunities abound, particularly once inside Tory Channel and sailing along beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound.

For those whose penchant is the sea and the coastline then Paradise awaits at Punakaiki, on the West Coast. We stay two nights here in our hotel right on the beach. It is a wonderful chance to get out late in the dusky evening, or up in the early dawn to record the special play of light on the waves, or waves crashing the rocky headlands or blowing up through the famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, only 5-10 minutes walk from the hotel.

And with the setting, westerly sun beaming directly onto our hotel, creating its own colours, the special sunset shot is one that many of our guests use to bookend not just the day, but their tour in New Zealand.

Scroll through some of Matt's own photos from his favourite spots: