Hawke’s Bay: Beaches

Highlights of well-known and remote beaches in Hawke’s Bay

Bare Island / Motu-O-Kura - Waimarama Beach, Hawke's Bay (2024)

  • A sunset at Waimarama Beach towards Bare Island with the reef in the foreground..

    The name Bare Island inspired me to create a minimalistic photo. I chose a long shutter speed (4 sec) to reduce the impact of the busy waves on the image and create a softer look. The cloudless sky was perfect for a minimalistic look with only the start of the belt of Venus behind the island.

Stream towards the Beams - Kairakau Beach, Hawke's Bay (2022)

  • These rocks caught my eye while walking along Kairakau Beach, Hawke's Bay looking for an interesting composition to shoot the rising sun. Clouds were rolling in, and I couldn't believe my luck when these sunbeams came through, appearing next to the Hinemahanga Rocks. The stream connects the rocks in the foreground to the sea and clouds in the top part of the frame.

    The pattern of clouds in the top right corner of the frame provides a strong visual counterbalance to the rocks in the bottom left corner, creating harmony within the image.

Sunrise at Kairakau Beach - Hawke's Bay (2022)

  • The mist floating above the Pekapeka Wetlands on a calm, autumn day creates a moody atmosphere with a golden reflection of a tree lit up by the early morning sun.

Waipatiki Stream - Waipatiki Beach, Hawke's Bay (2022)

  • The south side of Waipatiki Beach on a rainy ANZAC day with the Waipatiki Stream flowing into Hawke Bay.

Ocean Beach Dawn - Hawke's Bay (2022)

  • Smooth rocks at Whakapau Bluff with the warm dawn light colouring the gentle waves.

Beach Morning Glory - Ocean Beach, Hawke's Bay (2023)

  • The spreading plant in the foreground with the green, fleshy leaves and distinctive bell-shaped, pink to purple flowers is called Sand Convovulus. This plant is also known as Beach Morning Glory, and that is a perfect summary of this fabulous start of the day at Ocean Beach, Hawke's Bay.

Dawn at Kairakau Beach - Hawke's Bay, New Zealand (2022)

  • A colourful and calm start of the day at Kairakau Beach with the Hinemahanga Rocks in the background.

Intertidal Rocks - Waimarama Beach, Hawke's Bay (2023)

  • The tidal movement at Waimarama Beach reveals captivating rocky ledges skilfully sculpted by the relentless power of the ocean. The enchantment is amplified when the low tide coincides with a beautiful sunrise, casting an ethereal glow upon the scene. As an added touch of beauty, the silhouette of Bare Island (Motu-O-Kura) graces the background, enhancing the land-to-seascape.

Ocean Beach Dunes Panorama - Hawke's Bay (2021)

  • A coastal walk from the Ocean Beach settlement towards Whakapau Bluff takes you along a beautiful dune system that forms a long gentle curve in between the sea and the steep inland hills where most of the footprints and tracks are made by coastal wildlife.

All photos from this series are available for licensing and as gallery-quality fine art prints.

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