North Island Highlights
Volcanic Peaks, Coastal Edges, and the Living Landscape of Aotearoa
The North Island of New Zealand offers an ever-changing canvas — from windswept beaches and rugged ranges to ancient forests and geothermal landscapes. This gallery gathers my photographic impressions from across Te Ika-a-Māui, capturing its varied moods and elemental contrasts. Here you'll find quiet lakes, mist-draped volcanoes, luminous coastlines, and the subtle forms of remote, often overlooked places. These are images shaped by light, weather, and a sense of wonder for the land.
Although Hawke’s Bay is part of the North Island, I’ve dedicated a separate gallery to it due to the number of images I’ve captured there. You can explore the Hawke’s Bay collection here.
Cone Division - Tongariro National Park, New Zealand (2022)
The volcanic cone of Mount Ngauruhoe rises with quiet power, its snow-streaked flanks etched in deep contrast against the twilight sky. Encircled by a ring of low-hanging cloud, the mountain appears momentarily divided — its base cloaked in shadow and mist, its summit glowing in the last light of day. A blaze of colour stretches across the sky, casting soft pinks, oranges, and lavender hues behind the peak. Captured during a fleeting sunset in Tongariro National Park, this image reveals the elemental tension between fire and ice, presence and obscurity — a portrait of one of Aotearoa’s most iconic mountains in a rare moment of stillness and drama.
Layers of Dawn - Tongariro National Park, New Zealand (2024)
The layers of the landscape in Tongariro National Park. Starting with a foreground of alpine shrubs, your eyes move upward to the dense Beech forest, its rich green canopy creating a lush middle layer. Above the forest, the snow-covered slopes of Mount Ngauruhoe rise dramatically, their pristine white contrasting sharply with the darker hues below. The sky is painted with the soft, warm colours of dawn – shades of pink, orange, and purple blending seamlessly as the first light of day breaks over the horizon.
Upper Tama Lake - Tongariro National Park, NZ (2020)
This shot of the Upper Tama Lake and the conical peak of Mount Ngauruhoe is one of the rewarding views at the turning point of the Tama Lakes Walk in the Tongariro National Park.
The climb up the scree slope to this view can be quite challenging due to its steepness and exposure to the freezing wind. However, the 360-degree view from the ridgeline is definitely worth it.
Lower Tama Lake and Mount Ruapehu Panorama - Tongariro National Park, NZ (2022)
The Lower Tama Lake is located at 1,240 metres and is being fed by a river bringing in eroded ash and other volcanic debris from the surrounding area.
Tama Lake Ridgeline to Mount Ruapehu - Tongariro National Park, NZ (2021)
Taken from the ridgeline by the Upper Tama Lake, this shot reveals Mount Ruapehu with a glimpse of the Lower Tama Lake.
Mount Taranaki Reflection - Taranaki, New Zealand (2021)
In this photograph, Mount Taranaki stands majestically, its snow-covered peak glistening in the soft light of the setting sun. The mountain's reflection is mirrored in the tranquil waters of Lake Mangamahoe, creating a symmetrical image. The sky is painted with hues of purple and pink, casting a magical glow over the entire scene. The combination of the vibrant colours and the serene reflection creates a sense of tranquillity and wonder, capturing the breathtaking beauty of this iconic New Zealand landscape.
Lake Mangamahoe Reflection - Taranaki, New Zealand (2021)
Mount Taranaki stands radiant and solitary, its snow-draped slopes catching the last light of day as the sun dips behind the western horizon. Below, the still waters of Lake Mangamahoe mirror the mountain’s perfect cone and the warm hues of the evening sky. Framed by lush native forest and silhouetted treetops, the scene is calm, balanced, and quietly majestic. A moment of near-symmetry — where land, water, and light align in peaceful harmony.
New Zealand Fern Tree and Light Ray - Bay of Plenty, New Zealand (2022)
Dramatic light rays pierce the mist of a nearby waterfall and illuminate the lush New Zealand forest along the Tarawera River. A majestic fern tree stands prominently in the foreground, symbolising the unique flora of the region.
Rainbow Falls - Northland, New Zealand (2019)
Rainbow Falls (Waianiwaniwa) is a stunning 27-metre-high waterfall located near Kerikeri in Northland, New Zealand. It’s one of the most accessible and photogenic waterfalls in the region, known for its graceful drop and the tranquil, bush-clad environment that surrounds it.
Tawhai Falls Pool - Tongariro National Park, NZ (2021)
A trip to the Whakapapa area of the Tongariro National Park is not complete without visiting the Tawhai Falls.
Pool at Bridal Veil Falls - Waikato, NZ (2019)
Bridal Veil Falls is a plunge waterfall located along the Pakoka River in the Waikato area of New Zealand. The waterfall is 55 m high, and has over time caused the formation of a large pool at the base of the waterfall.
Whangārei Falls - Northland, New Zealand (2024)
Whangārei Falls tumbles gracefully over a basalt lava flow into a forest-fringed pool. Surrounded by lush native bush and mature tree ferns, the 26-metre cascade is both powerful and elegant — a classic curtain waterfall framed by the textures and greens of the New Zealand landscape.
Whatawhata Morning Fog - Waikato, New Zealand (2019)
The layers of blue, white and green in this photo of morning fog in the Waikato always make me think of a national flag.
A little research revealed that the national flag of Lesotho, a kingdom encircled by South Africa has such a flag. Also, someone suggested this as the new flag for New Zealand back in the days that we were debating replacing our current flag. The Blue represents the sky, the lakes and rivers, and the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. White represents the long white cloud, the crests of waves and snow-capped mountain peaks. And Green represents the earth and the beautiful islands of New Zealand.
Whangaroa Blues - Northland, NZ (2024)
From the summit of St. Paul’s Rock, lush, forested hills bathed in golden sunlight stand out, their treetops glowing against the deep greens of the valley below. Layers of mist weave through the landscape, drifting above the dense foliage and across the tranquil blue waters of a winding inlet that is Whangaroa Harbour. These blues blend seamlessly into the distant ocean, which in turn fades effortlessly into the sky.
Too late to turnaround - Manawatu, New Zealand (2020)
Captured at Herbertville Beach near Cape Turnagain, this long exposure was taken on Queen’s Birthday Weekend — just moments before the weather turned to custard. The skies were darkening, the wind beginning to rise, and the incoming front hung heavy with mood. But in that brief window before the storm arrived, the beach revealed its best: expansive, mirror-like sand flats reflecting the shifting sky, and soft, layered waves tracing the ebb and flow of the tide.
Herbertville’s wide, tidal shoreline is a dream for long exposures — the gentle sweep of water across the sand creates subtle motion and texture, while the open horizon invites a sense of space and solitude. This image captures a fleeting calm before chaos — a quiet pause at the edge of a changing sea and sky.
Cape Maria van Diemen - Northland, NZ (2024)
Cape Maria van Diemen, a stunning and remote headland just southwest of Cape Reinga, is a dramatic landscape of golden sand dunes, rocky outcrops, and rugged coastline overlooking the Tasman Sea. Separated from Cape Reinga by the expansive Te Werahi Beach, it offers breathtaking views and a serene atmosphere. This idyllic spot is especially magical at sunset, when the setting sun bathes the landscape in rich, golden hues, creating a warm and enchanting scene.
Lines in the Sand - Northland, NZ (2024)
As golden hour settles over the vast Te Paki dunes, light and shadow dance across the sculpted landscape, revealing a tapestry of curves, textures, and delicate ridgelines. The shifting sun casts long highlights and soft gradients, transforming the sand into a canvas of abstract forms and flowing patterns. In this fleeting light, the dunes become both grand and intimate — a place where the elemental meets the ephemeral.
Sunlit White Dunes - Northland, NZ (2024)
A breathtaking sunrise at Rarawa Beach illuminates the pristine white sand dunes. The soft golden light of dawn casts a warm glow over the rippling patterns in the sand, highlighting their delicate texture and contours. The tranquil atmosphere is complemented by the rich colours of the sky as it transitions from deep orange to pale blue, creating a peaceful and timeless coastal scene.
Castlepoint Lighthouse Tentacles - Wairarapa, New Zealand (2022)
There is a Māori story that Castlepoint (Rangiwhakaoma) was visited by Kupe, the great Polynesian navigator, when he was chasing a giant octopus and discovered Aotearoa in the process. According to this story, the octopus hid in a cave under Castle Point, before escaping. The spectacular, erosion-shaped rocks surrounding the Castlepoint Lighthouse very much strike me as the tentacles of this octopus.
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All photos from this series are available for licensing and as gallery-quality fine art prints.