South Island Highlights

A selection of my favourite images taken on New Zealand’s South Island

Autumn at Lake Ohau - Canterbury, NZ (2023)

  • Ben Ohau framed by autumn leaves of a willow tree growing on the shore of Lake Ohau.

Reflecting Spire - Lake Heron, Canterbury, NZ (2023)

  • The calm water of Lake Heron reflects the tapering top of a green pine tree that stands out among the yellow willow trees and blue sky.

Pyramids of Lindis - Canterbury, NZ (2022)

  • The snow-covered, triangular-shaped peaks at Lindis Pass with the glowing tussock grass in the foreground.

The Power of Water - Fiordland, New Zealand (2022)

  • Stirling Falls in Milford Sound is surely one of the world’s most unique waterfalls. I’ve photographed the 155m free fall from the vertical cliffs above onto the ocean below a few times now and I continue to find the experience incredible. The boat that takes you there, gets so close for a few minutes that you can witness this amazing display of patterns at the base of the falls, spreading out from the crash zone towards you like shock waves.

Silver Beech at the Cleddau River - Milford Sound, New Zealand (2020)

  • I came across this sight when walking back from an early morning hike to Mitre Peak. The sun was still low in the sky and this beautiful golden beam of light appeared in front of me that lit up the riverbank and provided a gorgeous backdrop for the silver beech trees.

Hooker River and Mount Cook - Canterbury, New Zealand (2017)

  • The milky blue Hooker River winds itself down from Hooker Glacier which is one of several glaciers close to the slopes of Aoraki / Mount Cook in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The milky blue water flowing from glacial melt is the result of finely ground rock called "rock flour" that pigments the water.

Purakaunui Falls - Catlins, New Zealand (2020)

  • The Purakaunui Falls are a cascading multi-tiered waterfall in the Catlins at the bottom of the South Island.

    On the day I visited, the flow of the water created an interesting swirl at the bottom of the scene, adding something special to this iconic, frequently photographed waterfall.

Waterfall in Doubtful Sound - Fiordland, New Zealand (2020)

  • A beautiful waterfall on a cloudy, but unusually dry day in the the Crooked Arm that is one of the arms off the Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand.

Mirror-Like Mitre Peak - Fiordland, NZ (2021)

  • Mitre Peak stands majestically in Milford Sound, its symmetrical reflection perfectly mirrored in the calm waters below. The prominence of blue and green in this scene highlights the peaceful and rejuvenating elements of this inspiring and ever-changing location.

Wave at Ben Ohau - Canterbury, NZ (2022)

  • Waves at Lake Ōhau with Ben Ohau in the background.

Nature's Autumn Palette - Arrowtown, Otago (2023)

  • During autumn the trees in Arrowtown close to Queenstown come to life. The lush green canopy that dominated the summer months gives way to a vibrant kaleidoscope of hues from summer green to vibrant shades of yellow, gold, orange, red, and burgundy, creating a visual feast. Especially when the early morning sunlight hits the leaves from behind accentuating the rich and vivid tones.

Omarama Clay Cliffs - Waitaki, New Zealand

  • The textures and colours on display at the Omarama Clay Cliffs made of gravel and silt that was deposited by rivers that flowed here millions of years ago.

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