Now that I’m coming to the end of my year long stay in New Zealand, I reckon it’s time to look back at my time here and share with you some of my highlights. I’ve got a number of posts in the pipeline, but first, I just wanted to share with you some of my favourite shots from my trip.
I love taking shots of landscapes, and New Zealand happens to have gorgeous landscapes by the bucket load. I’ve done my best to provide a nice balanced set of shots, (and limit the number of sunset photos I subject you to!).
I’m not going to lie, choosing ten shots from a year of travelling was pretty tough, and I have many more that I love, but here I’ve tried to put across a selection that shows at least some of the awesomeness that New Zealand has on offer.
Here, therefore, in no real order, are ten of my favourite photos from my year here. For those of you interested, I shoot with a Canon 400D and either a 10-22mm, a 50mm prime, or a 17-85mm IS.
Note – click on any picture in this post for a lightbox slideshow of all of them 🙂 
Lake Tekapo in the centre of the south island, with the mighty southern alps in the background. This incredible mountain range runs the whole length of the south island, and is dominated by Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain.
This rock sits in Cathedral Cove, up on the Coromandel Peninsula on the north island. The weather on our trip here wasn’t great, but the scenery was stunning nonetheless. Film buffs may recognise this from the movie Prince Caspian.
Ah, Rotorua. Famous for smelling entirely like rotten eggs. The smell comes from the huge amount of volcanic activity that occurs in the area, with bubbling mud pools such as the one pictured being a part of that. If you’re in the area, then I can highly recommend heading to the Wai-O-Tapu thermal valley for amazing geothermal sights like this one. 
It wouldn’t be a round up of New Zealand scenery without a shot of Mount Ngauruhoe in the Tongariro National Park – made famous as Mount Doom in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. This shot is taken from the foothills of Mount Ruapehu, the north island’s highest mountain, looking across to Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. 
While we’re on the subject of famous mountains, here is a shot of New Zealand’s most photographed mountain. The massive Mitre Peak in the centre of the frame reaches just over a mile into the skies of Milford Sound on the south island, and is at number one of the Kiwi list of 100 things to see in New Zealand.
Picking a sunset shot to feature in this list was hard! New Zealand has some pretty staggering sunsets, but this one, of a rainbow, taken in the Tongariro National Park, ranks up there as one of my favourites. It just looked like the sky had caught fire.
Sand dunes may not be the first thing that spring to mind when thinking of New Zealand. Photographed are the sand dunes of Farewell Spit, a stretch of sand dune that reaches 25km out of the tip of the south islands northernmost point. The wind was blowing the sand ferociously across the dunes, creating the patterns you can see in the photo.
Like sunsets, beaches feature prominently in my collection of photos from New Zealand. There are literally thousands of incredible beaches all around New Zealand’s coastline, from the pure white sand of the far north to the black dunes of the Taranaki coastline, and every shade in between. This photo shows the incredible beach at Tolaga Bay on the north islands spectacular east cape. 
Waterfalls are as ubiquitous in New Zealand as gorgeous sunsets and endless beaches. This one is up on the back of Mount Ruahpehu near Ohakune, a town famous predominantly for its giant carrot statue.
And finally, the last picture in today’s series (not counting my sly addition of a panoramic of the Tongariro National Park at the end) is of the Franz Josef Glacier, one of two incredibly popular glaciers that nearly every visitor to New Zealand will drop in at on their way round the south island. And with good reason, as you can see from this photo.
And that is it for today. Many photos didn’t make today’s post, but fear not, there are many ways to see more photos from my travels including the sites Facebook Page, my Flickr Stream, or at my 500px account. Enjoy!
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Jo – and thanks to Caz as well 😀 NZ does indeed rock!
Jo says
Glad everyone loves N Z so much – Laurence you captured us in most spectacular fashion! Thanks so much – Caz is right your photos rock!
Marchel says
Visiting New Zealand is on my bucket list and after seeing your pictures it just reconfirms my desire to visit! Ever since the Lord of the Rings came out I have wanted to visit.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Natasha 😀 It was quite the sight to behold!
Natasha von Geldern says
A great collection of photos – you’ve captured some iconic scenes very well. That pic of the sunset rainbow is incredible!
Laurence says
Cheers mate, much appreciated 🙂
Laurence says
Cheers mate, much appreciated 🙂
Rich Kavanagh says
Spectacular photos Loz, they really are!
Laurence says
Thanks guys 🙂
Cole and Adela says
Such good photos. Love it but makes me miss it that much more.
Cole @ FourJandals.com says
Such good photos. Love it but makes me miss it that much more.
Laurence says
Thanks guys 🙂
Tui Cameron says
I’ve long wanted to visit New Zealand, and these photos merely increase my desire! Wow, is about all I can say.
Thanks for participating in the Traveler’s Show & Tell blog carnival over at Mental Mosaic. I hope to see you there again sometime. 🙂
~Tui
Jess | GlobetrotterGirls says
I can’t believe you were able to choose ten photos from all your New Zealand photos – all your pictures are stunning!! Great selection.
Laurence says
Cheers guys! I’m not going to lie – it was a challenge to pick ten of my favourites, but I think I managed to get a good cross section from my time in NZ 🙂
Laurence says
It does sometimes feel like an otherworldly place, particularly at sunset time 🙂 Thanks Audrey!
Audrey says
Ahhh! Beautiful shots. I really like the ones from Tongariro National Park. The landscapes really look out of this world 🙂
Laurence says
It does sometimes feel like an otherworldly place, particularly at sunset time 🙂 Thanks Audrey!
Audrey Bergner says
Ahhh! Beautiful shots. I really like the ones from Tongariro National Park. The landscapes really look out of this world 🙂
Laurence says
Thanks Sarah 🙂
Sarah Wu says
Stunning shot
Laurence says
Thanks Sarah 🙂
Sarah Wu says
Stunning shot
Laurence says
Thankyou Lisa, pleased you liked them 🙂
Laurence says
Thanks Lisa, delighted that you liked them!
Lisa @chickybus says
These photos are amazing–all of them–and especially 4 and 7. Wow!!
Laurence says
Thanks Lisa, delighted that you liked them!
Laurence says
Thankyou Lisa, pleased you liked them 🙂
Lisa E says
These photos are amazing–all of them–and especially 4 and 7. Wow!!
Laurence says
I have to say, it was pretty hard to pick. I wanted to really share as much of what I felt New Zealand to be like in ten photos, which was always going to be hard! But I think I got pretty close to sharing some of the wonder available. Delighted you liked it 🙂
suzyguese says
What a great idea for a post! I bet it was hard to narrow down your favorites. I love that sunset shot. It really does look like the sky is on fire.
Laurence says
I have to say, it was pretty hard to pick. I wanted to really share as much of what I felt New Zealand to be like in ten photos, which was always going to be hard! But I think I got pretty close to sharing some of the wonder available. Delighted you liked it 🙂
suzyguese says
What a great idea for a post! I bet it was hard to narrow down your favorites. I love that sunset shot. It really does look like the sky is on fire.
Two Oregonians says
Beautiful post! I love the sunset at Tongariro National Park and the coastline at Tolaga Bay. I lived in New Zealand in 2004, and I’m so eager to take my husband back with me on our 2012 visit!
Laurence says
Thanks so much! I’m sure he’s going to love it. It’s such a beautiful place 🙂
Laurence says
Thanks so much! I’m sure he’s going to love it. It’s such a beautiful place 🙂
Two Oregonians says
Beautiful post! I love the sunset at Tongariro National Park and the coastline at Tolaga Bay. I lived in New Zealand in 2004, and I’m so eager to take my husband back with me on our 2012 visit!
Laurence says
Hey, thanks Christian 🙂 It sure is incredible, and there is loads more where these came from! I love that you like this photo – the weather was just so wrong for taking photos with such a flat light, and yet this seems to have worked out pretty well 😀
Laurence says
Thanks Christine!
Laurence says
Thanks Mike! I certainly know what you mean about the hundreds of pictures, my hard drive is full to bursting 🙂 I’d be over the moon if you bought a print 🙂
Laurence says
Thanks! Currently I have no idea where I’m going next! I’m in the process of selling my van, then I’m going to look into flights and so on to get an idea. It’s all a bit unknown, and quite exciting 😉
Christian Hollingsworth says
Wow. New Zealand is incredible. I’m just in awe by that one rock sticking out on the beach. It looks fake it’s so beautiful/interesting!
Laurence says
Hey, thanks Christian 🙂 It sure is incredible, and there is loads more where these came from! I love that you like this photo – the weather was just so wrong for taking photos with such a flat light, and yet this seems to have worked out pretty well 😀
Christine says
Gorgeous shots! I especially love the one of the waterfall.
Laurence says
Thanks Christine!
Mike C says
Great pictures, I love NZ. My time there was spent taking hundreds of pictures, none of which do justice to the country. Great selection. I may have to buy a print.
Laurence says
Thanks Mike! I certainly know what you mean about the hundreds of pictures, my hard drive is full to bursting 🙂 I’d be over the moon if you bought a print 🙂
Sandal Road says
I love your photos! I’m glad you had such a great time in NZ. Where are you off to next?
Laurence says
Thanks! Currently I have no idea where I’m going next! I’m in the process of selling my van, then I’m going to look into flights and so on to get an idea. It’s all a bit unknown, and quite exciting 😉
Mike Cotton says
Great pictures, I love NZ. My time there was spent taking hundreds of pictures, none of which do justice to the country. Great selection. I may have to buy a print.
Jandal Road says
I love your photos! I’m glad you had such a great time in NZ. Where are you off to next?
Laurence says
I know, time has flown by! And Craig must be pretty excited, although I’m sure you’ll have an awesome adventure shortly afterwards too 🙂
yTravelBlog says
Wow!! So jealous that it will be Craig experiencing this soon and not me! So beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration. Can’t believe it has been a year almost since you have been there. Gone super fast
Laurence says
I know, time has flown by! And Craig must be pretty excited, although I’m sure you’ll have an awesome adventure shortly afterwards too 🙂