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Travel guide of Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
I shot this from a plane on a scenic flight through Fiordland National Park in New Zealand. It was so amazing to see the patterns of the river from above, observing how it carved its path into the landscape, before feeding Lake Wakatipu at its mouth.
14 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
During our two-week trip to New Zealand, we took three days to hike along the Routeburn Track. The first day, we were met with torrential rain, and the second day, we were met with heaps of snow. The hike was very difficult for those first two days, but the third day opened up with sunshine and peace. We came to an opening in the path, and were greeted to this sight: a huge valley with the Routeburn River in sight. We finally had a moment of peace after an arduous two days. I look at this photo, and I feel relief.
15 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
Seeing one of New Zealand’s great walks from the air has only made me want to hike it on the ground even more! I can’t imagine what the scale of these mountains must be like from the ground.
20 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
It is amazing that we are able to access the most remote parts of the world so quick and easy. It is like you are on a complete other planet. I had so much adrenaline in my blood and I was amazed by the pure nature during this helicopter flight I took.
21 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
Lake Marian track leads to this final lake where you can see a full reflection to the mountain peaks behind in the lake. the track itself goes through a forest with some interesting birds that you can see along the way.
21 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
I did this hike to Lake Marian because people told me the reflection of the mountains would be amazing. After 3 hours of walking I arrived and couldn’t see anything because of the clouds… how disappointing! But instead of the beautiful reflection I found this antlers standing on a rock by the lake and I got instantly reminded of my hometown Hirschhorn (translated it means “horn of the deer”). After travelling for 7 months and being away from my home this made me smile and gave me new strengh. I will never regret this hike, because unexpected events are always the best.
34 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
I had arrived to work on the airport at Milford and even though the sun had set by the time I finished, I raced back to the Cleddau river that I had crossed earlier in the day. Down to a suitable rock to balance the camera (travelling with work, I didn’t have room for my tripod) The lighting was lingering just long enough for me and this is the result.
36 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
Milford Sound in New Zealand has some of the fastest changing weather in the world. One minute blue skies, the next black clouds with heavy rainfall. We were lucky enough to experience both in a matter of minutes, but what comes with that is some of the most spectacular moving clouds we’ve ever seen. Clouds seamlessly engulf mountains and change your view in seconds. Here I caught midst of a moment where mountain rainforests fade away into the fog.
36 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
On my trip through New Zealand I met one guy how also comes from Germany and slept in the same ski lodge. He offers us to give us a free paragliding flight if we will drive his car down in the valley. Guys this was just awesome! We get to free paragliding flights (it was the first time for me) and it was just perfect. :)
36 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
On my trip through New Zealand I met one guy how also comes from Germany and slept in the same ski lodge. He offers us to give us a free paragliding flight if we will drive his car down in the valley. Guys this was just awesome! We get to free paragliding flights (it was the first time for me) and it was just perfect. :)
36 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
Truth be told, I didn’t even realise there were people in the image until I looked at it a few weeks later. It was a winter’s day in Queenstown and I was out for a walk while taking a break from the tours I guide. I always have my camera with me and the fall colours were out - a rare sight for a North Islander in New Zealand.
36 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
We decided to go for a hike up the infamous Queenstown Hill Summit walk. It wasn’t easy for us beginners, but we kept on. We came to a fork in the track. The sign to the left “5 minute track” and the sign to the right “20 minute walk”. We decided to take the longer route which lead us to this dark looking forest where the sun light was kept away by the tall pine trees. We instantly felt mysterious and pulled out our cameras to capture this enchanting (some would say dead and dry) forest.
40 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
We drove through the rain to get to the first boat out into Milford Sound on New Zealand’s South Island. And it was well worth it. Even in the rain it’s a spectacular place — there are hundreds of waterfalls that only appear when it’s raining.
40 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
Just another Shot from one of my favourite countries in the world. I drove to Milford Sounds not knowing what to expect. The weather was cloudy and it rained a lot. Getting there was one of the biggest adventures of my life. The street from Te Anau to Milford Sounds is just pure wilderness. Nothing around but cheeky Kea’s, amazing mountains and incredible nature. I couldn’t count how often I just stopped an just watched nature around me. Finally I arrived in Milford Sounds but paying 230$ for a little shiptour was just to much, so I just drank a coffee and drove back, exploring the way I came.
47 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
As we climbed through the valley, a white-turquoise river began to appear, it was obvious we were coming to a glacier, however, the real beauty hid beyond the glacier, as the rough mountains spiked through the valley almost like a non-passable gate, we knew we couldn’t go any further. New Zealand is truly amazing.
54 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
During our trip through New Zealand we found this sweet spot. All the bras are from visitors. This is a social campaign from the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation near Queenstown. They collect some money with a little box for donations. Greet opportunity to finance a little bit for the research to fight agains breast cancer.
57 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
This climb to Roy’s Peak seemed like a great idea when I read the description on New Zealand’s Department of Conservation’s website. “Easy Walk”, they said. After a painstaking 3-hour climb, my feet were practically bleeding and I was quite dehydrated. The only thing I wanted to do was run back down to go back to my hotel—but not before taking some shots of the exquisite view.
Experienced by Félix Lam
57 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
Began my hike up Mt. Roy at 5.40am at temperatures of -2 degrees celsius. The terrain was easy to walk on and the exposed trek gave me full-view of the night sky - I caught five shooting stars in the short 2.5hr hike! The view atop was well-worth the effort and the cold!
Experienced by Jingwei Ke
57 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
While on an eight month backpacking journey, we stopped by Queenstown, New Zealand to visit a friend in Wanaka. Not knowing this was a miserable six hour hike up to Roy’s Peak, we happily agreed but were met with some of the most humbling views. Worth it in the end!
Experienced by Rashel Ochoa
57 km from Dart River-Te Awa Whakatipu
One friend of ours decided to celebrate his father’s birthday by taking him to the Roys Peak and watch the sunrise over Wanaka. We’ve got there at night, slept under the peak and in the morning continue to the highest point.
Experienced by Martina Vitáková