In 2014, I embarked on a journey of a lifetime, traveling through the ridiculously beautiful landscape of New Zealand. For 5 weeks, I climbed mountains, walked one of New Zealand's greatest walks, hiked on a glacier, jumped off the plane at 15,000 ft, hitchhiked with strangers, made new friends, and spent some quality time with each of them.
It was one of the best times of my life, and it would be a shame if I let these memories decay and be lost over time. So, when I arrived in Auckland on the 21st of October 2014, I came up with the idea to take photos of myself wherever I go in New Zealand, but instead of doing selfies, which is way overdone nowadays, I will be taking photos of my back instead, and show you just how breathtaking the sceneries in New Zealand the way I saw it.
I deliberately chose to take back photos instead of selfies like everyone else because this is not about myself. It's about showing the country the way it should be presented and even though, these photos feel less personal, it sure makes them more captivating to see, at least in my opinion.
So, without further ado, follow me, and I'll show you New Zealand in 70 incredible photos:
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Picton
- Nelson
- Motueka
- Abel Tasman
- Westport
- Franz Josef
- Wanaka
- Ben Lomond, Queenstown
- Milford Sound
- Routeburn Track
- Queenstown
- Lake Tekapo
- Lake Pukaki
- Mt Cook
- Dunedin
- New Zealand Travel Video
- Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand
Auckland
Landed in Auckland in the afternoon and decided to go for a walk up Mt Eden.
Rotorua
Wai-o-Tapu, the thermal wonderland, is one of the most colorful places by nature I've seen so far.
The downside of walking around an active thermal area was that you ended up smelling like a goddamn boiled egg all day.
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The Redwood Forest Park in Rotorua was where I understood why New Zealand is the best country in the world. Nature, nature, and more nature!
Just a tiny man among giants.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
People claim that the Tongariro Crossing is the best one-day walk in all of New Zealand. I have to agree!
I had the option to walk the normal crossing for 6 hours or climb Mt Doom and walk for 8 hours. Of course, I chose the harder path. I'm not going to be here forever!
This was me at the crater of Mt Doom (Mt Ngauruhoe). Nothing like what you see in Lord of the Rings. :)
The view was worth the 3-hour extra hike, especially on a day like this. You could see from coast to coast.
If there is a place for me to hang my foot down the abyss, I would go for it every single time!
The infamous emerald lake.
The colors of lakes and rivers here in New Zealand were simply ridiculous!
Picton
Kia Ora. Welcome to the South Island. After a day in Wellington, I took the Interislander cruise and landed at the gateway of the South Island: Picton.
I went for a 3-hour walk along the Snout track and arrived at the Snout head with the grand view of the Queen Charlotte Sound.
The sound stretched as far as the eye could see.
In the morning, it was sunny. However, by midday, the clouds started to form again. The weather changes so fast in New Zealand.
Nelson
A much-needed rest in Nelson, trying out all the coffees and cafes.
Motueka
Janie Seddon Shipwreck near the coast of Motueka.
The shipwreck was illuminated by the light from Nelson and the stars.
Abel Tasman
I took a one-day trip along the beach of Abel Tasman, from Torrent Bay to Onetahuti Bay.
The trail was relatively easy, so it was a fun walk with a decent view.
The color of the water down here still amazes me to this day. How can it be so vibrant!?
So this is what an uncommercialized beach is like. Coming from Thailand, this was new to me.
All the essentials I'd packed that day.
Westport
This was Cape Foulwind, and from my brief time there, I understood completely why they named it that.
Biking against the wind for an hour in the rain wasn't ideal, but the view was worth it.
A good lunch spot with an appetizing view.
Franz Josef
Explored Franz Josef a bit before going for the ice climb the next day.
The Southern Alps were finally within reach.
The ice climb trip was canceled due to strong wind, so I decided to go for a walk instead.
Nothing like a morning walk alone along the river with a view of a snowy mountain.
As I approached closer to the glacier, I realized the true impact of global warming.
200 years ago, the rock on which I stood would have been buried deep under the glacier.
I gave the ice climb another go the next day, and I was not disappointed!
Everyone's worst nightmare is the moment when you realize you are stuck in a narrow passage between two ice blocks that weigh several tons, and you can't go back. I literally had to bend every part of my body to slide through it. Thank God for the frictionless ice!
Wanaka
The road from Franz Josef to Wanaka was ridiculously scenic. Mountains and lakes all around!
Atop Mt Iron, overlooking the town of Wanaka.
"Brace yourself. The storm is coming."
The lone tree in the middle of the lake.
It was the perfect day to walk around the lake. Wanaka was breathtaking, no matter where you looked.
It took me an hour to walk around the lake. At the end of the walk, I was rewarded with a panoramic view of the mountain range.
Ben Lomond, Queenstown
It was extremely windy when I climbed Ben Lomond near Queenstown, but I did reach the summit and got a very dramatic view of the mountain.
Yes, this was the same day as the photo above, just 30 minutes apart. The weather in New Zealand is unpredictable!
The Remarkables and Queenstown from the Ben Lomond saddles. I would say, it was worth a day hike!
Milford Sound
On my way to Milford Sound, I started to realize how ridiculously beautiful the landscapes are around Fiordland. The bus I took had windows on top of it!
Statistically, Milford Sound receives rain for 200 days throughout the year, and I happened to be there on the one day when it did NOT rain!
The scenery was straight out of the King Kong movie. Everything is tremendous compared to puny humans like us.
Routeburn Track
The Routeburn Track, one of the greatest walks in New Zealand, is a 3-day hike that takes you through beautiful valleys and lakes around the Fiordland National Park.
Our stop for the first night is Lake Mackenzie.
The next day was a little brutal. There was a snowstorm, and I was unable to see anything for almost the whole trail. The good thing was that the mountains were covered in snow the next day.
Since I was unable to see anything the previous day, I decided to wake up early and backtrack to see what it looked like on a good day.
It was worth the extra effort. I mean, look at that view!
As we were going down, we spotted a very nice field, so we rested there for a wee bit.
By "we," I mean me, Ashley, whom I met in Rotorua, and I decided to meet up with her again to do the Routeburn together with her sister, Rachel. It was so random, which is why I love traveling so much!
Queenstown
I celebrated my 26th birthday by jumping 15,000 feet off the plane, overlooking Queenstown and The Remarkables.
My dream to skydive in New Zealand had finally come true!
Lake Tekapo
The color of the water in Lake Tekapo was so vibrant that, for a few moments, I thought someone had photoshopped it.
A flower field, a lake, and I.
My good old friend and I, gazing at the stars on a dreamy night at the Church of Good Shepherd.
Lake Pukaki
A quick stop at Lake Pukaki before heading to Mt Cook.
Mt Cook
The Hooker Valley track is a 3-hour trail that led me from the town to the heart of Mt Cook.
It started snowing as we approached the end of the trail. It was still beautiful, nonetheless.
Dunedin
Had a blast at one of the whitest beaches I have ever seen: the Aramoana Beach. I was also reunited for the last time with my good friends from the Routeburn Track, Ashley and Rachel.
Said goodbye to my friends from Routeburn and had some alone time at the Botanic Garden.
I ended up spending my last few moments in Dunedin with Tulu (whom I had met at Lake Taupo) and Yvonne, a time well spent with amazing travel people.
Scott, whom Tulu and Yvonne knew from hitchhiking, showed us around Dunedin. This was the St Clair beach before sunset.
Last day of my trip to New Zealand. Felt a little bitter as I was starting to get used to the norm here in New Zealand.
I, Tulu, and Yvonne drove to Tunnel Beach as I tried to absorb as much of New Zealand as I could before I departed.
5 weeks had come and gone. I can only hope that these sweet memories will stay with me forever.
That is it for the 70 Beautiful Photos from New Zealand. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to New Zealand! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to New Zealand independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Want to take your photography game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and photography gear:
Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand
I've spent 5 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, and I have written a ton more about my journey traveling throughout New Zealand from the North Island to the South Island that might help you in your trip planning.
Here's a selection of articles about New Zealand:
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for New Zealand? Check out One Month Itinerary for New Zealand.
- Don't have one month in New Zealand? How about spending 2 weeks visiting all the highlights of New Zealand on the South Island? Check out our 2-Week Itinerary for the South Island, New Zealand.
- Want to visit New Zealand but not sure what to pack? Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for New Zealand
- Planning a trip to New Zealand? Here are the 12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
- New Zealand holds a special place in my heart. It is one of the most memorable trips I have ever taken, and here are 10 things I love about New Zealand.
- If you are planning to travel from North to South in New Zealand, Rotorua is a great place to start your journey from Auckland. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.
- Did you know that you can climb Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings in real life? Check out: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Tongariro Crossing.
- Planning to travel across Cook Strait from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island? Here's How to Get From Wellington to Picton.
- Nelson is one of the most laid-back and sunny cities in New Zealand, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
- Did you know that you can do parts of New Zealand's Great Walks in one day? The Abel Tasman Track offers a wide range of hiking trails to choose from. Here’s The Ultimate One Day Hiking Guide to the Abel Tasman Track.
- Want to do a road trip along the Great Coast Road in New Zealand? You better start in Westport. Here are the 5 Best Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand.
- Wanaka is a must-visit lakeside town full of incredible nature and wonderful mountains waiting for you to explore. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.
- Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, and whatever extreme activities human bodies can endure, they probably have them in Queenstown. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
- Queenstown is also one of the best places in the world to go skydiving. Here's my experience skydiving with NZONE in Queenstown.
- The Milford Sound is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, and it would be a shame to miss it when you are in New Zealand. If you want to visit the Milford Sound, check out: A Day Trip from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
- One of the best Great Walks in New Zealand is the Routeburn Track, and if you have to pick one Great Walk to do, make it this one. Here’s The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track.
- Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook are among the most photogenic places to visit in New Zealand, and it is best to explore them together. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook.
- Dunedin has so much to offer for nature lovers. From seeing the world's largest birds to the beautiful cliffs of Tunnel Beach, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dunedin.
- You can see all my New Zealand travel guides and related articles on my New Zealand Travel Guide page.
649 Comments
Great pictures Pete, very nice :)
Been in NZ for almost 4 years myself and those are all my favourite places. Queenstown is where I wish I could have a house there. Thanks for capturing all the moments. They are amazingly beautiful! PS. you might like to try snowboarding on Mt Cook next time. Cheers!
This is absolutely amazing! The music for the video is perfect, sensual and deep. Thank you)
Absolutely beautiful!!!
Pete, these are ridiculously good. I really want to go to NZ now! Can I ask how you took these shots?
琟捷 Sony RX100
I have no words to describe.What was the total budget for your total visit to THIS beautiful country???
I have broken down all my budget here so feel free to check it out. :) http://blog.bucketlistly.com/.../one-month-new-zealand...
Lovely pictures mate. Makes me so wanna go back!
Thank you!