New Zealand Landscapes

Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains

When in a gallery click on each thumbnail to view a full sized photo, orienting your mobile device to landscape or portrait as appropriate…

Return to the Landscapes homepage.

« back to album

Central Otago in Landscape

Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago — Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago
One of my wife's favourite shots.

Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago — Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago
It was flat and barren up there.

Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago — Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago
On the way down.

Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago — Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago
Near the end.

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
Nice rainbow-cloud combination.

Duffers Saddle to the Old Woman Range, Central Otago

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
Dropping back down into the valley.

Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck — Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck
You can see Sophia (centre left) approaching the summit though a rock field.

Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass — Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass
Another one looking back at Double Peak. I took a few.

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
The moonscape on top.

Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck — Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck
Getting up there.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
East of the Dunstan Mountains are flat plains.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley — Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley
Just arriving on the tops here, and our first view of the St Bathans Range. Very satisfying.

Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago — Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago
Approaching the summit plateau of the Pisa Range.

Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago — Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago
My wife Sophia can be seen on the track to the right. It was a big wide open space.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Mt Pisa up there.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
Sophia enjoying the views up Devils Creek.

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley

Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago — Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago
Lake Dunstan down there.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
My favourite bit again, this time in the afternoon light.

Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck — Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck
On the way out. No filter needed to capture the golden hues of The Maniototo.

Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago

Cairnmuir Hill Track — Cairnmuir Hill Track
Lots of varied textures in this landscape.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
My cousin thought these looked like dinosaur feet. Good imagination :-)

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
The best bit of Devils Creek (for me).

Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago — Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago
Looking east over Lake Dunstan.

Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Love the fluffy tussock and rocky and wrinkly hills in the distance. Nice textures.

Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass — Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass
Sophia on the ridge, lit up by the sun. Point 1534m is prominent.

Cairnmuir Hill Track — Cairnmuir Hill Track
We ended the walk in golden hour, adding a pleasing hue to these barren sections on the lower slopes. That telegraph pole looks a little out of place in this deserty landscape, but only because I usually associate these scenes with Central Otago's alpine areas.

Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass — Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass
One of my favourite shots of the day, when the light was just right. Double Peak at the back.

Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago — Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago
The kind of country we walked through. A touch reminiscent of the Australian bush, at least compared to most of NZ.

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley — Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley
Felt remote out there.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
A goat and the St Bathans Range at back. Extra 'deep blue' added to this shot to bring out the mountains as it was a bit hazy. This shot from near the summit of Mt Kinaki (1303m).

Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago — Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago
The Lindis Valley remained a cloud sink all day.

Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago — Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago
At the start. The Pisa Range was prominent for much of the walk. unfortunately the sun made it a little hard to photograph. Quite hazy.

Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass — Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass
Taken very near the start, you can see a fair bit of the route ahead. The summit is actually to the right, and you can see the landslide that gives the mountain its name (I presume). That point in the middle is probably 1415m - after this the route drops a bit before gradually climbing back up to the summit.

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley — Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley
Excellent lighting on our way down the Long Acre Track.

Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago — Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago
This just slightly below the summit taken on the way down, when the cloud was in fact moving more into the valley. It looks like a soup.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
Hazy atmospheric scenes for most of the day.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Gloomy looking peaks in the distant. We were lucky not to have any rain. These parts of Central Otago are pretty dry.

Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck — Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck
Me getting excited about a partially white Christmas. They are hard to come by in the southern hemisphere.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Looking south down the Dunstan Mountains.

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
Raoulia australis (I'm told).

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
The snowy St Bathans Range. I was hoping for a better view of these attractive mountains but what I got made for a good photo I think.

Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass — Longslip Mountain from Lindis Pass
Mmm, that's good lighting.

Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago — Kanuka Loop Track, Bendigo, Central Otago
There were sections of these strange, hard plants. They looked like they would be soft and spongy.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
Looking south into the Manuherikia Valley (I think).

Double Peak from Lindis Pass — Double Peak from Lindis Pass
Up onto the ridge here, looking away from the summit.

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley — Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley
Sophia posing in front of the St Bathans Range.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
The 1963m Pisa Range at back.

Double Peak from Lindis Pass — Double Peak from Lindis Pass
Looking south-east.

Cairnmuir Hill Track — Cairnmuir Hill Track
An aqua Lake Dunstan down there.

Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck — Hawkdun Range pt 1857m from Shepherds Hut Ck
Driving in, with the Hawkdun Range in front of us.

Flat Top Hill Circuit, Alexandra

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley — Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley
Descending on the Long Acre Track, with layers of wrinkly hills in the background.

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
On the way down.

Hawkdun Range, Maniototo, Central Otago — Hawkdun Range Maniototo
Hawkdun Range, Maniototo, Central Otago

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
The track winds its way up on the left.

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
Sophia ascending. It was rugged n places.

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
Almost sunset. It took us longer than we expected.

Double Peak from Lindis Pass — Double Peak from Lindis Pass
View from the summit of Double Peak (1323m).

Duffers Saddle to the Old Woman Range, Central Otago

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Returning back to Dry Creek as the sun went down.

Mt Pisa via Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, Central Otago

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Looking towards the Clutha Plains and Pisa Range as we descended.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Great contrast in lighting as we descended back towards the Clutha Plains, with a shadowy Pisa Range at the back.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Looking back at the Pisa Range.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
There were interesting lines in the red section, possibly a multitude of animal tracks.

Flat Top Hill Circuit, Alexandra — Flat Top Hill Circuit, Alexandra
The (dammed) Clutha River in Roxburgh Gorge.

Double Peak from Lindis Pass — Double Peak from Lindis Pass
Sophia looking like the Statue of Liberty.

Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur — Leaning Rock via Lilico Spur
Look back at the ridge that followed Lilico Spur. It was damn windy.

Duffers Saddle to the Old Woman Range, Central Otago

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ

Double Peak from Lindis Pass — Double Peak from Lindis Pass
A panorama of the area with thre main highway snaking its way through.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
Looking back at Devils Creek in afternoon light.

Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area — Devils Creek Track to Mt Kinaki, Bendigo Conservation Area
Loved the colours and textures in this scene.

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley — Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley
I took a lot of shots of the St Bathans Range but am trying to save space on my server so just three for this post.

Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago — Lindis Peak Track, Central Otago
The distinctively shaped St Bathans Range peaks at about 2098m of elevation.

Double Peak from Lindis Pass — Double Peak from Lindis Pass
View south from the summit.

Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley — Chain Hills Circuit, Lindis Valley
Nice lighting in this photo.

Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ — Cloudy Peak ascent, Otago NZ
We walked through the territory of these two geese.