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Lower Wye Creek Track, Remarkables Conservation Area
Looking up Wye Creek.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
Sophia on the Queens Drive: roughly centre of picture.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
Sophia on the summit of Rock Peak (1490m).
Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains
Lake Hope and unnamed tarn. This shot was the most colourful of the day, but still taken in overcast conditions. I wonder what the colours would have been in direct sunlight.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
Wye Creek
Bowen Peak via One Mile Track, Queenstown
Wide panorama from the summit of Bowen Peak (1631m). Some of the landmarks from left to right are the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak, and Ben Lomond.
Ben Lomond Track, Queenstown
The Remakables (2319m) in the background and Queenstown Hill (907m) in the foreground.
Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains
Lake Hope with unnamed peaks 2258m and 2096m. Not sure if you can also see Tūwhakarōria (2307m) in this shot, behind those peaks.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
Lake Wakatipu surrounded by some familiar landmarks like Cecil Peak (centre left), Bayonet Peaks (left), Queenstown, Ben Lomond and right, and Jacks Point bottom centre.
Jacks Point Track, Queenstown area
Sun going down on the Remarkables. Viewed from the Kelvin Heights end of the Jacks Point Track.
Mt Crichton from Avalanche Creek, Queenstown
Looking down to Glenorchy.
Crown Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Brackens Gully left, and and Mt Sale (1708m) right.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
For me this is the money shot. Love all of the blacks greys and browns of this rugged terrain.
Ben Lomond Track, Queenstown
I was fully stoked to get this shot. The world's only alpine parrot, kea are an impressive size, and when they spread their wings they reveal a bright reddish orange underside. Very grand.
Mt Rosa Track, Central Otago NZ
Sophia starts to rug up. It wasn't all that cold but once we've stopped moving (for lunch) it gets a bit chilly, plus there's usually a wind on top even on a calm day. The back of the Remarkables in the distance.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle, Arrowtown
A panorama of the northern vista.
Crown Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Crinkly textures looking down the Cardrona Valley towards Wanaka.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
One of my favourite shots from this outing. A bit of wispy clouds can really add to a mountain scene.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle, Arrowtown
Lots of wrinkly hills, accentuated by the fading light.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle, Arrowtown
More wrinkly hills.
Queens Drive-Wye Creek Circuit (autumn), Remarkables Range
Queenstown
Crown Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Sophia on the summit rocks.
Big Hill & Arrow Gorge Circuit, Arrowtown
Looking down towards our way out (to the right).
Queenstown Hill Walk
Double Cone (2319m) on the Remarkables poking out of low lying clouds, and Peninsula Hill (834m) in the foreground..
Lorn Peak ascent, Kingston
Lake Wakatipu in dappled afternoon light.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
That gully and Jessie Peak again. Looking quite nice as the sun starts to go down.
Big Hill & Arrow Gorge Circuit, Arrowtown
Nice muted colours and shadows.
Queens Drive-Wye Creek Circuit (autumn), Remarkables Range
I took a similar picture of this spot last time, but lighting and colours were quite different this time.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
Nice lighting as we descended back to the car park.
Queens Drive & Lake Alta, Remarkables
The Queenstown area viewed from Shadow Basin Lookout.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
One of my favourite shots from the trip. It looks like a painted collage but is just a straight shot of ridge lines taken with my telephoto lens. I love the layering and textures.
Queens Drive & Lake Alta, Remarkables
Lake Alta. This was our consolation for returning back along the Queens Drive Track. We had lunch here and descended steeply from this rocky spur to the shores of Lake Alta.
Big Hill & Arrow Gorge Circuit, Arrowtown
A panorama of the views just before we dropped off the tops down to Hayes Creek.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle, Arrowtown
Taken at Big Hill Saddle, when the light was fading to a warm glow.
Lorn Peak ascent, Kingston
I think Lake Wakatipu looks like it is covered with a cloud inversion here, but the lighting was just getting weird.
Queens Drive & Lake Alta, Remarkables
A panorama of Lake Wakatipu and the Queenstown/ Frankton area.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Backcountry scenes.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
The route back is along that ridge and then steeply down through beech forest.
Mt Hanley from Moke Lake, Queenstown
Moke Lake from the viewpoint at around 780m of elevation.
Bowen Peak via One Mile Track, Queenstown
Panorama from just a bit below the summit. Queenstown and the Kelvin Peninsula centre of image.
Coronet Peak to Brow Peak, Queenstown NZ
Sophia look up at Coronet Peak.
Queens Drive & Lake Alta, Remarkables
Sophia about half way along the Queens Drive track. Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak and Bayonet Peaks behind.
Ben Lomond Track, Queenstown
Another stately kea shot.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle, Arrowtown
Distant mountains taken with my telephoto lens.
Ben Lomond Track, Queenstown
Lake Wakatipu behind low lying cloud.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle, Arrowtown
I take a lot of shots with speargrass/Spaniards in them.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
This made for an interesting shot in summer too. Cardrona Valley with the Crown Range Road in the middle.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
Mountains and hills in contrasting light. Perhaps a bit more colourful than in real life, I nevertheless liked the aesthetic in this photo. The Crown Range Road down there in the middle.
Bush Creek Track, Arrowtown
You can climb to either Brow Peak or Coronet Peak up this spur.
Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains
Fabulous golden grain in the rock.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Lorn Peak ascent, Kingston
Looking over the Nevis Valley and Garvie Mountains.
Bush Creek Track, Arrowtown
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
Bowen Peak via One Mile Track, Queenstown
Different lighting on the way down made the backcountry mountains very colourful.
Crown Peak ascent, Otago NZ
The Cardrona Valley at centre.
Jacks Point Track, Queenstown area
A panorama of the Remarkables.
Mt Hanley from Moke Lake, Queenstown
I think this is point 1283m.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Lake Wakatipu, and from left to right, the Remarkables (2319m) Cecil Peak (1978m) and Walter Peak (1800m).
Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains
My favourite shot of the day not including the lake. The upper reaches of Wye Creek South Branch, and Ben Nevis centre-left at the back.
Moke Lake Viewpoint & Williamson Spur to 1100m
Wrinkly hills to the east.
Moke Lake Viewpoint & Williamson Spur to 1100m
Up on the ridge.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
One of the money shots from the day - such good lighting.
Crown Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Sophia was waiting for me at this picturesque spot. I can get delayed taking too many photos, but who can blame me with scenery like this. As you can see it was already golden hour but we weren't even a third of the way down.
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
More boulders!
Lorn Peak ascent, Kingston
Lake Wakatipu starting to light up.
Big Hill & Arrow Gorge Circuit, Arrowtown
This beech forest adds welcome variety to this section of the walk.
Queens Drive-Wye Creek Circuit (autumn), Remarkables Range
Lake Hope Viewpoint Route, Hector Mountains
Lake Wakatipu as we climbed through easy tussock. Queenstown to the right.
Kelvin Peninsula Walk, near Queenstown
Lake Wakatipu and Cecil Peak (1978m), plus Bayonet Peaks on the left, and Walter Peak just 'peaking' out on the right of Cecil Peak. (May 2017)
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
One of the money shots of the trip - the Wye Creek tarns and Single Cone from a bit below 2046m.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Scree slopes on the eastern side of point 1437m.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
Nice lighting in the Wakatipu Basin.
Moke Lake Viewpoint & Williamson Spur to 1100m
A wide angled view of the lake from the Moke Lake viewpoint. I liked the tussock glowing in the foreground of this shot.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Mt Nicholas (1458m). I've always liked the clear contrast in colour on this mountain, which is the border of farmland and reserve. It's apparently dome shaped because a glacier once road right over the top of it.
Crown Peak ascent, Otago NZ
The Remarkables (left), and Lakes Wakatipu and Hayes centre right.
Queens Drive-Wye Creek Circuit (autumn), Remarkables Range
The big tarn in Wye Creek Basin. I took a 5 minute diversion to get a picture with the whole of the tarn in it.
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
Me trying to look like a mountaineer, and a very well coordinated one at that. With so much style it's a shame we met no one for two days ;-)
Mt Crichton from Avalanche Creek, Queenstown
A glassy Lake Wakatipu in the morning.
Mt Crichton from Avalanche Creek, Queenstown
We headed off to the right in this picture for an easy descent.
Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains
The most epic panorama of the day: unnamed tarn, Lake Hope and the upper Wye Creek South Branch, with Ben Nevis distant right. Taken with my phone.
Moke Lake Viewpoint & Williamson Spur to 1100m
A panorama across Moke Creek West Branch.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Big Bend in Skippers Road. The track joins the road from the right.
Jacks Point Track, Queenstown area
Jacks Point stretching out to the right, and the Remarkables behind.
Crown Peak ascent, Otago NZ
Love the contrast of speckled tussock grass against snow, and high mountains in the background.
Ben Lomond Track, Queenstown
Dark mountains. No filter applied to this shot - the light just did strange things.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle (winter), Arrowtown
Sophia on the summit of Brow Peak (1456m).
Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains
Lake Hope and the head of Wye Creek South Branch.
Lorn Peak ascent, Kingston
Patchworked light was a feature of our walk.
Gibbston River Trail, Gibbston Valley, Otago
Kawarau River
Queenstown Hill Walk
Lots of small stone 'pagoda' cairns in the pine forest.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
Instead of climbing to the right here, we proceeded straight ahead to the east of 2130m.
Bowen Peak via One Mile Track, Queenstown
Looking over the backcountry from the summit.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle (winter), Arrowtown
I loved the wrikled shapes and washed out colours in this shot.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
One of the tarns higher up in Wye Creek Basin.
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
A pleasing panorama as we ascended to the ridge.
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
Arriving at perhaps our favourite tarn, which we chose as our camp for the night.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Skippers backcountry.
Queens Drive-Wye Creek Circuit, Remarkables Range
Lake Alta as we descended from the saddle. (Actually replaced with a very similar shot on a sunny day in 2024).
Lake Hope Viewpoint Route, Hector Mountains
Sophia climbing through alpine vegetation with the Remarkables in shadow.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
The Crown Range (again!)
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle (winter), Arrowtown
I loved these knife edge ridges. Mountains are a never ending source of fascinating natural aesthetics.
Mt Crichton Loop & Lake Dispute, near Queenstown
Lake dispute from not far off the main track. You have to stand up on some rocks besides the track to get this unobstructed view.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
I quite liked the stark aesthetic, and also the scale in this scene, which I tried to portray by waiting patiently for my small blue wife to walk in front of a large boulder. The things we do...
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
Looking back at the Remarkables: Single Cone here I think.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
You can just see Sophia on the track.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle (winter), Arrowtown
Brow Peak. I liked the chunky shapes and deep shadows in this shot.
Jacks Point Track, Queenstown area
The Jacks Point housing estate backed by the Remarkables.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
There were various tarns in Wye Creek Basin.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
The lighting was very tricky but I think made for an interesting shot.
Queenstown Hill Walk
Sophia with Ben Lomond in the background.
Queens Drive & Lake Alta, Remarkables
Rocks on the west face of the Remarkables. This is the face viewable from all around the Queenstown area. Sophia bottom left.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Sophia walks into the wild blue yonder, or does she... The blue behind is in fact a super calm Lake Wakatipu. Another of my telephoto shots: I was on a roll!
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
I liked this cosy combination of alpine plants.
Lorn Peak ascent, Kingston
A panorama from Kingston at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu up to Queenstown, where the lake bends west.
Lake Hope and 2090m, Hector Mountains
I didn't take many photos on the way up, which is good for making quick progress. This view was from 2090m, my initial target for the day, although I also wanted to bag the lake.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Looking down through a gully towards Jessie Peak and mountains on the other side of Lake Wakatipu.
Bush Creek Track, Arrowtown
Looking towards the ridge between Brow Peak and Coronet Peak.
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
My camera's HDR function worked hard to capture this sunrise, creating an otherworldly scene.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
I take a lot of pictures of spear grass.
Mt Rosa Track, Central Otago NZ
Sophia leaving the summit. Low cloud in the distance.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Another shot with my telephoto lens. Here I was trying to capture the contrast in colours and scenery. The farmland is in fact quite remote, being on the other side of the lake, although quick enough by boat of course.
Moke Lake Viewpoint & Williamson Spur to 1100m
A panorama taking in Williamson Spur, Moke Creek West Branch and Moke Creek Right Branch.
Mt Rosa Track, Central Otago NZ
Sophia descending bottom right.
Doolans Creek tarns via Wye Creek tarns
That same tarn taken from the other end., as we climbed up to the point from which we made our scary descent.
Brow Peak via Big Hill Saddle (winter), Arrowtown
I was a bit slow to get my camera out and would have preferred to get this hot air balloon more in the centre of the mountains. Nice enough shot though. Double and Single Cone peaks of the Remarkables behind.
Big Hill & Arrow Gorge Circuit, Arrowtown
Views just before we dropped off the tops down to Hayes Creek.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
Lots of nice rock designs on this walk. Here's just a few.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Wakatipu Panorama from Mt Dewar (1310m).
Moke Lake Loop Track, Queenstown
The money shot from back at the car park. Looking south across a calm Lake Moke in the evening.
Queens Drive - Wye Creek Loop, The Remarkables
I liked these small version of New Zealand's rather spikey spear grass. Like the small angry dog of the plant world.
Moke Lake Viewpoint & Williamson Spur to 1100m
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Sophia looking up Twelve Mile Creek. The summit of Mt Crichton to the left, obscured by cloud.
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
Mt Crichton viewed from the minor peak at 1723m, our turnaround point
Queens Drive & Lake Alta, Remarkables
Part of the Queens Drive track to the left. Sophia bottom left.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Queens Drive-Wye Creek Circuit (autumn), Remarkables Range
Mt Crichton ascent, Queenstown
I also liked this photo of a ridgeline with a very metallic looking scree slope below.
Rock Peak from Crown Saddle, Otago
Quartz Knoll to the right.
Jacks Point Track, Queenstown area
A headless Remarkables Range.
Mt Hanley from Moke Lake, Queenstown
These cliffs looked good in the afternoon light.
Mt Dewar - Skippers Road Loop, Queenstown
Devils Creek and Bowen Peak centre right, and Cecil peak on the other side of Lake Wakatipu.
Moke Lake Viewpoint & Williamson Spur to 1100m
I liked this shot of Moke Lake with the layer of cloud and blue sky.
