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.
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
Mellow lighting in the early evening as we walked back.
Sawyer burn Hut Track
Lake Hawea panorama.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
The view back towards the tarns from point 1960m.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
Lake Hawea on the left and Lake Wanaka on the right.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
Sentinel Peak has one of the most attractive summits of any mountain I've climbed. Sophia down there crossing tussock to get to the base of the summit rocks. To climb up you can probably take the scree slope on the right and go around the back (though I'm not sure), but I know that the first chute (channel) on the left is a straightforward climb on scree. We took the second chute and it was a bit trickier with a couple of spots requiring some scrambling.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
A very calming panorama of Lake Hawea, with Corner Peak on the left in shadow, and Isthmus Peak on the right in sunlight. Corner Peak is on the to-do list, and we climbed the increasingly popular Isthmus Peak some years ago.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
I've found it hard to capture what it feels like to descend through beech forest at the end of a long day, as the sun goes down through the trees turning everything golden. I think this time I succeeded.
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
Looking down on Red Rock and the West Matukituki Valley.
Isthmus Peak Track, Otago NZ
I liked this knife edge ridge viewed on the way up.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
Beautiful forest on the lower slopes.
Breast Hill ascent, Lake Hawea
Pleasant tussock grass and contours in this scene.
Isthmus Peak Track, Otago NZ
Snow capped peaks across from Lake Wanaka.
End Peak from Treble Cone Ski Field, Wānaka
Mt Aspiring at the back.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
On our way back down. You can see Brewster Hut down there.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
Looking south-east. The Upper Makarora Valley down there.
Blue Pools Walk, Mt Aspiring National Park
I dropped down onto the river bed here.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Very pointy peaks.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
Sophia posing in front of the glacier terminal. I heard some people swam in this water. Brrrrr.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Great lighting as we descended back towards the bushline.
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Sophia and me on the summit of Rocky Mountain (775m). Photo taken by the only other walker who navigated the ice and snow to make the summit that afternoon.
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
View up the Hunter River from the summit of Corner Peak (1683m).
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
The money shot for the day. I couldn't quite get a clear shot of Top Heavy (left) with Mt Brewster (right) at the same time. Top Heavy was obscured for much of the day.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
Returning back to the main route.
Treble Cone Summit from the Ski Field
One more up the valley. I took heaps trying to capture the wrinkly topography on the left and also get the valley in. I wasn't too satisfied with the panoramas I took - the angles didn't look natural or pleasing.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
It began to clear so we stuck around and waited. This was one of the few shots I got of Top Heavy, which I think may have been named ironically.
Isthmus Peak Track, Otago NZ
Lake Hawea, viewed on the way down here I think. So glassy.
Breast Hill ascent, Lake Hawea
Long lines of ridges and the lake in soft lighting.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
Approaching the summit of Sentinel Peak.
Mt Iron Circuit, Wanaka
Wanaka and Lake Wanaka from the summit of Mt Iron (548m).
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
Rob Roy was front and centre all the way down.
End Peak from Treble Cone Ski Field, Wānaka
I love youse all! Says a heart shaped tarn to the south.
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Looking up Lake Wanaka from the summit.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
The final section to the summit (on the left).
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Lots of nice native bush on this walk.
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Diamond Lake from a lookout near the start of the walk.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
Mt Brewster (2516m) and its glacier.
Sawyer burn Hut Track
Descending towards lake Hawea.
Blue Pools Walk, Mt Aspiring National Park
Blue Pools
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
Nearing the summit of Red Rock here. Climbing through this red scree was quite difficult.
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
A panorama of Lake Wanaka from the summit of Rocky Mountain (775m).
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
I took many pictures of this view on both recent visits.
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
The lighting was just starting to soften by this stage.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Our lunch spot.
Blue Pools Walk, Mt Aspiring National Park
Mature beech forest.
Isthmus Peak Track, Otago NZ
A very wide panorama of Lake Wanaka.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
We missed these views on the way up due to low cloud.
Breast Hill ascent, Lake Hawea
Healthy (and dangerous!) looking speargrass in the foreground.
Grandview Mountain Track, Lake Hawea
Grandview Creek Conservation Area
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
End Peak from Treble Cone Ski Field, Wānaka
There was some kind of paraglider meet.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Fabulous alpine scenes amongst the tarns.
Roys Peak Track, Wanaka
One of a few epic panoramas I took. Hard to know which to include.
Roys Peak Track, Wanaka
Boats on Lake Wanaka.
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
Nice kea profile shot here - they are not shy animals.
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
First look at Corner Peak, top right.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Moody alpine scenes.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
Corner Peak Panorama. The summit is top right at the back.
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
A Lake Wanaka pano as we approached the summit. I took another one from the summit which I've also posted.
Sentinel Peak ascent, Lake Hawea
I loved this valley and surrounding peaks.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Spectacular tarn shelves to the east.
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Lake Wanaka
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
Last look at Corner Peak before we descended off the ridge.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
On our way back down.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
Panoramic views up and down the West Matukituki Valley from the summit of Red Rock (1858m).
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
End Peak from Treble Cone Ski Field, Wānaka
Big panorama from the summit of End Peak (2100m). Mt Aspiring on the left, the Matukituki River centre left, and of course Lake Wānaka on the right.
Roys Peak Track, Wanaka
Sophia stopping to admire the view on the way down. Her hair looks rather mane-like.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Moody lighting.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
A panorama of the Makarora Valley from maybe half way up.
Roys Peak Track, Wanaka
Not hard to take some big panoramas on this walk. This from the summit.
Treble Cone Summit from the Ski Field
Rocks on the summit ridge were a good size.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
My wife Sophia on the very end of the ridge before we began our descent back into the forest.
End Peak from Treble Cone Ski Field, Wānaka
Lake Wānaka from the summit of End Peak (2100m).
Blue Pools Walk, Mt Aspiring National Park
Looking up the Blue River.
Cameron Flat to Glacier Burn, East Matukituki Valley
The start of the walk in the West Matukituki Valley.
Treble Cone Summit from the Ski Field
ery wide panorama of the area, including the Matukituki Valley and Lake Wānaka.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
I took another couple of panoramas on the unmarked peak just to the north of where we arrived on the ridge.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
You can see Sophia climbing back up to the ridge at the top right. It was a bit of a scramble no doubt but not risky in dry weather.
Mt Iron Circuit, Wanaka
Looking north.
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
On our steep descent back to the Timaru High River Track.
Brewster Glacier & Point 2023m, Mt Aspiring National Park
Mt Armstrong (2174m) was in cloud for much of the day, so I didn't mind running out of time to climb it. I got this shot from 2023m in one of the clear moments.
Grandview Mountain Track, Lake Hawea
Bluffs looming overhead.
Breast Hill ascent, Lake Hawea
Lake Hawea and the Southern Alps in the background. A very calming scene.
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
Final push to the summit. These rocks were impressive.
Cameron Flat to Glacier Burn, East Matukituki Valley
The Avalanche Glacier
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
I liked all the lumpy topography and patchwork of clouds in this shot.
Treble Cone Summit from the Ski Field
Lake Wānaka and lumpy glacial topography.
Grandview Mountain Track, Lake Hawea
Mt Aspiring poking its peak out.
Breast Hill ascent, Lake Hawea
Rocky Mountain - Diamond Lake Circuit, Wanaka
A panorama roughly west.
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
Back on the valley track, but looking up the valley in this shot.
Mt Shrimpton Track to Tarns, McKerrow Range
Corner Peak Route, Lake Hawea
Corner Peak, our target for the day, on the left, and Dingle Peak (1835m), to the right.
Red Rock via Shotover Saddle, Wanaka area
The light was improving for photography on the way down so I took another panorama of the valley. Rob Roy in the centre.
Breast Hill ascent, Lake Hawea
Loved the ridgelines.
