The Famous Wharariki Beach

Wharariki Beach, or “that beach on the Windows desktop background”, as it is more commonly known, is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. As it is in the northernmost tip of the South Island, getting there from the Abel Tasman region takes a little bit of time, patience, and planning. I tried to leave plenty of time during my visit, allowing for two sunsets and a sunrise, but the weather was having none of it. Despite the overcast mornings and evenings, and the almost constant rain, we managed a partly cloudy mid-morning visit. It’s not all I had hoped for from this detour, but it was still certainly worth the trip.

Abel Tasman Surroundings

The Abel Tasman region of New Zealand has many wonderful views to offer - green countryside, perfectly transparent water springs, and orange sand beaches! It is also at the very top of the South Island, meaning it has milder climate than most of the remaining island, and warm summers. Besides, the biggest city in the region, Nelson, has some of the best restaurants and wineries in all of New Zealand. It is no wonder the place is so popular with holidaymakers and retirees!

Below are just a few of my images from my brief visits to the Te Waikoropupū Springs and two of the local beaches…

A New Day in Rio

Sunrise is often the quietest time in any big city, and in Rio de Janeiro it feels a bit odd and wonderful to have the landscapes to yourself, before everyone else wakes up. The unusual serenity of the sunrise often brings with it some stunning light, especially on mornings with clear skies. Below is a collection of some sunrises I captured in Rio, from several locations. In a country like Brazil, I strongly recommend photographing at unsociable hours only if you can do so as part of a larger group - going alone can be dangerous depending on the locations you visit.

An Australian Roadtrip

Although the border between Australia and New Zealand is shut again due to the ever-evolving pandemic situation, the images featured here date back to a roadtrip through New South Wales several years ago. We drove from Sydney down the coast to Merimbula, spotting lots of wildlife and endless beaches along the way.

Santorini Seascapes

Santorini is one of the most popular destinations in Greece, thanks to its stunning beaches and architectural style. Over the next few weeks, I will share more images from all over this beautiful island, where we spent four days exploring the different villages and soaking in the sunkissed landscapes. So to start off, here are some beachside photos from Santorini…

Milos & Mykonos

As I mentioned last week in my Meteora post, I will be sharing some older images from past trips over the next few weeks. The travel bug has truly bitten me as I’ve gone through my archives, and I can’t wait until I can start seeing more of the world again!

This week, I am sharing some of my favourites from Milos and Mykonos, two islands in the Cyclades in Greece. The first three are from Milos, featuring Sarakiniko Beach and Firiplaka Beach, and the final three are from the party island of Mykonos.

Sunset at South Bay

Despite the fact that my inadequate footwear kept me mostly stranded in the middle of South Bay, having to take all photos from pretty much one single location, this was still one of my favourite sunsets I have seen in New Zealand. The golden light rolling over the hills bounced off the coarse beach gravel, giving it a sparkling quality. The low mist added some drama to the scene, blurring the trees behind. This is one of my fondest memories of the sleepy coastal town of Kaikoura.

Afternoon at the Beach

Kaikoura, only a couple hours’ drive from Christchurch, is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. The town and its surroundings are full of unexpectedly beautiful landscapes. During our visit, we stumbled upon this bit of coast along Beach Road. As always, I like to think that the images speak for themselves!

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders form a quintessential New Zealand landscape. The beach at Moeraki is covered in these enormous spheres, reminescent of alien eggs in a distant planet. Together with a striking sunrise or sunset painting their surroundings in bold warm colours, this makes for some postcard-worthy images. An incredible, one of a kind scenery!

Fur Seals of Katiki Point

Although it is famous for its circular boulders (more on this next week!), Moeraki is also home to a large New Zealand fur seal colony. This is based at Katiki Point, a short walk from the lighthouse. This is an excellent place to get up close to the fur seals, as they climb up from the beach to the grass on either side of the marked path. In the summer, their coats stand in striking contrast to the dried yellow grass.

Dunedin's Coast

Dunedin has some of the most spectacular coastline in all of New Zealand, which is made even more incredible by its wildlife. Today I feature some images of a sealion we spotted sunbathing on the beach, as well as a pink sunset over Tunnel Beach.

Exploring Berlenga Grande Island

Berlenga Grande Island is part of an archipelago, a short boat ride away from the seaside Portuguese town of Peniche. Although it is known for its fort, it is worth exploring other parts of the island itself - including a view to the lighthouse and the small beaches caved out along the coast.

A Little Slice of Brazil

I’ve been doing quite a lot of travelling and not enough posting, so it’s time to get my blog up to speed.

During my last visit to Brazil, I spent a few days in the beautiful city of Paraty. I didn’t get as much photography done as I would have liked, as I twisted my knee at the beach on the second morning, but here are some of my favourite shots from what I did capture, including the city itself and the nearby lavender fields.