A Walk to Vernal Falls

Yosemite National Park, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, offers visitors an array of picturesque trails. One such trail leads to the spectacular Vernal Falls. The journey begins at the Happy Isles trailhead. The Mist Trail, the path leading to Vernal Falls, is approximately 1.5 miles long (2.4 km) and is known for its stunning views. As you ascend, you'll be surrounded by lush vegetation and the soothing sound of the Merced River. We were there in the early fall, when the first few hints of yellow foliage started to appear along the trail, particularly at the higher altitudes.

Walk to Wainui Falls

Don’t be fooled by the images - the Wainui Falls on the West Coast of New Zealand are actually surprisingly challenging to photograph. The waterfall is so powerful at its full potential that you have only a few seconds to take a photo before the front of the lens is drenched! This was the perfect walk for a slightly overcast day, which left an even light on the water and surrounding landscape.

Riuwaka Resurgence

The waters of the Riuwaka River are sacred to the native Māori people of New Zealand, as they are thought to have healing properties. The most picturesque part of the river is the Riuwaka Resurgence at Kahurangi National Park, where it flows from an underwater spring to form a number of rapids and small waterfalls. As with many such places on the West Coast, this is lesser-known spot that offers a peaceful escape from the more popular tourist destinations. A place for contemplating, relaxing, and enjoying the sounds of nature.

West Coast Waterfalls

The West Coast of New Zealand is brimming with beautifully wild landscapes. Among them are dozens of incredible waterfalls nestled in among vibrant forests. Here are just three of my favourites - Roaring Billy Falls, Thunder Creek Falls, and Coal Creek Falls.

Bonito: True to its Name

The beauty of this place is in its name: Bonito is the Portuguese word for beautiful. This town is an ecotourism hub in the centre of Brazil, with no shortage of activities and sights to see. Some of my favourite attractions in Bonito are its caves, the Blue Lagoon Grotto (Gruta do Lago Azul), and its waterfalls. Although I don’t have any images to share from it, Bonito is also home to the Buraco das Araras, or Hole of Macaws, a huge sandstone sinkhole where hundreds of scarlet macaws (and other species, in smaller numbers) live all year round.

Waterfalls at The Catlins

The South Island of New Zealand has many hidden gems. One of these is the lush Catlins Forest Park. For the lovers of nature - particularly waterfalls -, this is an unmissable travel destination. We spent a few lazy days here, enjoying the quiet surroundings and the incredible views. Below are some of my favourite images of the truly stunning waterfalls of the region.

The Spectacular Milford Sound

Milford Sound is one of the top tourist destinations in New Zealand. This large fjord is known for its huge waterfalls and stunning green scenery. Although my visit coincided with some particularly poor weather (and visibility), the landscapes still provided more than enough content for some once-in-a-lifetime photos. It is definitely worth taking a long cruise of the sound, which travels past many of the waterside waterfalls, and also going for a few walks in the surrounding areas as well.

Te Pare Reserve & 309 Road

A great travel itinerary to the Coromandel should include both the Te Pare Reserve and 309 Road. The last day on our most recent roadtrip started with a purple sunrise at Te Pare Reserve and ended in the Waiau Falls and Waiau Kauri Tree Grove on 309 Road. This provided a wide array of landscapes within the same day - sea, forest, and waterfalls.

Below are some of my favourite images of this wide range of destinations. Enjoy!

Karagahake Gorge

My joint new venture with my partner, Two Dusty Lenses, is a travel blog aimed at other adventurous photographers and videographers. To inaugurate the blog, we took a weekend trip to the Coromandel and surrounding areas, following our 2-day itinerary.

The first stop on the short roadtrip was the Karangahake Gorge. Unfortunately it was a very cloudy day, but even so it was a worthwhile stop. My favourite part was photographing the Owharoa Falls, both from the land and from the air. Enjoy!

Taupo: Maori Rocks and Waipunga Falls

The next morning following on from our visit to Huka Falls, we took a cruise to Lake Taupo, to see the Maori Rock Carvings by the water. The water was an amazing clear emerald colour, shining in the bright sunlight.

We then started making our way down to Napier, stopping by the Waipunga Falls on the way. These falls are just off a side road, with no signage, but really worth the visit.

Below are a few of my favourite images of these two locations.

Taupo: Huka Falls

Having explored Rotorua, we made our way to Taupo. Taupo's main attraction is the Huka Falls, which drains Lake Taupo and joins it to the Waikato River.

The Huka Falls are one of the most visited attractions in New Zealand, so photographing around the huge number of tourists can be a bit challenging. Sadly it is also a no-drone area, allowing only photography from land.

Here are some of my favourite images from our visit to Huka Falls.