MACKENZIE
LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
Much of my time as a New Zealand Landscape Photographer has been spent in the Mackenzie area, and it's not hard to see why. The Mackenzie Basin has the impressive Southern Alps fringed on its western side, and there are beautiful lakes scattered throughout the area making for incredible photo opportunities. The Ben Ohau range can be seen running along the Ahuriri, Omarama and Twizel areas, and then across the way is Lake Tekapo with its beautiful blue water surrounded by mountains and a famous church you might have heard about. During spring time the New Zealand lupins flourish and although a pest in our country, they do look quite beautiful. The Mackenzie has some of the darkest skies in New Zealand and is well known for its star gazing and astrophotography. If you are interested in prints or purchasing images please visit my print store or contact me.
The Mackenzie Basin is home to some of the most magical New Zealand Landscape photography spots including countless mountain ranges and beautiful glacial lakes. I have spent many many hours capturing Mackenzie Basin Photography and it's a location I return to time and time again for New Zealand Photos.
Home to Lake Ohau, Lake Ruataniwha, Wairepo Arm, Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and Lake Alexandrina, there is no shortage of amazing New Zealand reflection photos to capture with incredible mountains as your back drop. A Lake Ruataniwha sunset is the perfect way to end the day and a Lake Pukaki sunrise is the perfect way to start it.
The Lake Tekapo Lupin flowers are an absolute must do during Spring with the Church of the Good Sherpard Tekapo being surrounded by incredible colours and floral wonder. If you want to catch a Lake Tekapo Church Lupin sunrise during spring I would suggest getting up early and staking your spot before many other people arrive to do the same thing. It can quite busy during the New Zealand Lupin season!
The Mackenzie Basin Astrophotography is some of the best in New Zealand with most of the locations sitting with the New Zealand Dark Sky Reserve. The milkyway is bright in the sky without any noise pollution for miles. Tekapo Astrophotography has become very famous in recent years with the Tekapo Church being one of the most iconic shots with the milkyway rising over the church during the winter months.
Head into Aoraki Mount Cook Village and capture Mount Cook Astrophotography under the same dark skies or head to the beginning of Lake Pukaki for a Mount Cook sunrise reflection in the beautiful blue waters of the lake. Peter's Lookout is another great place to stop for a Mount Cook sunset or sunrise.
Twizel is home to a range of beautiful lakes for New Zealand landscape photography including Lake Ruataniwha, Lake Poaka, the Wairepo Arm and Kelland Ponds. With many of these lakes south facing they are the perfect place to capture the Aurora Australis if you're lucky enough to witness it! If you're lucky you might also catch a Twizel Hoar Frost which only happens in winter and not very often at all! It was on my bucket list a very long to capture a Lake Ruataniwha Hoar Frost and in 2015 and 2016 I was lucky enough to encounter them. The Twizel Hoar frost is a magical experience and I hope you get lucky seeing one!
Lake Ohau photography and the Ben Ohau range make a beautiful composition at sunrise with the light hitting the mountains as it rises from the east.
I hope by sharing these NZ images of the Mackenzie Basin it might inspire you to come and explore Mackenzie Photography for yourself.
If you have any questions about buying a NZ landscape print please don’t hesitate to get in touch or check out my print info and online print store.