TOP 10 INCREDIBLE PHOTO SPOTS FOR SPRING TIME IN NEW ZEALAND
Spring time is one of the most spectacular seasons to photograph New Zealand, bringing a vibrant transformation to the landscape across the country. Snow still hangs on the high mountain ranges and powerful waterfalls to rolling hills burst with colour, making the scenery come alive after winter. And if you’ve heard about the South Island’s famous lupin fields, you’ll know just how incredible they can be. These striking, albeit invasive flowers transform otherwise barren landscapes into vivid, almost surreal scenes straight out of a painting. For landscape photographers.
With longer daylight hours, fresh alpine snow, and golden light that seems to last forever, spring offers endless opportunities for landscape photographers. September through November is one of my favourite times of year to explore and photograph Aotearoa, with new colours, changing conditions, and beautiful surprises around every corner.
In this guide, I’m sharing some of my absolute favourite incredible photo spots for spring photography in New Zealand, from iconic landscapes to hidden gems that deserve a spot on your photography bucket list.
This list is ranked based on each location’s spring photography potential, accessibility, variety, and the opportunities to capture multiple standout images in one visit. Some are easy roadside stops, while others require a scenic walk, an early start, and a close eye on the ever changing weather conditions.
For ease of use and exact locations you can download my New Zealand Map and Guide, plus have access to travel itineraries and over 700 epic New Zealand photo locations, activities and places to stay.
WHY SPRING IN NEW ZEALAND IS SO BEAUTIFUL TO PHOTOGRAPH
During the spring time months, both the North and South Islands of New Zealand burst back to life, transforming into a vibrant canvas of colour. Snow still clings to the Southern Alps, waterfalls surge with fresh snowmelt, and rolling green landscapes come alive.
The South Island’s famous lupin fields are a real highlight in late November and early December, with vibrant pinks, purples, and blues lining lakeshores, riverbanks, and country roads, creating some of the most spectacular spring photography locations in New Zealand.
This seasonal transformation offers landscape photographers the chance to capture a fresh, colourful, and ever changing side of the New Zealand landscape. Longer daylight hours, crisp mornings, dramatic skies, and beautiful alpine light make spring an incredible time to explore with your camera.
While lupins are an unforgettable sight, they are an invasive species, so it’s worth remembering their impact on New Zealand’s natural environment as you photograph them.
New Zealand’s relatively small size makes it an incredible destination for landscape photography, especially across the South Island, where dramatic alpine peaks, turquoise lakes, lush forests, and rolling countryside are all within easy reach.
ESSENTIAL GEAR FOR SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY IN NEW ZEALAND
Spring in New Zealand offers incredible opportunities for landscape photography and having the right gear with you will help you make the most of changing weather, beautiful light, and those unforgettable moments in the landscape.
Camera body: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls gives you the flexibility to adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to suit the conditions.
Sturdy tripod: Essential for long exposures, low light photography, and capturing crisp images during sunrise and sunset. A solid tripod is particularly useful when working with moving water or trying to achieve perfectly sharp lake reflections.
Wide angle and telephoto lenses: A wide angle lens, such as a 16–35mm, is ideal for capturing expansive mountain scenery and colourful lupin fields with plenty of foreground interest. A telephoto lens, such as a 70–200mm, lets you isolate mountain peaks, compress layers in the landscape, and pick out interesting details in the scenery.
Neutral density (ND) filters: These allow you to use slower shutter speeds in daylight, creating silky water in waterfalls and rivers. Graduated neutral density filters can also help balance a bright sky against a darker foreground in high contrast conditions.
Remote shutter release: A remote release or your camera manufacturer's phone app helps minimise camera shake during long exposures. It's also handy if you want to include yourself in a landscape composition without having to rush back to the camera.
Extra batteries and memory cards: Spring weather can change quickly, and sunrise missions often start well before daylight. I recommend carrying at least three spare batteries and extra memory cards so you're prepared for a full day of shooting.
Lens cloths: Essential for wiping away moisture, spray, and condensation, particularly when photographing waterfalls or heading out on chilly mornings when your lens can fog up.
PERSONAL ESSENTIALS FOR SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY
Spring weather in New Zealand can be unpredictable, especially in alpine areas, where conditions can shift from sunshine to cold winds and rain in a matter of minutes. Being comfortable and prepared means you can spend longer out in the landscape waiting for the perfect light.
Layered clothing: Start with a thermal base layer, add a warm fleece or insulating mid layer, and finish with a waterproof, windproof jacket. Even on sunny spring days, early mornings in the mountains can be surprisingly cold.
Waterproof hiking boots and warm socks: Ideal for exploring muddy tracks, damp grass, and uneven terrain around lakes, waterfalls, and lupin fields.
Warm hat and gloves: Particularly useful for pre dawn starts and long sunrise sessions when you're standing still waiting for the light to develop.
Waterproof bag or rain cover: Protect your camera gear from unexpected showers, particularly when exploring exposed alpine landscapes or chasing waterfalls.
Thermos with a hot drink: Not essential, but there's nothing better than a hot coffee or tea while waiting for the first light to hit the mountains!
TOP 10 INCREDIBLE PHOTO LOCATIONS FOR SPRING TIME IN NEW ZEALAND
CONTENTS
LAKE TEKAPO SOUTH ISLAND DURING SPRING
If there’s one place that belongs on every spring photography bucket list in New Zealand, it’s Lake Tekapo!
While you’ve probably seen photos of its famous turquoise waters, visit in late November or early December and you’ll discover an entirely different kind of magic. The lakeshore and surrounding fields and roads burst into colour as vibrant pink, yellow, orange, purple, and blue lupins bloom beneath the snow capped Southern Alps, creating some of the most photogenic landscapes in the South Island.
As a landscape photographer, I’m always drawn back to this incredible region, where the combination of colourful foregrounds, dramatic mountain backdrops, and beautiful early morning light offers endless creative possibilities. Whether you’re chasing sunrise reflections, wide angle compositions among the lupins, or intimate details of the surrounding scenery, Lake Tekapo is a spring photography location that’s hard to beat.
Here are my favourite photography locations for Spring Photography in the Lake Tekapo Area:
Please note that the lupin flowers do grow differently each year, so a spot that had plentiful lupins on year, may not be the same the next.
LAKE TEKAPO FORESHORE (ACCESS NEAR HAMILTON DRIVE)
The foreshore near the Hamilton Drive end of Lake Tekapo can often have amazing lupin fields during Spring time. There are some beautiful compositions available along this piece of foreshore including frames with Mount John in the background, and the Southern Alps.
LAKE TEKAPO LUPINS NEAR THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
LUPINS NEAR LAKES EDGE HOLIDAY PARK
LUPINS ALONG THE GODLEY PEAK ROAD
LUPINS AT MT JOHN SUMMIT
Check out my Best New Zealand Lupins Location Guide for more lupin specific photography spots.
AERIAL FLIGHT OVER THE SOUTHERN ALPS DURING SPRING
One of my favourite ways to experience New Zealand’s incredible alpine scenery is from the air, and I’d highly recommend adding a scenic flight over the Southern Alps to your spring photography itinerary.
October is a particularly good time to go, as there’s often still plenty of snow covering the mountain peaks and glaciers, creating that classic dramatic alpine scenery we all love to photograph.
If you can, aim for a sunrise flight, when the first golden light washes across the mountains, bringing out the textures in the snow and casting beautiful shadows through the valleys.
One flight I can hands down recommend is with Air Safaris based in Tekapo who offer an incredible scenic flight called the Grand Traverse. This flight takes you over the spectacular Godley Valley, Aoraki/Mount Cook, and the region’s impressive glaciers.
Seeing these landscapes from above is a completely different experience to photographing them from the ground, and as a landscape photographer, I think it’s well worth considering if you want to capture some truly unique images of New Zealand’s alpine wilderness.
Check out my Guide to Lake Tekapo for more Tekapo photography spots.
LAKE PUKAKI & AORAKI MOUNT COOK IN SPRING
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is an incredible destination for spring photography, when winter snow still blankets the mountain peaks while the valley floors begin to come alive with fresh greenery. In some areas, you’ll also find colourful lupins and California poppies adding vibrant foregrounds to the dramatic alpine scenery.
The Hooker Valley Track is particularly beautiful during spring, with native Mount Cook buttercups flowering along sections of the trail. Along the way, swing bridges, glacier fed rivers, golden tussock, and towering mountain views provide plenty of opportunities to experiment with composition. I’d recommend allowing plenty of time to stop and photograph the changing scenery rather than rushing to the end of the track.
Here are my favourite photography locations for Spring Photography in the Lake Pukaki & Aoraki Mount Cook Area:
MOUNT COOK POPPIES AT LAKE PUKAKI
LUPINS AT LAKE PUKAKI MOUNT COOK
ROAD TO AORAKI MOUNT COOK
HOOKER VALLEY TRACK
Check out my Guide to Mount Cook for more Aoraki Mount Cook photography spots.
MACKENZIE COUNTRY: TWIZEL, OHAU, OMARAMA AND THE AHURIRI RIVER
While Lake Tekapo gets much of the attention when it comes to spring lupins, some of my favourite areas to explore with a camera are around Twizel, Omarama, and the Ahuriri River.
These regions have some beautiful lupin locations, often with fewer people around and incredible mountain scenery to work into your compositions. I love looking for ways to incorporate the vibrant pinks, purples, and blues of the flowers into the landscape, whether that’s framing a river, leading the eye towards the Southern Alps, or getting down low to create a colourful foreground.
As mentioned above, late November through to early December is generally the best time to visit for lupin photography, although flowering times can vary each year. My advice is to allow yourself plenty of time to explore these areas, keep an eye out for roadside displays, and don't be afraid to pull over when you spot a promising scene.
Here are my favourite photography locations for Spring Photography in the Mackenzie Area:
LAKE PUKAKI CANALS
LAKE OHAU FORESHORE
AHURIRI RIVER
OMARAMA CLAY CLIFFS
WILSONS CREEK CHASM HAAST PASS
If you’re driving through Haast Pass in Spring, Wilsons Creek Chasm is well worth a stop, especially if you enjoy photographing waterfalls and flowing water.
With spring rainfall and snowmelt coming down from the mountains, there can be some beautiful water movement to capture, making it a great spot to experiment with long exposures.
I love how different this kind of location is from the wide open mountain scenery elsewhere in the South Island, with moss covered rocks, lush green forest, and the creek winding through the narrow rocky chasm.
Overcast days are often ideal for photography here, as the softer light helps bring out the details without harsh highlights and shadows. Take your tripod, slow things down, and spend some time exploring different compositions .... there are plenty of little details to discover if you look beyond the main view.
LAKE MARIAN FIORDLAND DURING SPRING
The Lake Marian hike, tucked away in the heart of Fiordland National Park, is hands down one of my favourite day hikes in the South Island and easily makes my top five hikes in all of New Zealand. If you're up for a bit of exercise and love landscape photography, this is a place I’d highly recommend adding to your spring itinerary.
The Lake Marian Track takes you through beautiful native forest, past cascading waterfalls and alongside rushing rivers before opening up to the spectacular sight of Lake Marian, a stunning alpine lake surrounded by towering mountain peaks.
Spring is a particularly beautiful time to visit, with increased water flow from seasonal rainfall and snowmelt, lush green forest, and the possibility of snow still clinging to the surrounding mountains. When I first reached the lake, I was blown away by the sheer scale of the landscape — it reminded me of the Canadian Rockies, with its dramatic mountain walls and incredible reflections on a calm day.
For photography, there’s so much to work with, from long exposures of the waterfalls along the track to wide angle compositions capturing the lake and its immense alpine backdrop. Allow plenty of time to stop along the way, and be prepared for changeable Fiordland weather, as mist and low cloud can roll in quickly.
Check out my Hiking the Lake Marian Track Fiordland for more information on this trail.
GLENORCHY SOUTH ISLAND DURING SPRING TIME
Glenorchy is one of those places I could return to with my camera time and time again, and spring is a particularly beautiful time to explore this incredible part of the South Island.
Sitting at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy is surrounded by towering mountain ranges, braided rivers, and a reflective lagoon that offers endless opportunities for landscape photography.
During spring, the mountains often still carry a dusting of snow, while the valleys begin to turn green and the rivers swell with snowmelt. By late November lupins can be found amongst the landscapes around Glenorchy.
Keep an eye out for them along the lakefront near the iconic Glenorchy Wharf, the broken jetty at Meiklejohns Bay, and in the surrounding areas, where they can make a beautiful foreground for photographs of Lake Wakatipu and the dramatic mountain ranges beyond.
Check out my Complete Guide to Queenstown for more Queenstown photography spots.
MOUNT TARANAKI NORTH ISLAND DURING SPRING TIME
Mount Taranaki is one of those mountains that’s hard to take a bad photo of. Its almost perfect cone shape makes it a dream to photograph, especially in spring when snow often still clings to the summit while the surrounding countryside bursts into fresh shades of green. I love the contrast this creates, with the white snow against the lush landscape, and the ever changing weather can make every visit feel completely different.
If there’s one spot I’d recommend adding to your spring photography bucket list, it’s the Pouakai Tarns Hike. This is the classic location for capturing Mount Taranaki reflected in the still alpine tarns, and when the conditions line up, the results can be incredible. That said, the mountain has a habit of disappearing behind cloud just when you want it to appear! If you’re planning a sunrise mission, check the forecast beforehand and allow plenty of time for the walk in. Patience is key here, but catching that first light on the summit, reflected in the water, makes the early start worthwhile.
Even if you don’t get the perfect reflection, there’s plenty more to photograph around Taranaki.
Here are my favourite photography locations for Spring Photography in the Taranaki Area:
POUAKAI TARNS, MOUNT TARANAKI
LAKE MANGAMAHOE, NEW PLYMOUTH
DAWSON CREEK FALLS TARANAKI
CAPE EGMONT LIGHTHOUSE TARANAKI
Check out my Top 5 Beautiful Mt Taranaki Photo Locations Guide for more Mount Taranaki photography spots.
LAKE TARAWERA ROTORUA NORTH ISLAND
Lake Tarawera is a beautiful spot for spring landscape photography, particularly on those calm mornings when the lake turns into a mirror, reflecting the surrounding native bush and the impressive volcanic Mount Tarawera in the distance. I totally love the peaceful atmosphere here, especially around sunrise when the first golden light starts to hit the hills and the water is still glassy.
The Landing is a great place to start exploring with your camera, offering lovely lakefront views and opportunities to capture reflections and the changing ligh with the jetty centrepoint.
Rangiuru Bay is another spot worth visiting, with its stunning lakeside scenery and beautiful outlook across the water with a slightly different view of Mount Tarawera. Spring brings fresh mornings, and with a little luck, you can capture soft morning mist, beautiful reflections, and warm golden light that make this part of the Rotorua region so special to photograph.
CASTLEPOINT LIGHTHOUSE WAIRARAPA DURING SPRING
Castlepoint Lighthouse is one of New Zealand’s most photogenic coastal locations, with its sweeping beach, dramatic limestone formations of Castle Rock, and iconic white lighthouse offering endless opportunities for landscape photography.
I love the variety of compositions here, from wide angle shots capturing the rugged coastline to more intimate scenes highlighting the textures of the rocks and crashing waves. On calm mornings, the wet sand and shallow pools along the beach can create beautiful reflections, adding depth and interest to your images.
Spring is a fantastic time to visit, when the soft golden light can bathe the lighthouse and surrounding cliffs in warm tones, while changing coastal conditions create plenty of atmosphere. I’d recommend arriving early to explore the beach and find a composition that makes the most of this spectacular stretch of the Wairarapa coastline.
CASTLEPOINT LIGHTHOUSE FROM THE BEACH
CASTLEPOINT LIGHTHOUSE STAIRWAY PATH
VIEW FROM CASTLE ROCK
Check out my Guide to Castlepoint Lighthouse for more information on Castlepoint Lighthouse photography.
Thanks for taking the time to read my Top 10 Spring Photography Spots in New Zealand guide!
I hope it has inspired you to explore Aotearoa during this beautiful season and given you some ideas for your next photography adventure. Whether you’re chasing the famous lupin blooms in late spring, capturing dramatic alpine scenery, or making the most of those beautiful golden hour conditions, spring offers endless opportunities to create memorable images.
If you’re interested in purchasing prints of any of my New Zealand landscape photography, feel free to visit my New Zealand Photography Print Store, where you can browse a collection of images captured throughout this incredible country.
