Sample Images from Routeburn Track in New Zealand

Long days of summer have gone now but I’m really excited (as every year) about approaching winter’s short days and its brilliant photography light. Next to this marvellous light, white peaks around us, late mornings (for sleep in) and early evenings (to catch a dinner without a rush) these are some of few things photographers like about making photographs in winter.

I however do like getting around in summer too and this past summer hasn’t been different for me. After 11 years, I re-visited one of the best locations New Zealand has on offer – the Routeburn Track in Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Park … and what a fantastic trip I had.

It was a photographic bonanza. The weather stayed on my side, giving me plenty of blue skies and suntan, as well as those magical low clouds around Lake Mackenzie . This was really great as it allowed me to photograph an amazing rainforest surrounding it. The only sad thing was that the bush was bone dry, thus lacking that extra juicy kick and the lake was at its lowest everyone I spoke to could have recalled.
Despite this, I’m very happy with few keepers and I got home with.

For those of you who haven’t made it to Routeburn yet, I hope that these sample photos will help you to make up your mind.

Thanks and Enjoy!

Spectacular, emerald green Lake Mackenzie on Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand

Leaving Mt. Aspiring National Park in Harris Saddle, the track begins to drop down and zig zags on the Hollyford Face. From here some amazing vistas are to be seen with Lake Mackenzie in far distance at the bottom of the valley and, it may take around 3hrs to get to Lake Mackenzie Hut from an area of fragile alpine vegetation of Harris Saddle. After several zig zags, track enters beautiful, densely in moss cloaked Fiordland bush before reaching the hut. Remember, this is Fiordland, one of the wettest regions in the World and this amazingly green ancient forest is proof of it.

Result of the last glaciation, Lake Mackenzie, beautifully surrounded by this juicy green bush and grey rocks, is one of the gems in Fiordland. Its breath taking emerald colours, enhanced on my overcast day, are quite extraordinary and I could spend many days here just exploring and photographing. Can’t wait to be back one day again!

Contrasting beautiful blue colour of Route Burn River on Routeburn Track with beech forest, Mt. Aspiring NP, Central Otago, New Zealand

Routeburn Track is one of the most beautiful hikes in New Zealand and I reckon also in the World. It is also one of 9 Great Walks in New Zealand, spanning across 2 national parks – Mt. Aspiring and Fiordland.
The scenery of this hike is just jaw dropping. Usually walked from Queenstown side to Milford Road, it takes between 2-4 days to complete this 32km long and well formed track.
Crystal clear waters of the Route Burn running through beautiful beech forest shortly after the start near the head of Lake Wakatipu makes for brilliant photo opportunities. The track continues climbing gently toward the Routeburn Flat and further to Routeburn Falls Hut. From here the track is completely in the stunning alpine environment and continues to climb to Harris Saddle before leaving Mt. Aspiring NP and entering Fiordland.
But we’ll go there next week…

In the meantime, enjoy this photograph of the Route Burn which I took when in awe over the clarity of its cold, blue waters. The shiny “silvery”rocks contrasting with juicy green mosses and beech forest just took my breath away and I was lucky enough to have a bit of an overcast day helping me to maintain enough detail in the forest shadows as well as in the Route Burn.