Open Shutter: New Zealand's Winter Fantasy

4 March 2016
Read Time: 2.7 mins

For an Australian landscape photographer there’s certainly no shortage of sand, sun and red dirt to shoot at home.

Yet after a couple of years of shooting mostly local scenery, I was desperate for some foreign inspiration. It finally came in the form of affordable flights and a two-week winter road trip around the South Island of New Zealand.

I joined fellow photographer and good mate Jesse as we toured through the country’s most famous mountain ranges, fjords, ski slopes and forest trails in search of the perfect photograph.


New Zealand winter Photo: Andrew Tallon

Our journey started in Christchurch, where we hired a trusty campervan and set off west towards the island's mountainous centre.

The weather those first few days was quite disappointing, but the gloom created a great atmospheric setting for this quintessential kiwi scene on the road to Mt Cook.


New Zealand Mt Cook Photo: Andrew Tallon

We arrived at Mt Cook just as the clouds started to break and booked the last scenic helicopter flight of the day to catch sunset over the mountaintops.

Our cameras didn’t get a second’s rest as we rose through the air and took in the best view of New Zealand’s highest peak. Our experienced pilot had a few stories to tell, including some from his days helping Peter Jackson film aerials for the Lord of the Rings movies!


New Zealand winter Photo: Andrew Tallon

After a hearty dinner in the Mt Cook valley, we noticed the skies were clearing up, so we decided to book our only night of the trip in a nearby hotel (avoiding an hour or two drive to the nearest campground). We were rewarded with a freezing, but gorgeous night in the valley under a full moon.


The remarkables Photo: Andrew Tallon

Our compass was set south to Queenstown and the weather appeared back on our side as we stopped just short of the town to capture the crisp frozen peaks of The Remarkables mountain range.

The range has become a famous backdrop to Queenstown and includes the Double Cone ski field, which comes alive with activity at this time of the year.


Queenstown Photo: Andrew Tallon

By nightfall the clouds had returned, but they proved to be a blessing as we woke to an ethereal sight of fresh snowfall across the town.

We carefully navigated the slippery streets in the early morning as the keenest skiers bristled with excitement at the opportunity of fresh powder on the mountains.


More inspiring photographer journeys

Open Shutter: Photogenic New York

Open Shutter: Postcards From Paris

Open Shutter: Capturing Africa's Many Faces


New Zealand snowboarder Photo: Andrew Tallon

After meeting some Aussie friends for a particularly raucous Tequila Tuesday night (made possible by Queenstown’s impressive bar scene), we decided to admire the skills of the more adventurous skiers and snowboarders at Snow Park NZ at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

The park features a variety of jumps, rails, freestyle sections and other jibs for practice. I positioned myself opposite to the sun on the biggest jump of the park and shot for almost 30 minutes before the shadow lined up perfectly on the beauty above!


Queenstown Photo: Andrew Tallon

With so many world-class activities and sights surrounding Queenstown, it’s easy to forget to sit back and soak up the actual town.

While its population is heavily touristic, Queenstown somehow invokes a thriving local community atmosphere, even during the busy ski season.

This shot was taken on a slow walk back up the hill to our campsite from the famed Fergburger restaurant. Try the Sweet Bambi burger (made with Fiordland deer) for something different!


Lake Gunn New Zealand Photo: Andrew Tallon

Our number one priority for the trip was to drive out and take a cruise on Milford Sound. Unfortunately, the week's snowfall had blocked off the tunnel entrance.

We compensated with this scenic stop near the tunnel at Lake Gunn. It was hard to stay upset as our viewfinders were filled with crystal-clear reflections of snowy mountain peaks.


Lake Gunn Photo: Andrew Tallon

The area around Lake Gunn had some fantastic hiking options to keep us occupied and shooting for most of the day. We had the trails to ourselves and captured long exposure photos of aqua-blue stream waters.


Christchurch Photo: Andrew Tallon

Our setback at Milford Sound gifted us an extra day, which we decided to spend back in the "big city" of Christchurch.

After a quiet day of exploring, we drove up to Sugarloaf's peak and took in stunning views of the sun’s last light above the mountains and city lights below.

New Zealand is a perfect destination for road-trippers, photographers and nature lovers alike. I came back with a diverse and beautiful set of images to add to my portfolio, and an overwhelming lust to return and do it all again.


Visit your local Flight Centre store or call 131 600 for more advice and the latest deals on travelling to New Zealand.


Andrew Tallon

Andrew is a professional travel and commercial photographer on a mission to experience and shoot the most beautiful places in the world. His ideal day would include shooting sunset in a new city, followed by a few beers at the nearest local! Follow his travels on Instagram @andrewtallon and see more of his photography on his website www.andrewtallon.com.