In September 2023, Jenny and I headed to New Zealand for a holiday to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and our 60th birthdays. 2023 was a big year for us. We decided to fly into Queenstown and discover the South Island. We really loved Queenstown and were surprised just how many things there were to do and see. A cruise on the lake is a must and there are a number of options for this.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100
Mt Nicholas Farm was one of the stops on the lake cruise to pick up a passenger to return to Queenstown. The buildings and jetty looked perfect sitting by the lake.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 100
We did a road trip to Invercargill to meet up with friends and then headed to Te Anau to catch a tour to Milford Sound. Te Anau is a beautiful town right on the banks of Lake Te Anau. It is very picturesque with a photo to take in every direction.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 100
There were so many photo opportunities around Lake Te Anau, it was difficult to know which way look. I spotted a rainbow over the lake and had to go and get a shot of it.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/40 sec
Aperture: f/22
ISO: 100
The highlight of the trip for us was a cruise on Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. The trip to Milford Sound from Te Anau through the Fiordland National Park was really interesting with lots of stops along the way to see waterfalls, snowcapped mountains, the cheeky Kia's and the Mirror Lakes. We also drove through the Homer Tunnel, a really interesting part of the journey.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/160 sec
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 100
The cruise on Milford Sound was everything we expected and more. We were very lucky to get a nice day with no rain and light winds. The day before and after were not ideal with heavy rain and strong winds. Luck was on our side for this one.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/160 sec
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 100
After the tour of Milford Sound, we travelled back to Queenstown and that is where our luck ran out. Unfortunately, both Jenny and I came down with COVID. We stayed in our hotel room and went for a couple of drives to explore the area, being careful to avoid people. We did come across some amazing scenery as we drove around.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/50 sec
Aperture: f/22
ISO: 100
The ever-changing landscape did mean that there were numerous stops along the road to take in the views and grab some photos.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/50 sec
Aperture: f/22
ISO: 100
On one drive, we went through the very small town of Kingston and learnt about the Kingston Flyer. I was in the right place at the right time to get a shot of her as she returned to Kingston after a morning trip. It is wonderful to see these beautiful steam engines and the enjoyment of people onboard the train.
Camera: Canon EOS R8
Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM
Shutter speed: 1/15 sec
Aperture: f/15
ISO: 100
Even with catching COVID, we really enjoyed our trip, and we will return to New Zealand to explore some more.