The NorthWest Coast - May '14

A recent trip to the West Coast via the Lewis Pass owing to the closure of Arthur's Pass due to rockfall.  Since we were already north, we decided to head a little further up!  A nice change from the usual southern coast scene.

Gillespies Pass Circuit - April '14

Gillespies Pass - AKA the Young-Wilkin River Circuit

Amy and I had planned to do this tramp over the Easter weekend continuing a long-standing tradition of mine of spending stat days in the bush...unfortunately with the weather against us I was forced to go kayaking, what a shame!

After a couple of days on the river (Okuku and Kakapotahi) we headed south to begin our adventure.

This tramp is easily one of the best I have done in NZ; great tracks, superb scenery and a great sense of isolation! Check out these pics and let me know what you think...

46km by track, 20km by river, 2000 vert m of climbing, 4 days, three river crossings (only one serious - Makarora), 2 huts and one hell of an adventure!

Packing the night prior - all the essentials!

Balloons Over Waikato

The annual Balloons Over Waikato festival was held 26-30 March 2014 with around 30 balloons participating in a mass ascension, a basket burn, a night glow and a cash grab competition.  Shown below are a handful of images captured throughout the festival.

Styx Kayaking and Kokatahi Tramping

This post contains a few images from an action packed weekend on the coast kayaking the Styx River and tramping up the Kokatahi River.  But first...

A lot has changed in the past month with the flatties and I moving out of Holliss Ave and into the Challis Palace, with Amy!  We have sacrificed our view over Cashmere for a new view over Ferrymead, the estuary being an everchanging sight.

Ferrymead estuary by day...

Photography services!

I'm thrilled to post my first definitive step in the direction of providing photography services.

This brochure has been prepared as a marketing tool to provide to anyone interested in using images I have produced.

While not a sales pitch (as I'm not selling anything!), it is a useful tool to pass on contact details and who knows, one day I may look back on this and be proud of my progress.

Kea Images

Kea are a wonderful bird, well known to be one of the most intelligent parrots in the world.  I have longed to rival some of the formidable images that have been produced by the remarkable photographers of New Zealand's birds.

A while ago I was asked why I enjoy photographing birds and my response was that I enjoy the challenge.  Such a dynamic subject choice, each with a mind of its own and so many different angles to capture while accounting for poor light, inclement weather, harsh terrain, and so the list goes on.

Here are a few of the better images from a recent trip into Arthur's Pass National Park, shot on a Canon 650D.

Zero-to-Hero 2014

The Zero 2 Hero beginner kayak course was held over the week of 10-16 March and was a great success.

The first session was pool based where beginners where introduced to kayaks, spray decks and buoyancy aids and shown the critical factors of boat control.  They were later made comfortable in the boat both right side up and upside down, all in the luxury of a warm pool!

This session is always popular and a lot of fun, concluding with a few boat based games.

New Brighton Sunrise

Every so often, right before a big ol tropical cyclone, Mother Nature serves up a stunning sunrise.  These pictures are from Friday 14 March, 48 hours before Cyclone Lusi was forecast to hit NZ, at the New Brighton Pier, Christchurch.

Unfortunately the blog site seems to have compressed these images and distorted the colours, making them grainy and patchy.  I'm working on a fix at present!

City Living - Christchurch 2014

With 2014 comes a new year and another new start, this time with my work location about to change yet again.  A site placement with Fonterra in Hamilton for 6 months means I will spend limited time at the weekend in Christchurch.  Knowing this, I was keen to capture a snapshot of Christchurch as it is at the moment for comparison when I return later in the year.

The view from our new flat in Mt Pleasant, the sun and moon simultaneously setting in the west

Coppermine 2014

The Coppermine mountain bike race is stunning event traversing the mineral belt and Dun Mountain rail trail all the way to the Coppermine Saddle.

Summer 2014

The time spent travelling throughout the North and South Islands for the remainder of the summer break was great.  Immediately following my departure from Anchor Island, I travelled to Invercargill to wish Amy a happy birthday (where we saw tuatara) and farewell her as she left for Codfish Island (Kakapo Recovery as well).

Outward Bound - Instructor Selection Course

In early February, I completed the Instructor Selection Course through Outward Bound NZ in Anakiwa, the small coastal settlement a stone's throw away from Picton.

Summer Kayaking on the Kaituna

Summer Road Trip on the Tuna

After five days in Sydney, the summer sun was luring me north, so in anticipation of a couple of weeks on the Kaituna with the lads, I flew Christchurch to Rotorua with Tim and Jo.

Over the course of our time in the North Island we didn't explore too much as we were spoiled with the quality whitewater that was the Kaituna.  We did venture as far afield as the Wairoa and to Huka Falls on the Waikato, however the majority of our time was spent basking in the warmth of the Kaituna.

Sydney, Australia

Mid-January is a great time to visit Australia; warm summery weather, fewer tourists following the Christmas/NY break and a good time to escape the average NZ summer!

Amy and I had planned a 5 day visit to Sydney to catch up with dad's brother Max and his wife Carol.  Amy had just finished her stint of two weeks volunteering on Codfish Island for DoC's Kakapo Recovery Programme (which was a roaring success) and had arrived in Christchurch only hours before our flight was scheduled to depart.  A few anxious nights ago, we were certain she would miss the connecting flight as bad weather hampered efforts to get off Codfish Island.

At 4am on January 17, we departed Christchurch airport Sydney bound.  Max and Carol met us at Sydney airport and the following is a catalogue of images from our stay in Aussie.

Walking from Bondi beach around the bays

Hawkes Bay

During the summer break I spent a couple of days at home catching up with family.   Fortunately my trip coincided with a visit from Joseph and Penny, Dad's Australian brother and sister in law.

L to R: Catherine, Andrew, Penny, Joseph, Bryan and Claire Yates.