K I A
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W W W . N Z T R A V E L M A G A Z I N E . C O M
FROM CHAD & RACHEL NZ Travel Magazine
Kia Ora and welcome to Issue 13 of the Mag This issue I introduce you to Chad our new Editor, Chad runs his own business also and is a keen traveller, Chad visited many countries (and six out of the seven continents, so far), as part of his job as an environmental and climate change scientist. Now retired from that role, he is a professional editor and writer and runs his own company, 100% Proof Ltd. He loves written communication, and the way words and pictures can combine to convey a strong, clear message. Interested in everything, from the intrepid to the luxurious, the comfortable to the downright terrifying, he returned to live in New Zealand in 2005 “because, this country has it all�. Next issue Chad will have taken over the reigns which means more stories and adventure for me! Have a wonderful month and I hope you love this Issue as much as I have putting it together. Rachel Chad Dick Editor
Rachel Gillespie
Owner/Photography Journalist
INSIDE & MORE Lots of great stories and adventure inside
EXHIBITION
WRITER’S COLUMN
CHRIS PEGMAN
EN ROUTE WITH RINA with Full Time Photographer Rina Sjardin Thompson
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHER WILLIAM PATINO
By Rachel Gillespie
MUELLER HUT
GUEST BLOG JESSICA PULLEN
EVENT STORY The Travel Bootcamp
CLAY CLIFFS OMARAMA BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
My Love of NZ
with Photographer William Patino by Rachel Gillespie
“Get out with your camera as much as possible, don’t spend too much time on social media and create the type of images that you like, not what you think everyone else wants to see.” WILLIAM PATINO
From time to time you come across photography that is so beautiful that you feel almost like you are there on the location yourself, when I first saw Australian Photographer William Patino’s photos online this is how they made me feel. And after finding Will on Instagram I learned he runs Photography Workshops here in New Zealand, Iceland and overseas. Flip forward a year while running a Photography Adventure with my mate Talman Madsen in the Winter time we decided to walk with crampons on, into the the Hooker Valley at Mt Cook for a night of astrophotography. This is no small thing, it’s about as dangerous as it gets in terms of finding a location at night, and you have to have the correct gear in case of a weather change,
it was around -5 degrees celsius and we were lucky to have the most stunning dark clear skies. It was a challenge but what an epic experience it turned out to be. Half way along the track we just so happened to meet Will and his clients in the dark that night! Only in NZ right! I love how connected we are in this little country. We talked a while and all shot some pictures and went our separate ways. I have since caught up with Will as he was in transit on the way to Iceland just last week and asked him a bit about his work, and also the exciting news he had to share on moving himself and his family to New Zealand to live.
WILLIAM PATINO
Commercial, Landscape, Tourism, Event
KIRKJUFELL ICELAND - WILLIAM PATINO
LAKE MARION, FIORDLAND
Tell us a little about yourself. I’m a husband, father to two beautiful children and a professional landscape photographer from the coastal town of Wollongong, Australia. I’ve lived in the ‘Gong’ all my life and after high school I completed an apprenticeship and became an Air Conditioning/Refrigeration mechanic. Somewhat going through the motions of life and dealing with some mental health issues, in 2012 I happened to download Instagram and developed an interest in photography. This interest very quickly turned into an obsession as I began pursuing light and taught myself all I could about photography and visual art. During this time, my priorities and the way I viewed the world began to change, and by the end of 2014 I quit my trade of 8 years. Since then I have been working full time as a landscape photographer, running my own workshops across the globe as well as occasionally shoot for brands and tourism clients.
Coinciding with my career and desire to enjoy a simpler, laid back life, my wife and I have purchased a house in Te Anau and will be moving across the ditch in November to begin the next chapter of our lives.
What first brought you to New Zealand? I put off traveling to NZ for a while. Thinking it was too close to home to warrant a visit, my wife and I travelled across Europe, Egypt and other places before finally going to the South Island in 2014. Like many, we hired a camper van and checked out all the highlights for 3 weeks. I immediately fell in love with the dramatic and diverse landscapes of the South and was kicking myself for not visiting sooner. Since then, I’ve probably been to New Zealand 20 or so times for tourism jobs, personal trips and hosting my workshops.
Whilst I was still working as a tradie I would occasionally get requests to run private workshops, helping people with their own photography at local locations. I started offering small group workshops where I live locally and then when I was confident enough, I started hosting trips internationally, with NZ being one of my first. Photography and nature mean so much to me, so being able to share beautiful locations with people and help them have a good time and capture great photos is highly rewarding. I get to regularly see these locations through the fresh eyes of people who are completely in awe and far removed from their everyday lives. It’s an honour really. Essentially, I’m a tour guide and teacher. Today I run my workshops in Aus, NZ, Iceland, Patagonia and Canada. What Photography Gear are you using? I started on Canon gear but when Sony released the first A7R I picked that up and used an adapter to connect my Canon lenses. Something people thought was
so bizarre and crazy at the time because Sony and especially mirror less cameras were not taken seriously. I’ve virtually been shooting Sony ever since and eventually sold my Canon glass and purchased native Sony lenses. Although I have miscellaneous bits and pieces, really, all I’m carrying in my bag are 3 tools. An A7Rii, 16-35mm f/2.8 and 100-400mm. Depending on where I’m travelling I’ll also bring a spare camera body just in case. What tips can you give to beginners out there? Get out with your camera as much as possible, don’t spend too much time on social media and create the type of images that you like, not what you think everyone else wants to see. What are the challenges you have faced in this industry? I don’t think I could say that the industry
Lake Manapouri
WILLIAM PATINO
Lake Ohau
Fiordland - WILLIAM PATINO
WILL PATINO - Fitzroy Patagonnia, Argentina
itself has presented many challenges, fortunately. Running my own business can certainly be challenging, with all the work that must be done behind the scenes, it can be hard to really switch off. On a personal level, I find photography itself to be quite a challenge, at least in relation to creating something I’m content with and want to share with the world. It’s certainly easy to make a pretty picture that will be liked online (which isn’t satisfying to me), but to create from the heart something that is fulfilling, that’s the challenge. I’m at a point now where that’s all I want to share with people, work that is a little more impactful and requires effort to capture, instead of just following a set recipe.
explored. I can’t put an order on these but from what I have seen I’d say;
What were the unexpected things you found about traveling in NZ?
What is your quote or mantra do you live by?
The diversity of the landscape within relatively short distances. In Australia, I can drive 8 hours and the scenery doesn’t change but in NZ I can visit forests, lakes, glaciers, ocean and snow-capped mountains all in a day.
Life’s too short. It’s something that’s always on my mind, the evanescence of everything. This reminds me what matters most in life and puts things into perspective.
Norwest Lakes – Fiordland Gertrude Saddle – Fiordland The beech forest within the Lake Gunn Nature Walk Lake Ohau Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park Out of the activities you experienced which did you love the most? Drinking a warm coffee by my tent after a sunrise in the mountains. It doesn’t get much better.
What were your favorite spots to take photos, if you could pick your top 5? Although I’ve seen a lot of the country, I know my favourite places are still yet to be
www.williampatino.com
Mitre Peak, Milford, New Zealand WILLIAM PATINO
Next issue read about our journey to the stunning TOWN of Akaroa
The Travel Boot A few months ago I took a trip to Sydney, Australia to go and get inspired at the Travel Bootcamp with Influencers and Creatives Lauren Bath, Elizabeth Carlson and Georgia Rickard, it was an amazing experience and one I would love to do again The great thing about an event like this is all the like minded people you meet and know that essentially you are all part of a bigger industry, trying to create an impact and do the same thing and in my experience collaboration with others is a great way to build your creative business with others that are in your vibe. I was also inspired to go to Aus, bearing in mind that they are one of our largest traveler markets and find ways to connect and share NZ Travel Magazine with more Australians. The three ladies Lauren, Liz and Georgia that created the Travel Bootcamp are all working from experience, they have results and are top of the industry, that attracted me to it in the first place as whom better to learn from than someone who has done it, not one of these events where people are telling you what to do but haven’t done it themselves. Lauren and Liz I had met before in Kaikoura in 2015 at the first Instameet I had attended which was hosted by Christchurch Canterbury Tourism along with many other well known photographers and then realised that Liz was on my back doorstep in Wanaka, watching how they each did their work and how they ran their brands opened my eyes up to something new that I was unaware of and that is when I started to really get into Instagram, prior to that I had been a Facebook girl. So needless to
say I was a little bit inspired by them both. Georgia I had not met until the Bootcamp but for me she actually was the one I learnt the most from in Sydney, as a young 16 year old I was sure I was destined for journalism, it was the first thing I wanted to do other than ride horses at that time, I did not go on to pursue that dream as I have always had challenges with my grammar and writing, my first job ended up working in a law office then into marketing and sales, but since having the magazine the thing I have loved about it the most is writing and sharing people’s stories and challenging myself to overcome my inadequacy as a writer, giving it a go anyway and I am always improving. She showed me that I can do this, and since coming home from Sydney I have changed my title to Photography Journalist, I really don’t like titles actually but in business it’s just something to be able to describe what you do in a simple way. The knowledge taught at the Travel Bootcamp if applied (yes must be applied!) would make for a very successful business, the how to, the strategy and the examples of what they each do was detailed and full of great direction and content. I really loved the fact that it was so real, they talked about the things not to do too also, which often can be just as powerful as the doing. I was happy to know that some of the things taught I was already doing and could see that by adding the extra strategy could really change things around. Since coming home from to NZ I have made a number of changes and culled some things too, which has resulted in a much more successful issue this last time around.
tcamp
A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA Photography Journalist Rachel Gillespie
Probably the #1 thing for me was the understanding that Influencer Marketing and Instagram Photography is a really big business, a new way of marketing, a huge industry and it’s only just beginning. I have been in marketing for over 20 years, this the stais rt of something new, and social media is only a part of it, although many business fundamentals have not changed when it comes to relationships, honesty, results and the like, the opportunity to grow your brand online has. By the way the food and free real coffee was the best! Always a plus. Check out below what some of the other participants had to say and go online and checkout more at www.thetravelbootcamp.com
BELOW Sydney Harbour - Rachel Gillespie
SKYE ARMSTRONG - @ALITTLEBITOFSKYE I’ve been interested in attending the Travel Bootcamp since Lauren, Liz & Georgia first launched it. I’m a passionate photographer who loves to travel and I’ve been wanting to combine the two for a very long time. I finally bit the bullet and attended their Bootcamp in Sydney this year. I was given invaluable advice on posting great content, how to pitch to potential clients, how to identify my target market, and how to find my niche. It also gave me the confidence & motivation I needed in order to set myself in the right direction. In the month after Bootcamp my Instagram followings & engagment increased. I also set up my Facebook page www.facebook. com/alittlebitofskye. I’ve also started writing about my travels and I hope to set up a website & blog in the near future.
GEORGIA
The Travel Bootcamp isn’t just another course. It’s an intensive, no-bullshit, one-day conference. Whether you’re looking for a whole new career or just want to make some money on the side, we’ll show you how to make a (damn good) income as an instagrammer, blogger or writer (not to mention, how to get yourself invited on those free press trips). We teach you the hows, as well as the whos, the wheres and the whens of turning travel into income.
LIZ
LAUREN
Tell us what you experienced at the Travel Bootcamp Event and afterwards:
JAMIE RICHARDS - GOODSHIRT.CO In working with Lauren Bath, I knew she would bring a great level of professionalism to The Travel Bootcamp so the question was not would I go or not, it was a matter of fitting it into my schedule. Attending the Sydney based Travel Bootcamp was definitely worth while, the amount and quality of information shared on that day by Lauren, Liz & Georgia priceless, as was the opportunity to meet and discuss all things Social Media with other attendees. The Travel Bootcamp sparked a few ideas which I’m now developing into marketing initiatives for the launch and subsequent rollout of Good Shirt so stoked on that. Another big takeaway was that to grow your Social Media following takes consistency and time, so with that in mind I’ll quote the irrepressible Dory “Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming. PS. Glad I took plenty of notes, which I can refer back to as otherwise like my mate Dory I would have forgotten a lot of good stuff that was shared at The Travel Bootcamp ; ) THERESE SPILLANE @theresespillane I was very impressed with all the girls professionalism and work ethic and definitely found it very inspiring from that perspective. I saw Lauren, Georgia and Liz as three young women at the forefront of this industry who are succeeding in their individual area’s of expertise, I particularly loved Lauren’s authenticity, honesty, transparency and professionalism, and respected her desire to develop professional industry standards to help create a fair environment for both the photographer/writer/influencer and the travel/tourism industry to WWW.THETRAVELBOOTCAMP.COM
work together with greater understanding and respect for one another’s needs. It has helped me realise how hard these girls work to succeed at their work and that it takes a great deal of drive, passion and perseverance of application to develop a social media platform that will inspire trust in clients and that can be used to develop an income.
JENNIFER JOHNSTONE - FREELANCE COPYWRITER @travelbugwithin I was part of the inaugural travel Bootcamp in Sydney in 2016. The information shared by Lauren, Georgia and Liz was so relevant, practical and no BS – just straight up this is how it worked for us. For those who want some insight into the travel industry – Instagram/print/ blogging – the Bootcamp gives it. I’ve applied so much from my notes and slides into my freelancing work. NATASHA MAY @natashamay.au I’ve been growing my travel and lifestyle instagram account @natashamay.au for about a year and a half now and when brands started reaching out for collaborations I didn’t know how to put a value on my work and posts. Travel Bootcamp gave me a lot of guidance on how to talk to brands and not sell my work short. Nobody talks about their prices in this industry and it was very refreshing to see the girls completely open up about what they ask for and how exactly to ask for it. EMMA HYDE @emmaphotoaus Travel Bootcamp was the best thing I’ve done all year! It gave me the confidence, motivation and information to re-ignite my passion and find my direction moving forward! Thankyou from the bottom of my heart for your openness, generosity and genuine natures. Travel Bootcamp is invaluable, it has truly given me so much more than I could have expected!
ABOUT THE TRAVEL BOOTCAMP FOUNDERS LAUREN BATH - @laurenepbath - THE TRAVEL INSTAGRAMMER In January 2011, Lauren Bath was still working as a chef in a local Italian restaurant when she decided to quit in order to follow her newly-found passion for photography. An early adopter of Instagram, Lauren had already amassed a large following for her signature colourful landscapes and intimate, up-to-the-minute commentary on her travel experiences, and shortly after making the leap to full-time ‘gramming, was labelled ‘Australia’s first professional instagrammer’ by the Australian media – essentially paving the way for what would become an entirely new industry, based around travel influencers. Four years later, Lauren is not only one of Australia’s most powerful travel instagrammers (at time of publishing, her followship stood at 454,000) but has proven herself to be a savvy, insightful business woman, establishing a social media company that provides campaign management, consultancy and education to industry leaders. In 2015 she was a Finalist in the Gold Coast Women in Business Awards in the “Women for Change” category. LIZ CARLSON - @youngadventuress - THE TRAVEL BLOGGER Liz Carlson is the owner of Young Adventuress, one of the top travel blogs in the world. An American now based in the mountains of New Zealand, she shares hands-on, experiential stories of her adventures while inspiring others to do the same. Collaborating with some of the biggest brands worldwide, she has built one of largest, most engaged independent traveller audiences on earth – including a readership of almost half a million dedicated followers (and that’s not including her instagram feed). A TEDx speaker and BBC Travel contributor, she has been featured on Huffington Post, Forbes, Buzzfeed and CNN. Her blog was named the top travel blog in New Zealand in 2014 and she currently runs the top Instagram account in New Zealand.
GEORGIA RICKARD - @georgiarickard - THE TRAVEL WRITER Georgia Rickard is an author, travel journalist, and former editor of Australian Travellermagazine, which she turned into the fastest growing publication in the nation, and Australia’s biggest-selling travel magazine. In 2014 she was shortlisted for Editor of the Year and Magazine of the Year at the Australian Magazine Awards, and subsequently won Niche Magazine of the Year. She has written for dozens of prestigious global brands, as well as Australia’s most widely-read travel publication, The Daily Telegraph‘s Escape, the world’s number one news site, BBC.com, and local travel media outlets such as Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, Cosmopolitan and GQ. She is a regular travel expert on SKY News.
“We’ve made lucrative careers by travel instagramming, writing and blogging. And now we want to share the gift of travel with you.”
LAKE TEKAPO BY THERESE SPILLANE
SYDNEY - TRAVEL BOOTCAMP - PHOTO BY NATASHA MAY
EN ROUTE WITH RINA WRITER’S COLUMN
ADVENTURES by Rina Sjardin-Thompson Who doesn’t love an adventure?!!! When you first buy your camera you think i’m going to take some great photos with this… and that’s as far as it goes. In order to get those great photos you have to do something or go somewhere…. Before you know it you are packing a lunch, your camera bag, snack and chocolate (no decent camera bag should be without chocolate - just saying!), making a plan, researching where to go and when to be there … hello!!! You have an adventure on your hands!!! If the best you can do is shoot in your own backyard then that’s an adventure in itself!!! You can just as easily drop your camera, break a lens, forget a battery, lose a card, and lose yourself in your own backyard as you can out in the wider world of adventure. Now there are those that have the adventures of the epic kinds… the ones that make us all jealous and there are ones that CREATE their own version of epic adventure and enjoy that equally as much!!! And if at the end of it all you have some amazing photos then it’s not been for nothing. I got asked once, “Rina how do you get consistently good photos ALL the time?” My answer was, “2 things. 1) you’ll never get the images you want if you dont take your camera with you everywhere you go. Sleep with it if you have to. Make it a new habit to take it with you when you leave the house. 2) you’ll never get the photos you want sitting on the couch watching TV even if it is National Geographic Channel showing a show on art and photography, on the pretext that you are learning all about photography. I cannot express how important it is to just get out with your camera. My camera is a whole other appendage and am NEVER without it. I have forgotten my purse, eftpos and credit card, money, handbag, phone but have never forgotten my camera!!! If you are passionate enough about
what you are doing it will come naturally to you. It wont be hard to form new habits. My very own latest adventure was hosting a 7 day workshop alongside Mikey McKinven. We flew to Chancellor hut for an overnight stay in the hut which sits in the alps just overlooking the Fox Glacier. Just stunning and truly a Tena lady pad moment to land and exit the heli… To see the looks on the faces of our clients is very satisfying and knowing they enjoyed themselves is fabulous! We had a very memorable week of wonky windy weather but some great photos were found, seen and recorded all the same!!! The next adventure for me is a collaboration with Rachel Gillespie to run a female only workshop in Glenorchy. Nov 16th - 19th if you’d like to come… and are female!!! Aimed at beginners to intermediate …. Also the optional extra of a doors off flight...not to be missed i can tell you! If you are keen contact Rachel. Be prepared for where your camera will take you. Just letting you know that it won’t be you taking your camera on an adventure it will be the camera in total control and taking you… you my friends are just along for the ride and what a ride it will be!!! If you’d like to see more of my adventures and photos go to my FB page @rina.sjardin.thompson.photography
SEE JESSY’S STORY ON THE MULLER HUT, AORAKI MOUNT COOK FURTHER IN
MOUNT COOK JESSY SA
RINA SJARDIN-THOMPSON WEST COAST - ALMER HUT
RINA SJARDIN-THOMPSON
CANTERBURY WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER UPDATE Canterbury’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter continues to experience a busy workload, following on from the hectic winter period which saw close to 200 EMS (Emergency Medical Service) callouts responded to between June and August. The Air Rescue crew responded to 52 EMS callouts in September, with a varied mix of trauma incidents, medical events and Search and Rescue missions keeping the crew busy day and night. With the majority of Canterbury’s ski fields closing for the season in September, and the remainder scheduled to close in early October, the ski field response has largely wound down for the year. Just 5 skiers and 1 snowboarder required emergency medical assistance during September. As the warmer weather arrives other leisure activity related incidents come to the fore, including tramping and mountain biking. The Air Rescue Crew attended two mountain biking accidents; at Taylors Mistake and Ashley Forest, while two trampers in separate incidents required winch rescue; one from Alford Forest and the other from steep terrain above Lyttelton Harbour. Both women suffered serious leg fractures that required immediate medical assistance. Westpac Rescue Helicopter Crew Chief, Rick Knight, commented “With the changing of seasons we are transitioning away from snow-related accidents to other types of outdoor activities. Trampers, hunters, recreational boaties and mountain bikers are already getting out there and enjoying all that the region has to offer. The Air Rescue Crew is on standby and ready to respond 24/7 to ensure everyone can enjoy the great Canterbury outdoors with the knowledge that the Rescue Helicopter will be there to look after them and their families if needed.” The youngest Air Rescue patient was a 13-month old girl from North Canterbury who required transport to Christchurch Hospital for investigation and treatment of persistent high fever. “Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years are at most risk of febrile seizures, so it’s really important to get the right medical assistance
in cases where the fever is extremely high or lasts for longer than a few days.” says Rick. The oldest Air Rescue patient was a 91yo female who suffered a syncope collapse while at home in Banks Peninsula. “Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness and muscle strength characterized by fast onset, short duration and spontaneous recovery—caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain. Underlying causes can range from non-serious to potentially fatal, so each case must be properly assessed to determine the appropriate treatment. In this instance, the patient required urgent transfer to hospital for further assessment of her condition.” says Rick. Emergency callouts for trauma incidents accounted for 58% of September’s workload. These included motor vehicle accidents (10), leisure activity related accidents (10), workplace incidents (4) and accidents in and around the home, including an accidental gunshot wound. “In any given period, around 50% of the Air Rescue Crew’s workload is attending trauma patients. Accidents happen anywhere, anytime—often despite the best planning and precaution on behalf of the patient. The Air Rescue Service responds 24/7 to ensure our patients have the best chance of survival and full recovery from their injuries.” - Christine Prince, Air Rescue Trust CEO The Air Rescue Crew flew 15 medical retrievals during the month for a range of cardiac issues and several incidences of stroke, as well as patients with sepsis, respiratory problems and post operative complications. A 62yo male who collapsed while on a fishing boat in the Akaroa harbour was treated and flown to Christchurch Hospital in a stable condition. The team also flew 8 patient transfer flights from Timaru, Ashburton and Kaikoura hospitals to Christchurch—5 of those were ICU transfers with Christchurch Hospital’s Intensive Care team attending alongside the Air Rescue Crew.
In all, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter transported 47 patients to hospital during September. A total of 19 Status 1 and 2 patients and 28 Status 3 patients. The average mission flight time was 1.7 hours, although several of the search and rescue and patient transfer flights exceeded 3 hours flight time. One quarter of September’s emergency callouts were logged after hours, with the Air Rescue Crew responding to 5 medical callouts, 3 motor vehicle accidents, 3 ICU patient transfers and a Search and Rescue operation to locate a 37yo woman missing in the Mt Thomas area. The Air Rescue Crew utilised specialist NVG (Night Vision Goggles) and FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) equipment to assist NZ Police with the search. The woman was eventually located safe and well the following day.
“With an increasing number of emergency callouts after night fall the role of NVG’s has become crucial in saving lives. The Trust team is currently fundraising as the Air Rescue crew need more pairs of NVG’s to replace ageing equipment—at around NZD$17,000 per pair. Please contact us if you can assist. Thank you.” Christine Prince, CEO Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust For more information, contact Air Rescue CEO, Christine Prince, on (03) 358 8244 or 021 900 519 or email to christine@airrescue.co.nz
www.nzkiwiadventures.com NZ Photography Adventures & Workshops
QUEENSTOWN
NEW ZEALAND
heliglenorchy.co.nz
JESSY TRAVEL ADVENTURE BEING ONE STEP FURTHER THAN YOUR LIMIT
My Name is Jessy and I`m from Germany. My blog is written in both German and English I fell in love with travelling a long time ago. When I was a child my parents went camping with me and we always explored the area and we never stayed one day at the same place! So I really enjoyed wandering around, exploring new things and falling in love with the landscapes. I especially fell in love with the mountains. Hiking is the medicine for my soul! I love any kind of destination because every single spot on this planet has it`s own magic, it`s own vibe! But from time to time I know I have to go back into the mountains to recharge my batteries, to soothe my soul. What I really love is to see the beauty of the world with all the different types of landscapes, different types of exploring, different accommodation, different food, different culture, different lifestyles and just every kind of adventure – and I want to share everything I`m exploring during my journey with all of you! So I want to share the beauty of the world!
MUELLER HUT, AORAKI To be honest Mount Cook blew me away the first time I saw that huge lady. But there is one mountain which is even more mind-blowing. Mount Sefton. You will see it during the long drive to Mount Cook. Straight in front of you the gigantic and massive glacier rises in the sky. Always impressed by its beauty I wanted to get closer to Mount Sefton. And I already heard about Mueller Hut, a beautiful hike with stunning view on Mount Cook and Mount Sefton. So I decided to leisure my boots and get on that track. To get to the Mueller Hut Track you can park your car at the Horse Hill Campground. This campground is the start to many beautiful hikes. You will leave Mount Cook to your right and follow the path to Sealy Tarns/Kea Point/ Mueller Hut. After a short time you have to follow the path on your left to go to Sealy Tarns and Mueller Hut. This track was described as a Stairway to Heaven.Bullshit – I felt like I walk up a Stairway to Hell. Why? Because it`s not much kilometers. But you have to take over 1000 stairs. And then you are only at the Sealy Tarns. Not even close to Mueller Hut!
When I started hiking the weather didn`t looked good. Clouds and a little bit of rain turned my mood into a bad one. Because you shouldn´t go up a mountain with that conditions. But I forced myself to go as far as I feel safe. And I can always return. So the first steps appeared and I looked up the mountain – which is not a good idea. I saw that the steps are going straight up. No serpentine or anything like that. I prayed to the lord that my fortnightly leg day workout will be enough for that competition. But it wasn`t. My legs protested really soon but I forced myself to continue walking. The view was just breathtaking. The deeper clouds disappeared so there was no sun but high clouds. Mount Cook looked so beautiful and I saw Lake Pukaki and the whole valley. Just incredible! When I finally reached the Sealy Tarns my leg felt like they are made out of cement. I really walked over my personal limit or boundary. Sealy Tarns are beautiful little lakes. When you have a good day, you can see the reflections from Mount Sefton in those lakes. I was wondering if I can make it to the top. Because it is a steep climb and as long as from the car park to Sealy Tarns. But I wanted to go there. I always want to be at the peak. So I pushed myself beyond my limits and continued my hike. Soon I came to a point where I needed all my senses, my arms and my legs. It was more climbing than hiking but it was stunning. I was so excited to reach the top that I pushed away my fears and managed myself over gravel fields, snow fields and a lot of rocks. Finally I reached the top and I had that feeling. That feeling when you see everything from the peak – also what was hiding on the other side – it was just unbelievable. Mount Sefton, the glaciers, Mount Cook, Lake Pukaki. I heard the ice roaring and I also saw some avalanches falling down from Mount Sefton. It was so powerful and loud. I walked up the last meters to Mueller Hut where I enjoyed the sun and the scenic view. I watched ice cracking down and wondered myself how amazing it must be to stay the night up here. Time run fast on top of the mountains so I prepared myself for the way back down to my car. Which I could see from the top! (Not the best motivation but who cares)
The sun finally burst through the clouds and so I had the best reflections in the Sealy Tarn lakes. The way from Mueller Hut to Sealy Tarn was okay. But the 1000 steps down killed my legs. As I arrived on the car park my legs felt like jelly and I couldn`t control my steps anymore. But that day was totally worth it. The view was stunning and the feeling that I really did it was incredible too. So I can recommend everybody to go up that hill. Doesn`t matter how long it takes you. You will be treated well by the mountains. Always go a little bit more than your personal limit – so you can expand it. It took me in total around 7-9h (but I take pictures every second step so I don`t know how reliable this is). Go and see the beautiful Mount Sefton with your own eyes! I would go there again and I would stay the night in the hut to see the night sky! BY JESSY SA (GERMAN ARTICLE ON WEB) Follow on Social @JESSYTRAVELADVENTURE
SEALY TARNS - JESSY SA
MUELLER HUT TRACK - JESSY SA
TEMPLE STREAM BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
Lake Ohau BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
‘Heaven to Earth, Northland Under the Stars’ on now at Waitangi BY PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS PEGMAN
Expose: chris pegman
FOR INFO GO TO http://www.waitangi.org.nz/
EXHIBITION
Kerikeri photographer Chris Pegman has an exhibition Heaven to Earth, Northland Under the Stars at Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi Exhibition Gallery, Waitangi Treaty Grounds until next year. The exhibition is based on an astrophotographic map of Northland with 25 images will be on display, showcasing Northland at night, accompanied by 25 complementary smaller day images. Works include Astro Doggy (Matai Bay), Surfer at the Gates of Dawn (Matapia Rock, 90 Mile Beach), Tane Mahuta Under the Stars and Watcher of the Skies (Rainbow Warrior Memorial). Chris Pegman says: “Some people see bugs and details. I’m wired such that I’m always turning my head side to side (at least 180 degrees) onsite contemplating panoramas. I feel in awe of the scene before me and I yearn to capture the emotion along with the hugeness of it. I’m so often aware when in front of a landscape or a night sky that there’s more to life than just this Earth. It’s my hope that viewers see that from many of my images. There is so much for me to capture up here, particularly when you consider Northland’s beautiful clear air which is ideal for my astrophotographic work”. Waitangi Treaty Grounds Collections & Public Programmes Coordinator Caitlin Timmer-Arends explains the idea for the exhibition sprang during a meeting with Chris enquiring about taking photos at the Treaty Grounds. “When he showed us one of his amazing photographs, the planning of the exhibition started. It has been a year of hard work, with unreliable weather and night shoots on top of full days of work. People wanting to find out more about Chris’s work and astrophotography should come along on 1st December from 6 to 7pm, when Chris is giving a talk about his work”. Chris recently recently won 2017 Gold Distinction NZIPP – the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography with his image “Dive – this actually happened”.
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COME AND RIDE THE ALPS TO OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL
Temple Stream Forrest BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
GIBBSTON VALLEY, QUEENSTOWN LAKES by Rachel Gillespie
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a weekend in new zealand
BY JESSICA PULLEN
Its time to explore your own backyard! Travel. Everyone does it, at different scales and with different prioritisation but kiwis are world renowned to be seasoned travellers. Statistics New Zealand has released results that are showing that New Zealanders took 2.79million trips overseas in September 2017, an increase of 10% on September 2016! There is no doubt that international travel is becoming more obtainable as flights become cheaper and social media platforms dramatically increase the exposure we have the world’s exotic and exciting destinations. Now, I encourage and promote international travel. I believe it is very important to experience other cultures and believe that travelling makes us realise just how lucky we are to be able to call this incredible country home. My name is Jess. I live in Wellington but have also lived in Greymouth (hometown) and Dunedin. I started most of my New Zealand travelling as a kid. We, as a family, took multiple trips around the country to places such as Hanmer Springs, Queenstown, Wanaka, Marlborough Sounds, Nelson and the Abel Tasman National Park. I continued these trips as an adult, once my partner moved to New Zealand, travelling to Mount Cook (twice), Queenstown (I’ve lost count), Wanaka and Tekapo. We then hopped islands and explored the Coromandel, Auckland, the Waikato, Hawkes Bay, the Wairarapa and Wellington – where we now both live. I have also travelled to Australia, Thailand and Indonesia with every intention to continue my overseas voyages, but there is one thing I will always ensure that I do, continue to explore New Zealand. We are lucky enough to live in a country where it is physically possible to drive from one end to the other within a couple of days and I have always prioritised traveling domestically as much as I have travelling internationally. We live in paradise! A country that has every conceivable landscape and attraction you can imagine! There is literally something to suit everybody, hence our dramatically growing tourism industry! The world is cottoning on! From the beautiful
and dramatic landscapes of the Southern Alps to the beautiful sandy beaches of the Coromandel, to everything in between, we literally have everything on our doorstep! And yet more and more kiwis are losing our appreciation and love for how incredible and dynamic New Zealand really is. Over the next few months, this column will highlight various locations around the country that I have travelled to and that I believe every New Zealander needs to see! I will research the best accommodation, food and attractions for each destination, giving a rundown of how to truly experience these places in two – three days! I will also explore the best time of year to visit and the best method to get there. We, as kiwis, are extremely proud of our home but sometimes we lose appreciation of just how amazing this place really is. It took me seeing New Zealand through the eyes of my American partner to realise just how much I love this place and it is my goal to reignite that spark in all who read these columns. If I can convince one person to take advantage of the next grabaseat deal and start their ongoing New Zealand adventure, I will have achieved that goal. So, subscribe to the New Zealand Travel Magazine and follow me for the next few months as I travel through New Zealand and report back you with the best each destination has to offer!! The first destination will be one I know very well, the world’s coolest little capital, Wellington. Watch this space! Jessica Pullen Lookinglassphotographynz@gmail.com Instagram: lookinglass_photographynz
JESSICA PULLEN The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, South Island
JESSICA PULLEN Craggy Range, Hawkes Bay, North Island.
LAKE OHAU BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
Sam Deuchrass
MILKY WAY OHAU QUARTERS BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
You will see though out the magazine many stunning images of the Lake Ohau Region, it is such a diverse landscape and what I would call the “real� real middle earth. In a future story I will share with you the huge impact this place has had for me and my family, but for now I wanted to share with you some of the amazing spots we have been to here, off the beaten track a little and onto a shingle road not far from the town of Twizel, Lake Ohau is such an abundant landscape, boating farming, fishing, jetboating, ski-ing a the local ski field and walking and hiking every where you look. Check out this amazing landscape in pictures and follow along to the next issue for the story of the stunning land of Lake Ohau Be inspired by nature Rachel
LAKE OHAU BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
PINK DINOSAUR, LAKE OHAU BY RACHEL AND JESSICA GILLESPIE
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Lee Cook Images
IMAGES TALMAN MADSEN
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Client Experience “I recently had the pleasure of participating with Rachel and Talman on a photography adventure, in June, around Central Otago. I found the adventure was well organized and fully flexible to cater for weather conditions. I was able to tap into Talman’s expertise and knowledge, either out on a shoot or in the conference room. He was very helpful on several occasions and easy to get on with. What was the best part of the trip; There were several, experiencing a strong aurora for the first time, ( not sure who was the most excited, me or Talman), visiting hooker glacier for a sunset shoot and staying for a milky wayshoot, a helicopter trip around Mt Aspiring with the doors off, to name a few. I have no hesitation in recommending Rachel and Talman if you are considering doing one of their photography adventures, I know I am next year. “ Neil
NZ KIWI ADVENTURES PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURE WORKSHOPS JOIN FULL TIME PHOTOGRAPHER TALMAN MADSEN IN THE SOUTH ISLAND MAY 2018 5 DAYS AND 5 NIGHTS, ADVENTURES AND PHOTOGRAPHY TUITION
www.nzkiwiadventures.com
IMAGES TALMAN MADSEN
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IMAGES TALMAN MADSEN
Fri, May 11, 2018 - Wed, May 16, 2018 Join us for an inspirational 5 day, 5 night Photography Adventure of the New Zealand’s South Island Mackenzie, Mount Cook and Wanaka & Queenstown Region. Hosted by Rachel Gillespie, and Talman Madsen, we have joined together to bring you an Astrophotography and Landscape Photographic Learning Experience all in one. May 2018. All photography tuition by Award Winning Photographer, Talman Madsen
The NZ Kiwi Adventures Photography Tours are a photographic adventure of a lifetime. Talman and Rachel both spend time each year in the Aoraki Mackenzie Region and invite others to join them on this amazing photographic adventure. Talman has recently achieved the NZ National Geographic Young Photographer of the Year Award and has been featured in many publications. LOCATIONS The locations we will be visiting are hotspots for scenic landscapes, but in particular for photographing the night sky. The Aoraki/Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is the world’s largest, and if you haven’t ever viewed the Milky Way Galaxy with the naked eye before, then you will be amazed by the starry skies here! They offer a unique photographic opportunity.
This is a special all-inclusive photographic workshop open to photographers of all levels of experience and enthusiasm. We will be spending our days in the magnificent alpine landscapes around Lake Tekapo, Aoraki-Mount Cook, Queenstown and Wanaka, and at night, we’ll be out shooting the amazing star-filled skies of the Mackenzie Basin. Expect to be up early, and out late! You’ll be hosted and guided by professionals who will offer one-on-one instruction, advice or reinforcement of the skills and techniques used in image visualisation, composition, exposure control, and post-processing. Learn how to capture the stars of the Milky Way and create incredible timelapse movies as part of our astrophotography masterclass. This is a unique photographic adventure in one of the most scenic places in the world. We’ll shoot around the glaciers of Mount Cook, the lakes and rivers of the Tasman Valley, along the shore of Lake Tekapo, the mountains of Queenstown, the shores of Lake Wanaka and capture some awesome views of the alpine peaks from high up in our chartered Helicopters and Ski Plane Flights, yes you get to go on 2 flights! NEED TO KNOW Fitness level required: Moderate. You will need to be able to hike along easy trails, maximum 5km each way, with camera equipment. What’s included: Hotel accommodation for five nights on single or double occupancy basis Breakfast, lunch and dinner during the workshop All transportation during the workshop, starting from Queenstown and returning to Christchurch Professional hosting, guiding and instruction Helicopter Flight Mount Cook National Park permits.
www.nzkiwiadventures.com
TALMAN MADSEN
NZ KIWI ADVENTURES GUIDING & PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURES