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INSIDE & MORE Lots of great stories and adventure inside
EXPERIENCE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
SPRING CHALLENGE NORTH by Hollie Woodhouse
NEW ZEALAND TUTORS
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHER TALMAN MADSEN
By Rachel Gillespie IMAGE LEFT Talman
WEEKEND IN WELLY
EN ROUTE WITH RINA WORKSHOPS
ADVENTURE Brando Yelavich Wildboy Adventures
Fine Art Prints
Arrowtown BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
New Zealand Landscapes
with Photographer Talman Madsen by Rachel Gillespie
“It’s important to ensure you’re always creating your best work, going above and beyond the brief, and ensuring it’s done in a timely fashion. I’ve learnt communication is key; keep your clients updated with both the good and the bad..” “Today we are chatting with one of our mates, Landscape Photographer Talman Madsen about his New Zealand Landscapes Book just published and the journey he has been on to create this amazing pictorial record of our stunning landscape.”
spired by the New Zealand landscape as well. This eventually led to buying a camera so I could capture what I was seeing and spending all my spare time delving deeper into photography. This eventually led to me leaving my job to pursue photography full time half-way through 2016.
Tell us how you got into Photography and what motivates you to maintain the hard work it takes to be a successful creative?
Over this entire period of time my motivation has always been to be the best version of me that I can be. I have an awesome network of family, mentors, friends, and followers who all hold me to account and in turn motivate me to keep evolving. I think the number one thing to remember is that you are in control of your own success distractions will come and go and circumstances outside of your control are going to get in the way. The only thing you can control is your reaction when these things crop up - choose to get on with it and remain positive, keep working, keep inventing, creating, and doing what you can.
I got into photography after being inspired by New Zealand. I was on a road trip with my brothers, and fell in love with the West Coast of the South Island. I was completely blown away that places like this existed in New Zealand and wondered why all my mates were heading overseas in search of adventure. I began documenting my travels through New Zealand on Instagram and I quickly amassed a sizeable following - it appeared that other kiwis were in-
MITRE PEAK - TALMAN MADSEN
TALMAN MADSEN Right - Pages from Talman’s newly published Landscapes Book
A statement that has impacted me a lot recently is “Success happens when preparedness meets opportunity.” I have had opportunities that have came a long that I’ve been prepared for and in turn they have been successful; I’ve also had opportunities I haven’t nailed because I wasn’t prepared. To me this outworks as ‘thinking forward’ and anticipating what I’d like to happen and then preparing for what I’m going to do when it does. What have you learned about working with companies that has developed your business philosophy that you would pass on to other Photographers? Firstly I’ve learnt not to work with anyone and everyone, which can be hard to grasp when you’re just starting out and get approached by a company. You need to work with companies that are a good fit - ask yourself the question: do they align with your brand and where you’re going? It’s important to ensure you’re always creating your best work, going above and beyond the brief, and ensuring it’s done
in a timely fashion. I’ve learnt communication is key; keep your clients updated with both the good and the bad. Think long term: how can you transform a one-off shooting into something ongoing? It’s better for both you and them. Get involved with what they are doing and who they are, learn about and use their product/service, and then go above and beyond to deliver them a high quality product. Do you think goal setting is important? Hugely so! During my journey I’ve always set myself crazy goals, things that would challenge me physically, mentally, and photographically. Late in December 2015 I decided to spend 3 months hitchhiking the entire country with nothing but my camera and the bag on my back. During this time my eyes were opened to the real New Zealand, I was extremely blessed by the people I met along the road and had some incredible experiences that I’ll never forget. At the start of 2017 I decided
TALMAN MADSEN - That Wanaka Tree Right - Stunning River Braids of New Zealand
to photograph every single sunrise + sunset, each at a new location, for the entire month. After a month of next to no sleep, I pushed through creative barrier after creative barrier to create a set of 62 images that detailed the start of our year in sunrises and sunsets. Tell us about your upcoming book. Earlier this year I was flying from Auckland to Queenstown and during the flight we were treated to an incredible sunset. Luckily I had my camera with me and snapped away a few cool images as the sun set. After the spectacle, the person in front of me turned around and asked if I was Talman; she mentioned she followed me on Instagram
TALMAN MADSEN
CHEVIOT
TALMAN MADSEN
AURORA AUSTRALIS
TALMAN MADSEN
AORAKI MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK
TALMAN MADSEN
and we soon found ourselves engrossed in conversation. Eventually she asked if I’d ever considered publishing a book. I replied that it was a dream of mine to accomplish this one day. Lo and behold, it turns out her partner was a publisher and she asked if we could meet for lunch the next day to discuss a potential book deal - pinch me! Not long after a contract was signed and I got stuck in to putting together my best images from all over the country! For the past 2 years, I’ve committed myself to exploring New Zealand from top to bottom and during this time I’ve been lucky enough to see our beautiful country in ways I never imagined possible. I’ve climbed mountains, slept under the stars, rafted down remote rivers, dangled out of helicopters, hiked through
many epic tracks, hitchhiked, woken up early for countless sunrises, stayed out late shooting sunsets and the stars, come face to face with many native birds, made friends with people from all walks of life, discovered remote beaches, forests, mountains, and rivers. I’ve spent time off-roading and 4 wheel driving, danced under the Aurora Australis, slept in remote alpine huts and experienced New Zealand in ways few people ever have. This book is the culmination of these adventures expressed in images and short snippets of text that express my relationship with the moment and location. I’ve spent the past 6 months working tirelessly bringing this all together, and I’m super excited to now be able to share it with the world!
How does it feel to have your work published as a book, I am guessing it is an amazing feeling? I feel incredibly vulnerable, I’m a heart on my sleeve kinda guy, but this is something else. It’s like I’ve laid bare who I am. These images reflect not only New Zealand, but me as an artist, someone who is passionately in love with this country. It’s not that this is a bad thing, more it wasn’t how I was expecting to feel. Obviously I’m humbly proud (oxymoron I know) of what I’ve created and feel like all the hard work has been rewarded with this incredibly beautiful book. Where are your favourite places to photograph in New Zealand? Ohau Mount Cook National Park Fiordland The Catlins The West Coast What camera gear do you use currently? I shoot with a Sony A7RII & A7II. My most used lens is my Zeiss Batis 18mm F2.8, I use this for all my landscapes and Astro shots. I also have a Sony 55mm F1.8, 70-200mm F4, and 24-70 F4. Recently Sony New Zealand lent me a pre-production model of the latest Sony A7R3. I’ve just spent the past couple of weeks putting this camera through it’s paces in preparation for the big launch at the end of November. What advice do you have for beginners? Spend your money and time on adventures, not gear! Creativity and awesome locations will trump new gear everyday. You need to remember every awesome photo ever taken before this point was likely taken on a camera with less technology than what the camera in your mobile phone has. What type of photography do you enjoy most? My favourite time of the day to take photos
is sunrise, I especially love alpenglow and the way the sun kisses the mountains to start the day. Ever since I was a child I’ve been fascinated with the stars, naturally this has transpired to me having a huge love affair with astrophotography. I’m always hanging out for an adrenaline rush and feel at home dangling out the side of a helicopter, or while flying a drone - aerial photography is an awesome way to rediscover old places and I’m hooked! Who inspires you in the industry and why? Firstly I’m inspired by everyone who is out there doing it. Getting out off bed early to shoot sunrise, heading out after work to catch a sunset, spending their weekends chasing light, or annual leave to traverse the country. There are a few people in particular who I really look up to though. Chris Burkard was a huge influence when I started and helped shape my direction initially. Shaun Jeffers taught me heaps and included me in some epic adventures. Wiliam Patino has an awesome lookout on life + photography and is a constant reminder to keep pushing. Other legends include Michael Shainblum, Marc Adamus, Si Moore, Elia Locardi, and Paul Zizka. What mantra or philosophy do you live by that feeds into your photography? I touched on “Success happens when preparedness meets opportunity” earlier, and really do believe in living life like this. There are a few other things I think are really important though! I think it’s really important to focus on your own art. I’ve seen too many people get caught up in what someone else is or isn’t doing. Comparison is a deadly whirlpool you don’t want to get sucked into. You’re the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with - so make sure you’re surrounded by people you admire. You will get what you give. Not just in how much time and effort you put into your work, but also your relationships.
Take time to be still and connect with the environment you find yourself in. I’m constantly working on this myself! Not so much a philosophy but something that changed my life and shapes a lot of what I do and who I am was completing “Strengthsfinder” by Gallup and Tom Rath. I highly recommend everyone takes the test and uses it to better understand themselves, how they work, and how to get the best out of their strengths. For those that are familiar with it my strengths are: 1. Self Assurance 2. Strategic 3. Command 4. Deliberative 5. Relator
GRAB YOUR COPY
What’s Next? SUMMER! I’m really looking forward to spending some time over summer in the far north, hot days, endless beaches, diving, fishing, the ocean. I feel like I need some R&R and am planning a few weeks off after Christmas. After that it’s back into it; I have a few cool projects on the go. I can’t say too much yet, but this kiwi is growing wings.
www.talmanmadsen.com
F E M A L E
P H O T O G R
A P H Y
A D V E N T U R E S
W W W . N Z K I W I A D V E N T U R E S . C O M
Adventure Racing Words: Hollie Woodhouse Images: Hollie Woodhouse and Steve Knowles-Sportzhub.com Standing in the hot showers immediately after seven hours and 51 minutes of running, biking and rafting around ‘urban’ Auckland (one of the many advantages of the day), I ate my humble pie and admitted that not getting into Spring Challenge South was a blessing, because Spring Challenge North was bloody awesome! It was a day full of surprises, new activities, stunning locations and a great bunch of people. And of course, plenty of fresh bruises. Meeting Jess at Christchurch Airport early on Friday morning we flew north to Auckland (silently crossing my fingers that my bike would arrive in one piece) where we met up with Jacqs who had come from Hawea. All kitted out in our super-smart Lululemon gear; team Say Yes to Adventure was ready to go. A USave Cargo Van would be our wheels for the next few days, which turned out to be the perfect mode of transport. With bikes and bags loaded in the back, and with Google Maps at the ready, these three country bumpkins were ready for their first ‘urban’ adventure race. A 5am start meant we were on the road at 5.43am, two minutes ahead of schedule! We were in the first wave of the day starting at 7am, so had to get there with enough time to rack our bikes, get organised and get our rafting gear. It turned out this was a good thing, as Jacqs bike had managed to get a flatty overnight. Kitted out with lifejackets and helmets it was time to head to the start line, but not before a few body slams to get the blood pumping. Stage 1: 150m Swim and 4 laps of the Water Park (2 x Grade 2, 2 x Grade 3) 3km ‘Bang’ – the horn blasted, and we were off, jumping into the flat section of the wa-
ter park and heading for the end where the boats were lined up. Having not swum in quite a while, I took a few seconds to get into the swing of it. But a few kicks to the face were all that was needed to turn it up a gear and head for the front. We managed to be the first team out of the water and into the boat and teamed up with some great young girls from Auckland. The same couldn’t be said about our guide, however, who immediately took us the wrong way!! We went straight up the conveyer belt (which popped us out at the start of the runs) instead of going around the buoy. But don’t worry, we got it on the next round! The Grade 3 runs were good fun, and we managed to stay upright the whole time, with plenty of water pumping down to keep us on our toes. A couple of boats weren’t so lucky, however, with a few bodies spotted floating down the river. Once out of the water we boosted back to our bikes, grabbed our gear and headed for TA2 which was in the Botanic Gardens, about a 10-minute bike away. Stage 2: Orienteering on Foot, Botanic Gardens – 4km We grabbed our maps, made a quick route plan and were off and running. The first marker we came to was not what we thought it would be, and we quickly realised these maps weren’t like what we were used to! Normally 1cm = 1km – but these maps were more like 100 metres! Backtracking we picked up the lost checkpoints and were on a roll. When we planned the route we (Jacqs and I were on map reading, Jess was on collecting the markers) didn’t write down the order in which we wanted to collect them; instead, we just made a line with our highlighter. We were three-quarters of our way through the
g Urban Style course when we realised we had missed a checkpoint, so had to backtrack once again! I can honestly say this was our only major mix up of the day, a good lesson to learn early! Stage 3: Orienteering on Bike, Totara Park – 15km The bike stage needed more planning, as on some tracks we could only go a certain way and had to collect checkpoints in a specific order. This meant more time was taken at the beginning to make sure
we had planned a route we were happy with, even with teams passing us. But that extra time we spent was well worth it, managing to have a great bike section. There was the odd steep hill to get the heart pumping, but most of it was rideable. A mixture of single track, 4wd track and shortcuts across the paddocks kept it interesting. Near the end, we did a check of our checkpoint sheet and discovered we hadn’t even seen #2 on the map at all! As it turned out, we could quickly collect it on our way home, but I suspect this caught a few teams out.
SPRING CHALLENGE NORTH
Stage 4: Orienteering on Foot, Botanic Gardens and Totara Park – 5km Switching bike shoes for sneakers, we were once again off running. We had a better understanding of this map having done both areas already on foot and bike, but still managed to discover different sections. We ran through beautiful forested areas as well as open farmland, working well as a team. The weather had cleared, and it was now a blue-bird Auckland day. This urban racing was turning out to be lots of fun! Heading back to TA2 we quickly grabbed our gear and crossed the timing chip to stop the clock. Back on our bikes, we retraced our path back to the White-Water Park for the next stage of the day. Loading our gear and bikes in the back, we jumped back in USave and headed East, passed Clevedon to Duder Regional Park. Stuck in traffic getting out we couldn’t help but laugh; this was a new experience! With the clock no longer ticking we pulled into the Z Station for some refreshments and to change clothes before making the last 10-minute section of the journey to the start of the next stage. Stage 5: Orienteering on Foot, Duder Regional Park – 8km Having looked on Google Maps the night before, I knew we would be in for a treat out here, and we weren’t disappointed. It was beautiful. The course took us to all four corners of the park, as well as the ridgelines along the top and the views were stunning. It was super warm by now, and the calm water lapping the beaches was very inviting! I was envious of the people we passed who were out there enjoying the day, not racing against a clock. We managed to find each marker, with only one taking us longer than expected on the journey home. Standing there discussing what we were going to do as we couldn’t find it, Jacqs saw it out of the corner of her eye. It was right there in front of us! The relief of seeing a marker is always sweet, even more so when you have spent what seems like too long looking for it! Stage 6: Orienteering on Bike, Waitawa Regional Park – 15km While we weren’t timed on the driving sections, our goal of the day was to make it back in time to partake in the ‘special’ section – the waterfall. This meant there was no mucking around to get to the final mountain-bike stage of that day, a 20-minute drive from Duder Regional Park. It
was a quick turnaround once we arrived getting the bikes sorted and cycling kit back on, before heading out on the course. Much like the others, we had sorted our route, hoping it would take us about an hour and a half to complete. We rode our way around the course in a clockwise direction, with a few back-tracks to pick up checkpoints in the middle. We picked up the last checkpoint and found some new energy as we headed for home. We could sense the finish line, and the idea of getting back in the water was very appealing! Stage 7: Orienteering on Foot + Special Test – 500m We were all yawning as we drove the last section back into Manukau, our bodies feeling weary from the day. The mighty USave pulled into the carpark for the final time, quickly jumping out in search of the Spring Challenge crew. They gave us a page with a mini orienteering route to complete from around Transition 1, which we managed to find quite quickly. There was a huge sense of relief and excitement as we pulled on our lifejackets and helmets for the final adventure of the day – the waterfall!! Jumping in the boat with our guide, we headed up the travelator while listening to his instructions. “Don’t let go of the paddle. Heads forward. Knees in the boat.” I hadn’t thought it through at all, so when Jacqs asked if we went under and our guide confirmed we would, I suddenly felt quite nervous! But no time for that, the water was flowing one way only, and that was off the edge! It was a boomer way to finish what was a fantastic day. We paddled the last few strokes to the edge, hopped out and crossed the finish line in second place. Say Yes to Adventure had had a great day out; many laughs, a few lulls but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. It was no wilderness race, but it was never going to be. Instead, we experienced a man-made whitewater park, some breathtakingly beautiful scenery and had an absolute blast. Jacqs and I worked well together on the nav, with no significant hiccups. And Jess is a bloody machine, a powerhouse on the bike even with a few false starts. And as it turned out, maybe with all this gear we did have an idea! www.holliewoodhouse.com
SPRING CHALLENGE NORTH
SPRING CHALLENGE NORTH
HOLLIE WOODHOUSE
About Hollie I get my kicks from heading for the hills and creating adventures of my own, then sharing these experiences with others. When not running up mountains or crashing on my mountain bike, I encourage others to grab life by the balls through my own magazine Say Yes to Adventure; a digital magazine featuring inspiring stories, photographs and illustrations all based on a common theme; Adventure.
SPRING CHALLENGE NORTH
www.nzkiwiadventures.com
NZ Photography Adventures & Workshops
QUEENSTOWN
NEW ZEALAND
heliglenorchy.co.nz
En Route with Rina NZ Photo Workshops
WORKSHOPS WITH RINA SJARDIN-THOMPSON - FULL TIME PHOTOGRAPHER It’s been said …. “Photographers run workshops because they can’t sell images or get any work that pays”. Personally i can’t agree with that…. I would never want to make a generalised statement like that. Pretty offensive if you ask me and likely to ruffle a few feathers. For me, my desire to teach came from the fact that i had to teach myself as i lived too far from a city to be able to attend camera clubs or to get tuition so i played and trialed and errored my way to being able to produce something that is good enough to post, sell or put my name to. I wanted to take the fear out of using a camera especially in manual mode. So i started teaching beginners…. Starting from the get go in manual and by the last day i am almost redundant….. I did say almost. The questions aren’t coming thick and fast to me and they are getting it….. THAT’S really satisfying and I’m so pleased when they are happy with what they are learning and getting! When i see them posting and starting to do some work as a photographer thats even better!
I operate out of a desire for simplicity. I don’t use Photoshop and have only been using Lightroom for the last 6 or so months. People are either mind boggled that I don’t use those tools or laugh because i am SO simplistic… but it works for me. Taking a good photo doesn’t have to be complicated…. And, unlike the above accusation… i have a healthy amount of sales i get plenty of work to be able to do this full time - AND i get to have the pleasure of watching people learn and grow not just in ability but confidence in what they are producing as well as themselves… all through workshops…. And i love that! I get a lot of repeat business, not only with the jobs i do but in workshop attendance. That doesn’t mean that they haven’t learned anything but would like to build on what they have learned but the bottom line is they are very comfortable with me…. And of course totally fall in love with the west coast…. Actually that’s probably more the reason and absolutely nothing to do with me, whatsoever….who am i kidding!!!
Bay of Plenty and White Island!!! Get in touch with Rachel if you’re keen to join us. Other workshops (not gender specific) coming up in 2018, I am in the middle of organising are: Africa South Australian Outback with Dave Birch Canada with Paula Sheridan Epic West Coast with Mikey MacKinven
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I am excited to be collaborating with Rachel Gillespie of NZ Travel Magazine and NZ Kiwi Adventures to do some ladies only workshops. Now this by no means is sexism but given that photography is still a very male dominant industry not all women are comfortable learning alongside men, feeling a tad intimidated, but also there exists a group of women who have lost their confidence through what ever their life story might be and if this appeals to them it will be a way of doing something for themselves, a way to express themselves - though they most likely won’t be aware that they are, or a way to distract themselves from their circumstances…. whether we like it or not those scenarios exist. If you are interested in workshops and would like to be “En Route with Rina ” and engaged in adventure alongside me then keep an eye out for our latest workshops! We are heading to Milford Sound 7th - 9th Dec and in the New Year we are off to the
Rina is based on the South Island’s West Coast
RINA SJARDIN-THOMPSON
THE INVINCIBLES GLENORCHY NZ
GLENORCHY BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
Wildboy Adventures - Brando Yelavich NEW ZEALAND THROUGH A KIWI EXPLORER’S EYES
I was home in Hahei on my winter break from university, Ngaio was heading home from work and it was fast becoming dark. The fire wasn’t lit and there was nothing out for dinner, it was cold and I had so much I needed to do. I weighed up my options of getting fire wood and lighting the fire, starting my next assignment or making dinner for when Ngaio gets home. Earlier that day I had picked up my new kayak and Pack Raft from Kayak HQ, as you can probably imagine I was busting to get out on the water. Before I knew it I was heading down to Hahei beach with my kayak on the roof and pack raft and paddles in the back seat. I called Ngaio and told her to come straight to the beach so we could catch the sunset. The light was fading as we set out off Hahei beach, me in my new sleek black kayak and Ngaio inside the bright yellow pack raft. We paddled away from the shore toward one of the near by islands, named Mahurangi.
Ngaio was getting a bit silly in the pack raft, seeing how fast she could spin in a circle and change direction, I kept paddling toward Mahurangi determined to catch the sunset as it was looking like it would be a good one. I noticed after a minute or so that Ngaio hadn’t caught up to me yet, in the time she had been messing about the breeze had picked up and the wind was blowing in strong gusts. The pack raft is inflatable and sits on top of the water, so wind is not a good mix with a pack raft on the ocean. Ngaio was getting blown across the bay further from me and the shore. I had to go and rescue her, typical. I tied a rope from my PFD to the pack raft to ensure there were no more windy escapades for Ngaio. I’m pretty sure at this point she took advantage of the tow and she would only paddle when I turned to try to catch her resting. The sky was turning a beautiful orange and the clouds were illuminated with gold and yellow, the sea was flat and the wind had died down. The beach was empty and the Hahei coast line was looking as beautiful as ever. We watched the light change as the sun went down, sitting in our boats together on the water. People often tell me they are jealous of my lifestyle, that they wish they had time to go on adventures, that they can’t do what I do. I personally believe that it is about what you make a priority. Sure we may have had eggs on toast for dinner and the washing didn’t get hung out, but it was a beautiful way to spend a Monday evening.
adventuregirls.co.nz
BRANDO YELAVICH
www.nzkiwiadventures.com
COME AND RIDE THE ALPS TO OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL
RIVER BRAIDS OF THE DART RIVER GLENORCHY BY RACHEL GILLESPIE
GLENORCHY by Rachel Gillespie
Jordan McInally Freelance Photographer | Undersoul Photography Project24 Content Creator +64 27 812 1512
by JESSICA PULLEN
A WEEKEND IN WELLINGTON
Wellington has adopted the slogan “coolest little capital in the world” and I really don’t think there is a more accurate way of describing it! Having the status of New Zealand’s cultural melting pot, Wellington is both sophisticated and edgy. Being the gateway to the North Island, this is a perfect introduction to what is waiting in the northern reaches of New Zealand. Being the capital city, Wellington encompasses the history of New Zealand and has several beautifully restored heritage buildings and landmarks. These in combination with modern masterpieces such as Te Papa Museum make up a truly unique and memorable city. Maintaining its reputation as the windy city, Wellington tends to keep you on your toes when it comes to the weather. Being prepared for what mother nature may throw at you is key, but hey at least it keeps us on our toes!! There are three things that Wellington tend to be associated with, being food, culture and art. Here is my breakdown of what should be on the itinerary in order to make the most of your weekend in Wellington Where to Eat Of course, food is always the most important part of a destination and our capital does not disappoint. If anything, I can say that this city hold the number 1 ranking for the best food for two reasons. Firstly, choice! Wellington has EVERYTHING! Whether it is Turkish, Vietnamese, Mexican or just a good ol reliable burger joint! Secondly, quality! With so much competition, restaurants, cafes and bars are forced to find ways to stand out! This has led to beautiful, original and unforgettable dining experiences. The two restaurants that I felt truly showed the best Wellington has to offer were Charley Noble Eatery and Bar and Whitebait Restaurant. These two were special and unique but the one factor that they have in common is the Insane quality in food, wine and service. Charley Noble Eatery and Bar Charley Noble is in Post Office Square in Central Wellington. The dining room is beautiful with tall ceilings and offers a warm and inviting atmosphere from the
second you step through the door. The staff are welcoming and know both the meal and bar menus inside out. The food is a beautiful rustic style with well-balanced and thought out dishes that are delivered in generous portions. We ordered a chargrilled octopus entrée, followed by a Woodfired lamb shoulder Rotisserie on a bed of chickpeas, cavolo nero and greek yoghurt. The lamb was cooked to perfection, the flavours in this dish had a greek influence and complimented each other effortlessly. If you are looking for somewhere for either lunch or dinner that suits a family, group or a couple for a beautiful, fresh and sizable meal, Charley Noble is the perfect spot. Charley Noble has earned a reputation in the city as a prime venue due to its lively atmosphere and exceptional food and wine. Definitely a must do as part of the capital city experience! Whitebait Restaurant There are always those dining experiences that you know are going to change your life. This is one of them. Whitebait is a blend of sophistication and extraordinary quality. We never could have expected from our 7-course wine pairing experience; every single course was exquisite. As the name suggests, seafood is the main event here. The thought that went into planning every dish was apparent and after speaking with the chef, the extent of it was made obvious. The menu is based on what local produce is available resulting in the freshest possible NZ ingredients. We had scallops, oysters, crayfish, snapper and the list continues. Whitebait truly is one of the most memorable dining experiences I have ever had and NEEDS to be on the list of places to not just eat, but experience. The restaurant is located alongside the marina with an outlook onto the cityscape that is Wellington. Everything about this place screams elegance without being stuffy and pretentious. The dining room is fresh, light and open with a comfortable but luxurious atmosphere. Overall, there is not a single negative thing I can say about this place and it would be the perfect to wind up a day exploring the city.
WELLINGTON ZOO
Where to Stay
What to See
When you think Wellington, you think the QT Museum Hotel. QT encompasses all that is our capital city. It combines art, culture, food and luxury, we spent one night in the Executive King Studio room and I did not want to leave.
There are so many different things to see and do in Wellington with the Wellington Zoo being one of them! Not only are there so many fur babies to meet, but these guys do some incredible conservation work all over the world and are involved in various breeding programs! The best part of the Wellington Zoo experience is the one on one animal encounters.
The bed was incredible and the bathroom, ooohhh that bathroom! That bathtub officially sold me. I have always felt that when it comes to hotels, it’s the little things that count and QT puts so much emphasis on the detail. From the sweet treats we were welcomed with, to the Nespresso machine and loaded minibar in the room, to the Black robes (and yes, for some reason black felt even more sleek and luxurious), QT had all bases covered! Once we forced ourselves to venture out of the room, we explored the lobby and bar. There are so many beautiful and unique pieces of art throughout that we spent a good hour exploring! The location is also ideal being close to the waterfront and the CBD allowing for easy access to all the city has to offer! We also had access to the pool, gym and sauna, once again, covering all bases with the perfect level of LUSH thrown in! Although we did not get a chance to eat at the two restaurants on site, The Hippopotamus and Hot Sauce, looking at the menus was enough for us to understand the superiority of the dishes and the incredible wine and spirit selection. Not only did QT truly exceed all our expectations, it left an impression that will stick. With a beautiful ambience and all that is comfort and extravagance, along with the flawless service and location, I would say that QT is in contention for the top choice of accommodation in the windy city.
We were lucky enough so spend time with both the resident cheetah and meerkats. These encounters are incredible and are an amazing opportunity to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures. The encounters are totally hands on and allow you to get closer than you could imagine while still in a safe and secure environment. The staff at the zoo are also incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their work. There are five encounters available – The Lemurs, cheetahs, meerkats, red panda and Loin. Wellington Zoo has the perfect balance of exotic species and New Zealand native species with one of the most impressive kiwi enclosures I have seen along with the walk-in Kea Avery. The experience is one that can be enjoyed by both adults and children and is a perfect way to spend an afternoon!
By Jessica Pullen @wandergirlnz
QT WELLINGTON
WHITEBAIT RESTAURANT
Image Jessica Pullen
Image Jessica Pullen
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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 WITH NEW ZEALAND PHOTOGRAPHERS FULL TIME PHOTOGRAPHER TALMAN MADSEN IN THE SOUTH ISLAND 2018 5 DAYS AND 5 NIGHTS, ADVENTURES AND PHOTOGRAPHY TUITION FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER JORDAN MCINALLY - UNDERSOUL PHOTOGRAPHY 2018 AUTUMN WORKSHOP - 4 DAYS AND 4 NIGHTS ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP- 4 DAYS AND 4 NIGHTS FULL TIME PHOTOGRAPHER RINA SJARDIN-THOMPSON FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS www.nzkiwiadventures.com
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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