Take a trip around some of the great spaces of the New Zealand with us
IN THIS ISSUE Feature: Tekapo Springs Neil Protheroe Kaikoua is Home Jess Ward Photography Pohatu Penguins Akaroa Tin Plate Restaurant Lake Tekapo OUR BRANDS #WORLDTRAVELSOCIAL #KAIKOURANZ #QUEENSTOWNTOKAIKOURA
AND MORE
Kia Ora and Hello and Happy New Year for many of you Welcome to the our Travel Magazine. We have had a busy Christmas and New Year away on adventures which has been awesome creating some cool go pro footage for you which I am still to edit! It has been a very busy month for me with School Holidays as well as putting this together and the summer season in full swing New Zealand is a very busy place. Everyone is enjoying the summer tourism season. We have some great articles this issue for you and an update from Kaikoura which is very encouraging.
EDITORS NOTE Rachel Gillespie is a Mum of 3, she started KaikouraNZ 4 years ago which has now grown into the Queenstown to Kaikoura NZ Travel Trail and World Travel Social. Her philosophy is to collaborate with others and share these amazing places for all to enjoy.
Thanks so much to everyone that contributed this month during your busy time. Check out what has been happening around the South Island and follow along with our favourite top 10 instagrams I have choose this month, ones I love and personally recommend. Enjoy and safe travels Images Rachel Gillespie Top left: Lake Tekapo Top right: Mount Sefton
Editor, Rachel Gillespie WORLD TRAVEL SOCIAL QUEENSTOWN TO KAIKOURA NZ LIMITED
COME AND RIDE THE ALPS TO OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL
Akaroa, New Zealand
RACHEL GILLESPIE WITH KEVIN OF
POHATU PENGUINS
Stunning Nature on the Banks Peninsula with Pohatu Penguin Tours
I had the pleasure of meeting and going on our a tour in the town of Akaroa recent with General Manager Kevin of Pohatu Penguin Tours. It was so much fun and a really informative and full of nature and real New Zealand as it would have been over a hundred years ago out on the peninsula, the views are stunning from the top and the little penguins so adorable over in Flea Bay where the tour takes you. I caught up with Kevin to chat about his story and how he came to New Zealand and settled in Akaroa. Tell us a little about yourself? I was born in France near Bordeaux and very young age I already had an interest in the environment, the wildlife... My studies took me around France and I ended up in Quebec for a couple of months working on an ecotouristic project around Lake St Jean to finally make it down to the other side of the world in New Zealand. Very keen on seeing what was happening there I went through a French guide book: “the frog’s guide” and found Pohatu Penguins: preservation of Little penguins, cute but feisty, sea-kayaking in a marine reserve, that was it I was under the spell of the area. The cherry on the cake was when I finally met my wife (niece of Shireen Helps, owner of Pohatu Penguins). We now have a beautiful daughter who loves to come over on tours, helping feeding sheep and rehabilitate all sorts of animals that my wife finds. What is your Business Background My background is into conservation and ecotourism. So I had to travel far from home but I think I am right where I should be When did you come to New Zealand and what brought you here? I first arrived in New Zealand in January 2009, so just over 8 years ago. I didn’t plan on being here, it wasn’t a dream, I just agreed to followed a friend who wanted to work in an English speaking country and
the contact he had were in New Zealand. I just followed to start with. It is only after that we took different route that I looked through the Frog’s Guide that I found Pohatu Penguins. I was in France at the time, I went back for friends’ wedding. Shireen was only offering me a bit of woofing at the time, I hesitated but just decided to go for it. Bought another ticket to get back for a few months and as it happened it ended up being a one way ticket. Not something that was planned. Just took the chance and the chance took me. Tell us a little bit about your business, where and what made you settle in Akaroa It all started when Shireen and Francis Helps bought their farm 40 years. The idea was only to farm sheep but they quickly realized that there were a lot of penguins left around the property which was a nice surprise as over a period of 30 years, the population of penguins around the peninsula would have known a decrease of 80% mainly due to the introduction of predators. So they decided to protect the penguins on their own on their farm as everybody else thought it was too late and only going to be a waste of time and money to do something. So they were left on their own but over 15 years they actively did protected the penguins and finally in 2000 the first survey was done and 717 breeding pairs were counted which was already huge. Soon after this survey and the colony publicized, general public started to turn up at any time of the day or the night walking on their property looking for penguins, scaring them back at sea with big white flashes. So they said stop, we will show penguins but under our own supervision and so the business was created as part of the conservation and ever since this is at the heart of all the tour we do. Showing wildlife to the general public and trying to inspire them in the fact that anyone can make a difference. It is now the largest colony of Little Penguin on mainland New Zealand with over 1200 breeding pairs.
What can people experience out on the tour? We have different options available and I truly believe that we have something for all to enjoy. We go from a 2 hour to a 24 hour package including accommodation in the middle of the colony. Sea-kayaking safari for the adventurous, relaxing Full Scenic Nature safari with refreshments at the bay or Evening penguin safari allowing you to witness penguins socializing on the water.Plus yellow eyed penguins can frequently be seen on the evening tour. The penguins are always the big thing, sharing the 30 years long conservation work, the way penguins behave... depending on the season you will see some in nesting sites and in rehabilitation. Pohatu/Flea Bay is situated on the southeastern corner of Banks Peninsula, the access is by 4WD vehicle. This is the reason we offer fully guided tour from our office in Akaroa by 4WD mini-vans. Tours include a lot of photo stops along the way with full commentary about New Zealand, the history of the area, the geology... Akaroa being an extinct volcano, needless to say the scenery is spectacular. We go up to 700 meters safely standing on the edge of
Akaroa’s extinct volcano crater rim: endless Pacific ocean on one side and Akaroa harbor on the other. Being a working sheep farm, we have a lot of pet sheep that run as soon as they hear the van, all asking for treats from your hands. What were the unexpected things you found about traveling in NZ? Walking bare feet in a cold supermarket How easy and nice people can be, especially in parts like Akaroa. Didn’t realized that it was a land of birds with only 3 mammals. The price of the cheese :( What are the great features and nature available in Akaroa? The harbour itself is spectacular. The wildlife within and especially the penguins and the Hector’s dolphins. There are a lot of walks available. Within 10 minutes walk up the hills you already get a lot of height and whouaou. Despite a lot deforestation by human, there are a lot of remnant piece of forest with some very old trees, 400 to 600 years old. Hinewai reserve is a marvel.
What is your quote or mantra do you live by? Live your life and don’t be scared. I took a chance one day and that is why I am where I am now. I feel very proud and humble to be part of such a family. It is something that you see on TV and you never think that you could be part of it. But by taking chances things can happen. I have huge respect for Shireen and Francis in the dedication that they have shown over those 30 years. A lot has been transformed in New Zealand, we, Human, are slowly learning that you cannot introduce a species to a new environment as it will never work out the way you wanted it to work. However due
to an easier access to travel and by a lack of education and manpower to control access to some parts of New Zealand, we are seeing a huge decreased in some species’ population where there is an uncontrolled access to wildlife. This is especially true with the Yellow eyed penguins and public taking selfies, driving on beaches over nesting areas... We all need to understand that wildlife, the same as human need time to eat, feed their chicks, relax, play... Interaction with wildlife can happen but only under surveillance on especially on the wildlife’s term. My wee growl :) Check out more at www.pohatu.co.nz
Check out the amazing time we had with Daxon Creates on the Travel Showcase
WITH JEN HEUETT
Relaxation with One of the Best Views in the World
TEKAPO SPRINGS & STARGAZING The ultimate day out, with something for everyone, Tekapo Springs is one of New Zealand’s premier family attractions, with numerous activities designed for recreation and relaxation.
tains in the background. Those who take a picture from the platform are encouraged to share their photo on social networks using #MyTekapoSprings for a chance to be featured.
At the heart of the complex lie five inviting hot pools, built to resemble the natural wonders of the lakes beyond. Each of the adjoining pools enjoys an outstanding panorama of lakes and mountains, and the crystal clear water is sourced from the surrounding alpine springs and heated with recyclable energy. The temperature of the pools ranges from 28 to 39 degrees Celsius, perfect for lying back and taking in those mountain views. The Day Spa is great for those who like to be completely pampered. Four fully equipped spa rooms provide the ultimate in massages, facials, pedicures, manicures and total body care.
But the most exciting news coming from Tekapo Springs is their new astro-tourism attraction, Tekapo Stargazing. The two-hour tour will focus on the Southern night sky, which you can observe through two Professional Celestron 9.25 telescopes and the naked eye. Our star guides will lead a 40-minute presentation outside or inside (dependant on weather) followed by a 45-minute soak in the pools. Star gazers will be invited to relax and stargaze while looking up at the night sky. Lights will be off and astro music will surround the pool, creating a unique and exciting experience. This will be the first tourism attraction in New Zealand to offer a soak + stargazing tour of this nature. With the rise of visitors coming to Lake Tekapo, it will be a great addition to the activities available. With over 300 people on the waiting list, the new stargazing tours are showing an increased interest in the night sky in Tekapo, even before tickets are available. Tours start March 3rd at 10pm nightly.
For the more active, in winter check out the international size outdoor ice rink, where you can strap on your skates and enjoy the picturesque views. The snow tube park will get your adrenaline pumping. What’s not to like about flinging yourself down a 150-metre ice ramp on an inflatable tube? In spring and summer there is the TRIPPO waterslide, which is New Zealand’s largest inflatable waterslide at 11 metres high and 53 metres long. Tekapo Springs has introduced a brand-new way to get ‘social’ at the springs with their Photo Platform. Located up the path by the Glacial Day Spa, the platform was created to invite customers to snap a an iconic photo of themselves with the pools, lake and moun-
Tekapo Springs is a year-round ‘must-do’ on the bucket list of visitors to the South Island. To join the stargazing tour waiting list, click here: www.tekaposprings.co.nz/tekapo-star-gazing
For more information on Tekapo Springs, visit: www.tekaposprings.co.nz
About the International Dark Sky Reserve: The International Dark Sky Reserve is located in the Mackenzie region of Canterbury. It is the first dark sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s largest. The recent growth in astro-tourism has brought thousands of visitors to Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook, the most unique #NZMustDo in New Zealand. Image - Tekapo Springs
www.tekaposprings.co.nz
www.tekaposprings.co.nz
www.tekaposprings.co.nz
www.tekaposprings.co.nz
www.tekaposprings.co.nz
www.tekaposprings.co.nz
PHOTOGRAPHER/SOLO TRAVEL
Traveling the World with Photographer Jess Ward
When Jess Ward came to New Zealand and started posting her NZ photos online I was told by a photographer friend of mine in Kaikoura Dennis Buurman how amazing her work was and started to follow her on Instagram. We have since connected through some female solo traveller forums and chatted about her travels which take her many places around the world. I asked Jess if she would be keen to feature her images in the magazine as they were such beautiful captures of what we have along our travel trail here at World Travel Social and she was delighted to share with you all. Tell us a little about yourself? I’m a self taught photographer based in Newcastle, Australia, with a professional background in marketing and sales. I found a love for lifestyle and landscape photography during my first trip to New Zealand in 2014 and this has resulted in me returning to the South Island multiple times since. I work in conjunction with the natural elements of my environment, in order to create images that highlight the amazing land-
scapes that surround me. While travelling through Canada and America recently, I was extremely fortunate to win a photography competition, which rewarded me with a travel voucher. With these winnings I will be travelling through Europe for nearly 3 months, with plans to visit New Zealand again in the later months of 2017. I wish to step out of my comfort zone and explore as many unfamiliar locations as possible. There is no greater feeling than realising your own strengths and skills when you are alone in a foreign situation or environment. I hope to achieve a greater sense of appreciation of the world around me, the unfamiliar cultures and the all the amazing individuals that I meet along the way. When did you come to New Zealand and what brought you here? My first trip to NZ was in 2014 and I have been back twice since. Originally I knew that I wanted to go travelling overseas but I was a little apprehensive about where to go and also where I would feel safe as a female travelling alone. The fact that it only takes 3
JESS WARD
hours to arrive in Queenstown from Sydney was a massive bonus and the incredible beauty of the South Island which is constantly being shown to the world was a massive drawcard. Did you have a set itinerary before you came here? On my first trip out I did but each time since I plan less and less. I always have a general idea of where I would like to end up but in most cases I’m booking accommodation the night before or even on the day when I arrive to a new part of the island. NZ is very laid back, so you have so much flexibility in your travel plans. I use Instagram a lot to save locations that I wish to visit, so it’s just a matter of finding my way there. Tell us a little bit about your travels, where did you go and what did you love about those places? I’ve only ever been to the South Island because all I want to do is photograph nature and do hikes. Immersing myself in these situations is incredibly therapeutic, so on my last trip it was a great way to clear my head and to help ease the transition from quitting marketing job to travelling fulltime. Queenstown will always be very special to me and some of my greatest memories come from my time here. When I was over in August last year for about 7 weeks, I rented a car and drove around the island. The west coast is a definite favourite due to the sheer beauty and scale of the environment, from the glaciers to the blue pools and mountains. I also loved Abel Tasman National Park as it felt so tropical and reminded me a lot of Australia. What were the unexpected things you found about traveling in NZ? How easy it actually is to do. On my first trip over I didn’t have a GPS or Google maps to tell me where I was going but it would have been so unnecessary anyway. I wasn’t used to getting on one road and basically being able to get to anywhere from it. I also feel more safe here than almost anywhere else
that I have visited and that is incredibly reassuring for a young female traveller. What were your favorite spots to take photos, if you could pick your top 5? Roys Peak in Wanaka The Catlins Forest Park The Kaikoura Peninsula at sunrise and sunset (Thanks to Dennis!) The Hooker Valley Track at Mt Cook at sunrise Lake Marian in the Fiordland National Park Out of the activities you experienced which did you love the most? Climbing Roys Peak for sunset was incredible. I had attempted to do this alone before but the conditions at the end were pretty bad so I never reached the top. This time I hiked it with a new friend and even though it was brutal, I’m so proud of myself for doing it. The views that we were rewarded with were something that I will always remember and I managed to capture some of my favourite photos that I have taken. Where are you now tell us about your amazing adventures? I am currently in Ubud, Bali! I’m staying in a villa surrounded by rice fields and it’s so peaceful! I have just come from Canada and America, so it’s an incredible change from the snow and cold that I was dealing with. In about 3 weeks time I am heading over to Europe and the UK to travel for about 10 weeks. Do you have plans to come back to NZ in the future? Of course! I would come back in a heartbeat and I am constantly tossing up the idea of moving over for a while and working. What is your quote or mantra do you live by? My travel journal has this quote on the cover, written by Benjamin Franklin - “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing”. It reminds me that I can’t sit around and wish for things to happen for me.
I have to go out and achieve what I need to do, even if that means going alone or making sacrifices in my life, because I don’t want to look back on these years with regret. I use a Nikon d750 with a Tamron 14-70mm and 15-30mm lens. I also use NiSi graduated filters and Photoshop and Lightroom for editing YOU CAN FOLLOW JESS AT Instagram instagram.com/jesswardphoto Facebook facebook.com/jessicawardphotography
Hanmer Springs
NEW ZEALAND by JESS WARD
Hokitika Gorge NEW ZEALAND by JESS WARD
CANTERBURY RIVER BRAIDS JESS WARD
THAT WANAKA TREE JESS WARD
Canterbury Sunrise
NEW ZEALAND by JESS WARD
Lake Marian
NEW ZEALAND by JESS WARD
by JESS WARD
McClean Fal ls
by JESS WARD
Queenstown Sunrise
Roys Peak
by JESS WARD
Kaikoura Sunset
by JESS WARD
by JESS WARD
Milford Sound Sunset
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RACHEL GILLESPIE PHOTOGRAPHY
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Commercial, Landscape, Tourism, Event
Cape Pal liser
Rachel Gillespie with Neil Protheroe
NEW ZEALAND
Kaikoura is Home Talking with Neil Protheroe the owner of Manakau Lodge in Kaikoura and Images Abound Landscape Photography Tours My family and I have known Neil since he first moved into Kaikoura. Neil has been incredibly generous to Kaikoura NZ Tourism with his Photographs and has an amazing body of work he has taken from around the world. Recently he has undertaken some joint venture photography tours with an American company which has expanded his photography reach substantially, and he continues to undertake more of these this year in the South Island
Tell us a little about yourself? I was born and raised in Wales, and came to live in New Zealand a little over five years ago, with my wife Eileen and Lauren, the younger of my daughters. My eldest, Carys, stayed in the UK to complete her studies. Until we decided to move here I’d had little exposure to or knowledge of what lay in store. I have childhood recollections of grainy black and white TV footage of rainsoaked rugby matches, vivid memories of a Wales-dominated Lions team beating the All Blacks on the tour of 1971, but apart from that and a few clips from Lord of the Rings, not much!
When did you come to New Zealand and what brought you here? I suppose it’s fair to say we left the UK because we were fed up with it. No one thing in particular, but a general disillusionment with the politics, the economy, social issues, and so on. The financial crash of 2008 affected us quite badly and just brought it all to a head. So we decided to leave, and here we are. Tell us a little bit about your businesses, where and what made you settle in Kaikoura? My background is in the leisure and hospitality industry and after a relatively short employed career, for the last 25 years I’ve been running my own businesses. I started out in the fast food industry, developing franchise models and selling food service equipment. Then by chance I met a guy in America who was a manufacturer of 1950s style American Diners - those stainless steel buildings with neon lights, jukeboxes and long counters facing the kitchen. I was immediately captivated by this idea of this concept and eventually agreed a deal with him to become his agent in Europe. I bought a Diner myself and opened it as my first restaurant in 1993. It was called Starvin’ Marvin’s, and proved very successful. Probably ahead of its time, in a way (how can something from the 1950s be ahead of its time in 1993??) I sold the whole business to a public company and moved on to a couple of other projects before deciding to seek out a new life in New Zealand. One of those was selling bottles of cognac online. I was selling stuff on the internet before Amazon was selling anything!
Images Neil Protheroe Top Lake Pukaki Bottom Lindis Pass
Aoraki Mount Cook Mount Sefton
The plan here was to combine my extensive experience in hospitality with everything we had learned from travelling around much of the world, into a small upscale bed and breakfast lodge. We chose to do this in Kaikoura, for several reasons. First and foremost it looked like a great place to live. Second, there appeared to be gap in the market for something like the idea we had in mind. And third, it seemed to be place with a great deal of unexploited tourism potential, and with that, a promising future. It all came to fruition with the opening of Manakau Lodge just before Christmas in 2012, and I’m really pleased to say now that all of those things we had hoped for have come true. Kaikoura is a great place to live, our business has become very successful, and the future is very exciting, probably even more so now, after the recent (and devastating) setback of the earthquake.
IMAGES ABOUND LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY I’ve been taking pictures off and on, for most of my life. Having learned from an early age, using film cameras of course, I started to rediscover the joys of photography when digital cameras really took off about 10 years ago. What is really amazing about it is the ability we now have to publish our photographs, to share them with people who are interested in seeing them wherever they may be, to learn from other people’s work, and to do it all ourselves, from home. None of this was practical or even possible with film in the way that it is now. It’s fascinating, and an exciting hobby or skill to have. I adapted to the new medium fairly quickly and I soon found myself wanting to take my photography more seriously. To cut a long story short, I was offered the opportunity to work with someone who was setting up tuition workshops for the first time. There is no doubt that running a workshop successfully is as much about hospitality and looking after people as it is about the photography itself, and so my professional skills were a good match to the job role. This formula was to prove reasonably successful and certainly paid dividends later on, when I started to set myself up on a semi-professional basis as “Images Abound”. My aim was to make a few sales of my prints, both online and locally, to run my own workshops for individuals and very small groups, and to use my guest lodge business in New Zealand as the springboard for that, particularly during the off-season months when Kaikoura is traditionally very quiet.
Kaikoura Peninsula
Road to Aoraki Mount Cook
NEIL PROTHEROE
Mole Hil , North Kaikoura
NEIL PROTHEROE
Hooker Lake Aoraki Mount Cook
NEIL PROTHEROE
Queenstown Hil
NEIL PROTHEROE
Lake Matheson
NEIL PROTHEROE
Kekerengu North Kaikoura Coast
NEIL PROTHEROE
Limestone Bay Cove Kaikoura
NEIL PROTHEROE
In 2015 I had a bit of a lucky break following a casual conversation with some of my Lodge guests at breakfast, the upshot of which was a totally unexpected and unimagined opportunity to work with world-renowned landscape photographer Marc Muench, in the USA. Marc and his business partner Andy Williams (also a top-rated photographer) run photo workshops around the world, but they’d never been to New Zealand and a number of their clients had been enquiring about the possibility of organising a trip here. So I got in touch with them and offered my assistance in putting a workshop package together and a year or so later, we ran two back-to-back workshops on the South Island, with a cross-over here in Kaikoura. I’m now the professional guide for Muench Workshops (www.muenchworkshops.com), and we are running another sold-out trip here in April this year, with another planned for 2018. Not only are Marc and Andy great guys to work with, the immersion in their world of photography is so rewarding. It’s something I really love doing, and the chance to host these visitors, showing them some of the scenic highlights of our country, is an awesome thing to be able to do. Marc’s father is David Muench, who was also one of America’s leading photographers in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and one of the most influential landscape photographers of the twentieth century. My own father was a devotee of his work and had a number of David Muench’s books. He would have been thrilled to know that I was now working with Marc, who has certainly followed in his father’s footsteps. Photography Gear I’ve had loads of cameras over the years. In the film days I used Minolta SLRs but I now use Nikon equipment. The Nikon D810 is a fantastic camera, probably the best in its class. I have a bag full of top quality lenses which cover everything I need. It’s a substantial investment but my photography is self-financing these days and I don’t need my wife’s permission to buy it any more (though I hope, when I die, she doesn’t sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for it…..) I’ve also bought into a mirrorless camera system recently. Fujifilm. I absolutely love this gear. Proper metal dials, proper aperture rings on the lenses, just like the old film cameras but with the very latest digital technology built in. My X-T2 is a joy to use and so small and light it’s perfect for travelling, which is primarily why I got into it. The image quality is superb. It’s not going to replace my Nikon just yet, but it’s great have it as a complementary system. I am often asked “which camera should I buy” by people moving into the world of digital SLR photography. I always answer the same way. Buy the camera which feel most comfortable in your hands. It’s really important. Some of the Fuji cameras I looked at were just too small and compact for my big hands and I would have struggled to use them in the field. The lens weight ratio is also really important. Some of Fuji’s lenses are quite big and heavy, and though they are very, very good, they don’t feel balanced in my hand on the smaller camera body, and so they are not right for me. For someone with smaller hands it may be different. My advice is always to try out a couple of options in a good camera store before making your choice, and seek the advice of someone like the dealer who can point out the pros and cons of each model. There is no discernible difference between the major competing brands, certainly not in the consumer market. Try them out in a store, and also buy in a store. If we buy everything online or from overseas, these camera shops will end up going out of business, and we don’t want that. With the recent challenges of the earthquake in Kaikoura how are you guys doing there? We’re doing OK here, life is getting back to as near-normal as possible. The road closure north of Kaikoura is obviously a big headache and it’s been a devastating blow for tourism in the town. Despite all the cancellations that we and other tourism operators have suffered, February and March have held up reasonably well and we’re hopeful that we can salvage something from the summer. But it won’t be enough, and there is a fear that some of our local businesses won’t make it through. Three winters in a row, which is effectively what it will mean, is going to be very tough. There are encouraging signs for next year though. We could back bounce very quickly if we can get the support we need between now and this time next year.
How can people help Kaikoura? Easy! Just come and visit! Spend a little money in our hotels, shops and restaurants! It will go a long way to restoring confidence in the wider world and will directly help local businesses during a very difficult time. Every dollar counts. We are over the trauma of the earthquake, we’ve made tremendous progress with the response to it (with a lot of very welcome and appreciated help from around the country) and now the need is to sustain our recovery. Economic activity will be more beneficial than charitable giving from this point onwards. What were the unexpected things you found about traveling in NZ? I love travelling around this country. The roads are so free of traffic that it’s a joy (maybe less so in Auckland but I avoid all cities as much as possible). I do find it frustrating that so few places seem to offer a simple pub-style meal for lunch, even something like a BLT. Coming from England, I am used to having quite a wide variety of light, small-portion things on a lunchtime menu in a pub, but here it’s very hard to find anywhere where the meals served are not huge. I’m also amazed at how large some hotel rooms are, and how they all seem to have kitchens in them, even washing machines. What were your favorite spots to take photos, if you could pick your top 5? I have always found myself fascinated by mountains and mountain scenery and I spend hours looking at maps and studying the landscape on Google Earth. It is always interesting to see how the shape of a mountain changes when you see it from different angles. Some are instantly recognisable, others not. So my top place is undoubtedly Mackenzie Country, or anywhere which gives me a view of the alps. I’m also a big fan of lakes and having recently spent some photo time on the West Coast, I’d have to rank those lakes up there with the best. From Lake Mahinapua near Hokitika all the way down to Lake Paringa, the scenes are beautiful, completely unspoiled. And easy to get to. Kaikoura has a lot to offer of course, and amazing diversity. I live in the foothills of the mountains and they take on a different character every day. I’ve seen fabulous sunset skies, beautiful alpenglow, pink morning light on the winter snow, massive rock avalanches, ferocious rain storms, rainbows and sunbeams pouring through the clouds. All in one day….! OK I exaggerate - all in one week. Another favourite spot is the area around Arthur’s Pass but I wish they’d put many more pull-outs and develop some viewpoints around the Waimak river valley and on the other side of the Divide. The views are fantastic but invariably spoiled by overgrown bushes and power lines in the way. I think we need more viewing decks, boardwalks and such like in New Zealand. There is a place near Kaikoura called the cathedral Rocks which is so overgrown the photo opportunity there is almost lost. Out of the activities you experienced which did you love the most? Flying around Mount Cook in a helicopter with the doors off and my camera on.
What is your quote or mantra do you live by? Never compromise your reputation or your integrity. Having run my own companies for so long now, I also swear by something which my old friend David Bernstein used to say - David was the Diner man in the US, and sadly passed away a few years ago - “there are two kinds of people in business - prospects, and suspects”.
YOU CAN SEE MORE OF NEIL’S WORK AT WWW.IMAGESABOUND.COM AND THE LODGE AT KAIKOURA WWW.MANAKAULODGE.CO.NZ
KAIKOURA - NEW ZEALAND PHOTOGRAPHY OF ROB PINE
MEET THE NEW OWNERS AT TIN PLATE RESTUARANT & BAR LAKE TEKAPO - NEW ZEALAND One of the places I love to eat with I go to Lake Tekapo is the Tin Plate Restaurant and Bar. The food and wine is amazing and the service is some of the best in NZ, it’s was here that I met Barnaby Wylie, whom at the time was managing the establishment, and recently he and his partner Adam Sawtell have since become the new owners. I caught up with them recently to chat about their new business venture and what they love about the stunning landscapes where they live, one of the most magical places in New Zealand They purchased the Tin Plate six months ago after Barnaby has been working there for the past two years. Barnaby’s partner Adam has also just joined the business and as a couple they see their business as a family owned operation and that is how they love their staff to feel as part of their family team. Their aim is to bring an international dining experience to Tekapo. The couple met in Christchurch, Adam being from Rangiora and had just finished a University degree in Marketing, they decided to move to Tekapo for the lifestyle and
the goal of spending more time together. Adam was keen to join the business to be able to implement some of his ideas and learn more about social media and online strategy which will not only help them but help the town. Barnaby was born in Aylesbury, England, at the age of 3 moved to USA and his family moved out to New Zealand when he was 12 years old who are based at Karamea. At the age of 19 he attended culinary school and had a long term goal of owning his own restaurant by the age of 30. “With the help of the previous owners we were lucky to get into business” he says The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner service. It really has that family feel to it, the staff are of high calibre and passionate about the industry and the service they offer, it’s more like a dining experience than just a place to eat. Barnaby says “We want people to feel like dining here they receive the same service day in and day out, they get what they expect every time they come in.”
ADAM & BARNABY
“Our food menu is diverse, with tasty cooked breakfast available, one of our most popular is chicken and waffles which our American clients love, it makes them feel at home” says Barnaby “We often have lunch specials and our $15 burger and beverage deal is very popular” For dinner we offer a New Zealand Fusion Menu. This includes Italian, Pizza, Steak, Fish, Risotto, and also vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. “Our vision for the business is to create a place that everybody can come and have a great time like we do. In the future
CHECK OUT MORE AT www.tekapotinplate.com
we are expanding into ice cream and catering as well” I ask the guys what philosophy they live by: Barnaby’s quote he lives by “Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday and all is well” which he carries from his Grandfather Adam’s is “Live in the moment”
COME AND ENJOY A SPT BESIDE THE FIREPLACE IN THE BAR AREA IN HE WINTER MONTHS OR OPEN UP THE WINDOWS IN SUMMER AND SIT IN THE SUNSHINE
tin plate
tin plate
tin plate
Tourism New Zealand has produced a 15 year anniversary video highlighting some major milestones along the Middle-earth journey. Find out which character you would travel through the real Middle-earth as:
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The Night Sky Experience
www.tekaposprings.co.nz
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NZ KIWI ADVENTURES
South Island Photography Adventure - July 2017 Join Mark Gee, Neil Protheroe & Rachel Gillespie for a five-day, five-night photographic adventure in the heart of Southern Alps, the jewel in New Zealand’s crown of scenic landscapes. MAXIMUM 12 GUESTS 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 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 two 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 time-lapse movies as part of our astrophotography masterclass. This is a unique photographic adventure in one of the most scenic places in the world. Mark Gee is an award winning photographer & digital visual effects artist based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has worked on many high profile and Oscar award winning feature films. His love of the New Zealand landscape is a big part of the inspiration for his photography. In 2013, Mark won the prestigious Astronomy Photographer of the Year. Not only did he win it overall, but Mark also won the Earth and Space catergory, and the People and Space category which had never been done before in the competitions history. Mark will be sharing his world-class skills by leading the night time astrophotography parts of the workshop. Neil Protheroe is a long-experienced landscape photographer whose work has been featured in a number of international travel magazines, newspapers, journals and exhibitions promoting New Zealand tourism. He describes his photographic style as being simple and natural, with an emphasis on getting things right “in camera”. Neil will lead the daytime landscape workshop activities.
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