Shooting in New Zealand

[cnhoffma]

I'm traveling to New Zealand to see the North Island for two weeks. You can view my current equipment list in my signature. I'm also receiving a 70-200mm f/4 L lens this wednesday. Not listed is my manfrotto tripod. I have a decent pack to carry all my gear. What else is recommended to have? I'd like to here from people who've actually traveled or lived in New Zealand :>

[GregRiken]

Your wide angle will help a lot. Huge landscapes. It blew my mind. It's hard to take it all in. Make sure you do the Tongariro Crossing in the Tongariro National Park. It is epic. They say its the best day hike in NZ and I would agree, but its a tough one. 7-8 hours of tough tramping. 17-20 km. Up the side of a volcano (mt. doom from lord of the rings coincidentally) onto a mars like table-top, sulphur ponds, lakes, grasslands and then rain forrest on the way down. All in one hike. I took down my photos from the trip, otherwise I'd share. Maybe by tomorrow. Here is a wiki-page though:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongariro_Alpine_Crossing

NZ makes it hard to take it all in, but your wide angle will help you do that.

[cnhoffma]

That's one of the place we plan on going. I'm glad to hear the wide angle lens will come in handy.

[GregRiken]

Here is one of my shots of the crossing I found. This is many hours into the day.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2972575665_856c6f2602_b.jpg

[manipula]

I moved here last December, and translating the views on hand from what I was used to in the UK proved to be something I found most interesting. That said, amongst those three lenses you can shoot anything, from sports to studio to people to landscapes, so you really don't need to worry about gear. Just bring some ND Grad filters for your landscape shots.

What might be worth mentioning is that although NZ offers some truly epic landscapes, seeing them, shooting them and admiring the results will bring you a set of photos everyone has already taken. I suggest you'll maybe find even greater beauty in trying to see the place through slightly different eyes. Gotta get your holiday snaps I know, but my tip would be to try and absorb what is so special about NZ and NZ life, and let that fuel how you take the images you shoot.

[Moppie]

I'm traveling to New Zealand to see the North Island for two weeks. You can view my current equipment list in my signature. I'm also receiving a 70-200mm f/4 L lens this wednesday. Not listed is my manfrotto tripod. I have a decent pack to carry all my gear. What else is recommended to have? I'd like to here from people who've actually traveled or lived in New Zealand :>


When are arriving and what parts of the North Island are you planning on seeing?

[weka2000]

Landscapes your covered with what you have. Wildlife is not that great. Make sure you have a CP filter and Cokin Grads for landscapes.
Shoot in RAW.

Will you be in Auckland for any time?

[Collin85]

Wonderful shot Greg!

[cnhoffma]

I will be arriving in Auckland in February and then we spend two weeks traveling about the island. We'll visit Northland, Hawke's Bay, Coromandel, and a bunch of others.

[Moppie]

What sort of things do you like shooting?

If you have a free day we could easily arrange a tour of Auckland and west coast beaches.

[cnhoffma]

What sort of things do you like shooting?

If you have a free day we could easily arrange a tour of Auckland and west coast beaches.


I like to do landscapes mostly, but I love dipping into the many of disciplines of photography.

We've packed our itinerary pretty full, thanks for the offer, but we'll have to pass.

[Tareq]

I was planning to go to Australia this year but same problem with visa as last year, so i canceled for Australia and i am going to NZ, seems i will go to Christchurch and stay in South Island only for 2 weeks [i will not go to Auckland].

[Moppie]

I was planning to go to Australia this year but same problem with visa as last year, so i canceled for Australia and i am going to NZ, seems i will go to Christchurch and stay in South Island only for 2 weeks [i will not go to Auckland].


Cool, post in the GKPE thread when you comfirm your travel dates, there are a few POTN members in ChCh who i am sure could show you around for a day :)

[Tareq]

Cool, post in the GKPE thread when you comfirm your travel dates, there are a few POTN members in ChCh who i am sure could show you around for a day :)

OK, i will remember that.
Thank you very much :D

[weka2000]

I was planning to go to Australia this year but same problem with visa as last year, so i canceled for Australia and i am going to NZ, seems i will go to Christchurch and stay in South Island only for 2 weeks [i will not go to Auckland].

Hey what about us in Auckland :sad:

[Tareq]

Hey what about us in Auckland :sad:

It was very very difficult for me to find tickets to New Zealand from my area, and all of them with stopovers [or transit] no direct flight, and i saw photos of New Zealand from different websites and i feel that South Island is better for me for landscapes than the North Island, in fact i didn't know that some flights going to another city rather than Auckland, i was going to book for Auckland as i thought it is the only destination in NewZealand but i saw Christchurh.
Now, i will stay there for about 20 days, it will be so expensive for me to go to Auckland by air, and going by land [if available] or by cruise will not be easier and it will be much longer, so i wish i can visit the North Island and Auckland but as long i am new there and i don't know where to go so i can't waste time to go from South Island to Auckland, but who knows what will happen there for me anyway.

My date of flight is 11 November, but with stop in Singapore i will arrive Chrsitchurch in 13 Nov [around 10:30am].

[Moppie]

You can get flights return to Auckland from ChCh for less NZ$200, and its only a hour on the plane.

Is that date next year, or next week?



Your right about the South Island being the best place for landscapes though, far nicer place to visit to.

[Tareq]

You can get flights return to Auckland from ChCh for less NZ$200, and its only a hour on the plane.

Is that date next year, or next week?



Your right about the South Island being the best place for landscapes though, far nicer place to visit to.

11 Nov 2008

[Moppie]

Cool, see you next week then. :)

[Tareq]

Cool, see you next week then. :)

I hope so :D

[manipula]

Hey what about us in Auckland :sad:

He's seen sense Tony. You're far too ugly to want to meet in real life! ;)

You can get flights return to Auckland from ChCh for less NZ$200, and its only a hour on the plane.

Moppie makes a good point. Flights around NZ are very cheap, and it's a very common way of traveling, and seen as for more normal than in Europe say.

[Nzshrimper]

Hey what about us in Auckland :sad:

shut up jafa... ;)

[Tareq]

He's seen sense Tony. You're far too ugly to want to meet in real life! ;)



Moppie makes a good point. Flights around NZ are very cheap, and it's a very common way of traveling, and seen as for more normal than in Europe say.

How cheap? it could be cheap but if i have low budget and i will spend for hotels maybe and the ticket of flight from UAE to NZ is so expensive already so i can't be sure i can take flights around in NZ, maybe only 1 time or 2 times only, i am not rich or so well income financially.

[Moppie]

Enter your details in the purple box here: http://www.houseoftravel.co.nz/home.htm

Here are some examples, if you flew from Chch to Auck on the 12th and returned on the 16th: http://www.houseoftravel.co.nz/SearchResults.aspx

Costs about NZ$200.

I might be able to put you up for one night if you do come up (its not the worlds most comfortable bed, but it is a bed).

[Tareq]

Enter your details in the purple box here: http://www.houseoftravel.co.nz/home.htm

Here are some examples, if you flew from Chch to Auck on the 12th and returned on the 16th: http://www.houseoftravel.co.nz/SearchResults.aspx

Costs about NZ$200.

I might be able to put you up for one night if you do come up (its not the worlds most comfortable bed, but it is a bed).

Thank you very very much

Just i don't know how to keep in touch, imagine i take the flight and go to Auckland, then how i can meet someone there?

[Moppie]

Thank you very very much

Just i don't know how to keep in touch, imagine i take the flight and go to Auckland, then how i can meet someone there?


There are lots of internet cafe's around the place, and nearly all all the hostels and motels will have internet access.

Just post on the forum, or send us a PM, we can meet you somewhere.

All the main cities have working public transport as well, so you can catch a bus etc.

As a general rule NZ is very tourist friendly.

[Tareq]

There are lots of internet cafe's around the place, and nearly all all the hostels and motels will have internet access.

Just post on the forum, or send us a PM, we can meet you somewhere.

All the main cities have working public transport as well, so you can catch a bus etc.

As a general rule NZ is very tourist friendly.

I know NZ is so tourist friendly :)

OK, i will get into the net from there and have arrange a date to meet there, i hope i can enjoy shooting there as much as i can, just i am worry about what kind of food i will find there, can i find something arabic or Indian food? i don't go with Western or Asian food mostly.

[Moppie]

Auckland has more asian food than anything else, and even lots of Kebab shops, some selling very authentic Arabic food, some selling very westernised stuff.

And lots of Indian resturants and take aways to, they are very popular here.

You won't find as much in the South Island though, especially in the more remote parts of the west coast.

[Tareq]

Auckland has more asian food than anything else, and even lots of Kebab shops, some selling very authentic Arabic food, some selling very westernised stuff.

And lots of Indian resturants and take aways to, they are very popular here.

You won't find as much in the South Island though, especially in the more remote parts of the west coast.

Oh i see, in fact i can stay in Auckland if i want, but i know that i will go to visit South Island many times then.
Let's say if i will stay there for about 18 days, how can i arrange or manage my days over there? really i want to see all over there but it is difficult, but i hope i can get something interesting within 1 week in South Island so i can go to North Island for couple of days [3-4 days] and then go back to South Island.

The main thing i have to do now is that i have to book for an accommodation for first 3 nights then within that i can arrange for my rest days there, but i will not come with much money to spend in hotels and transports and here and there, but really i can meet good people who can help me as much as they can and not getting in trouble of any kind, and the most important for me when i travel anywhere in the world is to get as many interesting high quality photos as i can, without that i feel there is something missing and i will feel i didn't enjoy it.

[sparker1]

Christchurch is a nice town with plenty photo ops, along the river if that's what you like. Queenstown and Dunedin are places I enjoyed. Beaches can be very nice. Need to visit Mt Cook and Southern Alps, some of the glaciers on the west coast. Milford Sound is a beautiful spot, take a boat ride. Lots of mountain hiking around there. Great outdoors kinds of things all over South Island.

[Tareq]

Right now typing this message i am in Singapore Airport, and soon i will get departure to Christchurch [arrive 13 Nov in the morning], and if everything will be fine then i will arrange to visit those places, i hope i will meet a tour guide there.

[Moppie]

Have a good flight, the weather is great here at the moment :)

[Tareq]

Have a good flight, the weather is great here at the moment :)

Thanks!
Great, then we will have a great time for sure, can't waste time staying in the room because of the weather.

[cg171s]

Hi all, nice discussion about New Zealand.

Currently I'm living in Singapore and before that Melbourne and Indonesia.

Next stop is Christhchurch, I might move there by April or May next year so I would like to know if there are any information on photography clubs in Christchurch?

Thanks

[Nzshrimper]

Hi all, nice discussion about New Zealand.

Currently I'm living in Singapore and before that Melbourne and Indonesia.

Next stop is Christhchurch, I might move there by April or May next year so I would like to know if there are any information on photography clubs in Christchurch?

Thanks

yep there is cps. -> click me (http://www.cpsnz.com/)<-