Coromandel Landscape Photography
The Coromandel Peninsula is one of New Zealand's most photographically rich destinations - a rugged spine of volcanic ranges flanked by golden beaches, hidden coves, ancient kauri forests, and a coastline that rewards those who are willing to rise before dawn and stay until the last light fades. From the iconic sea stacks of Cathedral Cove to the remote sweep of New Chums Beach, the Coromandel offers landscape photography experiences that are difficult to find anywhere else in the country. The jewel in the photography crown has to be Cathedral Cove - where the iconic Te Hoho Rock catches the first light of sunrise in a scene that looks almost too beautiful to be real.
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Some Detail about Coromandel Landscape Photography
Cathedral Cove on the Hahei coastline is arguably the most iconic natural arch in New Zealand, and for good reason. The walk down to the cove at sunrise - before the crowds arrive - rewards with some of the finest coastal compositions the peninsula has to offer. The arch frames the Te Horo Rock sea stack beyond perfectly, and in calm conditions the water running across the sand creates beautiful foreground interest for long exposure images. The adjacent Hahei Beach is equally stunning at both ends of the day, with warm light wrapping around the headland and reflecting off the shallow tidal waters. The Night Sky photography opportunities in this area are something to behold - with the Milky Way soaring above Cathedral Cove, Mares Leg Cove and Hahei Beach at the right time of year.
Hot Water Beach nearby is another rewarding photography location, particularly at low tide when the interplay of steaming geothermal water and crashing surf creates a uniquely atmospheric scene. Further south, Tairua, Opoutere and Whangamata offer beautiful estuary and beach landscapes with exceptional light in the early morning hours.
Then north - Opito Bay, tucked away on the eastern side of the peninsula, is one of those places that feels genuinely remote despite being accessible by road. The beach curves in a long arc of golden sand backed by pohutukawa, and at low tide the rocky outcrops at either end provide excellent foreground for both sunrise and blue hour photography. It is the kind of location that rewards repeat visits as the light and tidal conditions are rarely the same twice.
New Chums Beach, reachable only by foot via a coastal track from Whangapoua, consistently features on lists of New Zealand's most beautiful beaches. The absence of any development and the backing of dense native bush make it a truly special place to photograph, particularly in the golden hour when the light filters through the trees onto the sand.
For those willing to venture off the beaten track, northern Coromandel is extraordinary. The Coromandel Coastal Walkway passes through some of the most unspoiled coastline in the North Island, with access to Stony Bay, Fletchers Bay and Fantail Bay - all remote, dramatic and deeply rewarding for the landscape photographer. Port Jackson, with its white sandy beach and DOC campsite, is another northern gem worth the drive.
Inland, the Coromandel Ranges offer their own rewards. The Pinnacles track in the Kauaeranga Valley remains on my to do list as the sunrise panorama from the summit is among the finest in the North Island, with volcanic rock, ancient native forest and the distant coastline stretching to the horizon. Then there is the easily accessible beautiful Waiau Falls only a few kilometres from Coromandel township.
I hope the images in this collection convey the extraordinary character of this place and inspire you to explore it with your own eyes - one of New Zealand's most photogenic and endlessly rewarding regions.
Cathedral Cove on the Hahei coastline is arguably the most iconic natural arch in New Zealand, and for good reason. The walk down to the cove at sunrise - before the crowds arrive - rewards with some of the finest coastal compositions the peninsula has to offer. The arch frames the Te Horo Rock sea stack beyond perfectly, and in calm conditions the water running across the sand creates beautiful foreground interest for long exposure images. The adjacent Hahei Beach is equally stunning at both ends of the day, with warm light wrapping around the headland and reflecting off the shallow tidal waters. The Night Sky photography opportunities in this area are something to behold - with the Milky Way soaring above Cathedral Cove, Mares Leg Cove and Hahei Beach at the right time of year.
Hot Water Beach nearby is another rewarding photography location, particularly at low tide when the interplay of steaming geothermal water and crashing surf creates a uniquely atmospheric scene. Further south, Tairua, Opoutere and Whangamata offer beautiful estuary and beach landscapes with exceptional light in the early morning hours.
Then north - Opito Bay, tucked away on the eastern side of the peninsula, is one of those places that feels genuinely remote despite being accessible by road. The beach curves in a long arc of golden sand backed by pohutukawa, and at low tide the rocky outcrops at either end provide excellent foreground for both sunrise and blue hour photography. It is the kind of location that rewards repeat visits as the light and tidal conditions are rarely the same twice.
New Chums Beach, reachable only by foot via a coastal track from Whangapoua, consistently features on lists of New Zealand's most beautiful beaches. The absence of any development and the backing of dense native bush make it a truly special place to photograph, particularly in the golden hour when the light filters through the trees onto the sand.
For those willing to venture off the beaten track, northern Coromandel is extraordinary. The Coromandel Coastal Walkway passes through some of the most unspoiled coastline in the North Island, with access to Stony Bay, Fletchers Bay and Fantail Bay - all remote, dramatic and deeply rewarding for the landscape photographer. Port Jackson, with its white sandy beach and DOC campsite, is another northern gem worth the drive.
Inland, the Coromandel Ranges offer their own rewards. The Pinnacles track in the Kauaeranga Valley remains on my to do list as the sunrise panorama from the summit is among the finest in the North Island, with volcanic rock, ancient native forest and the distant coastline stretching to the horizon. Then there is the easily accessible beautiful Waiau Falls only a few kilometres from Coromandel township.
I hope the images in this collection convey the extraordinary character of this place and inspire you to explore it with your own eyes - one of New Zealand's most photogenic and endlessly rewarding regions.
Visit my Online Print Store or contact me to make purchasing inquiries. All prices are In NZ dollars