Travel Photography

Travel notes: Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

May 10, 2023
Aleesha Maclean

If you ever get the likelihood to vacation to New Zealand, a must-see is the Coromandel Peninsula. So substantially to see and do, together with Coromandel Town, Whitianga, Cathedral Cove and the Mercury Bay Marine Reserve. For the photographer and nature lover, it is a true gem.

Coromandel Bay

Coromandel

Coromandel is a favourite holiday place for Kiwis and visitors alike, with pristine sandy beaches and comfortable holiday getaway vibes. A stunning oasis to quit, take it easy and take pleasure in the attractive climate. Looking at some certainly amazing scenery as we drove up and in excess of the mountains with the bay lastly coming into look at prior to us. We booked into our resort and then headed out to examine the town of Coromandel by itself, so quaint and beachy.

We structured our boat tour for the future day. This time we did a whole lot more research and picked a compact craft that held no far more than 16 travellers, the skipper was also a photographic enthusiast and made available special photographic tours of the Bay, the Cove and out to the Marine Reserve … just what we desired!

We then read about the Driving Creek Railway and drove up there for the late afternoon coach ride and a quick wander all over.

Driving Creek Railway

This is the desire of Potter Barry Brickell who started out this challenge in 1973. Constructing 3 km of this amazing slim-gauge railway monitor in really steep bushland, mostly by hand! We hopped on board the small educate for a most pleasing and informative 1-hour prepare vacation up the mountain to the Eye-Comprehensive Tower for awesome sights out in excess of the bay. It was also beautiful and awesome amongst the trees. Stuffed with handmade tunnels and numerous sculptures and substantial pottery pieces together the keep track of. It was quite dim and the educate a little much too fast making it tricky to acquire excellent photos whilst the prepare was transferring. But a completely pleasurable afternoon and effectively worthy of the side journey.

Again at our motel area for a delightful neat drink and nibbles though watching the sunset. It could not have been extra great for a check out out about the bay from our deck.

Sunset Perspective from our Motel space

Whitianga Wharf

Driving up by means of the hills from Coromandel Town to Whitianga Wharf was pleasant in the cool early morning. We explored the little coast town ahead of heading to our zodiac with Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruises.

Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruises

We had the most amazing day on the water with our skipper, Ken, a keen photographer himself. He took us to all the greatest places. Cathedral Cove, Orua Sea Cave and some good coastlines. This 2.5-hour cruise was surely a highlight of our trip. Remarkable photographs and even noticed a hammerhead shark in the marine park. Having picked a small vessel and proficient cruise operator we ended up self-confident of acquiring the best sights and incredible pics from a neighborhood who understood the location very nicely. So considerably better than the significant cruise boats we have experienced in the earlier. Not to point out becoming on a zodiac on the h2o was such a thrill.

I wished we experienced put in extra time that just a several times listed here. I would dearly appreciate to occur back again to this stunning coastal location.

Ideas:

  • It is pretty choppy on the drinking water, so test and have your shutter pace at least 1/1600 to 1/2500 second, ISO can be at least ISO400 — 640
  • It is difficult to say the minimum to improve lenses though on the drinking water, salt spray, motion and so forth. So choose a lens and adhere with it. I took a 18-200mm.
  • If you are going out on the drinking water, a CPL (Round Polarizer Filter) can enable reduce down glare and can allow for you to seize the action under the area if you are blessed to see some.
  • Of course, don’t forget about drinking water, sunscreen, a hat, and a lens cleaner to get rid of the sea spray you will inevitably get on your lens. A UV filter/protector may possibly be a very good expenditure way too.
  • When not capturing, consider to preserve your digicam and lens included to shield them from salt spray and h2o.