We've been waiting 13 years for this holiday: in February my husband and I are finally off to Australia via a 2 day stay in Hong Kong. Stopovers in Melbourne, Warnambool (end of the Great Ocean Road) Hamilton Island (Whitsundays) and Sydney. Then in early March on to New Zealand and touring from a starting point of Christchurch with a month to fill before flying out of Auckland and home via a 2 day stay in Singapore at the beginning of April.
I would be glad of suggestions for great photo opportunities in any of these locations.
Having been to NZ three times, absolutely anywhere on the South Island will give you fantastic photo opportunities!!! My husband got so sick of me asking him to stop...he made me take photos through the windscreen...and they were still beautiful!
@julieco Wow what a wonderful adventure!! I remember watching Lord of the Rings and thinking 'that amazing scenery really exists?!' I understand they used NZ for middle earth, and would try to find some of the locations if I was ever lucky enough to go there. No doubt somewhere there's a link / way of finding out. Can't wait to see the shots. I'm buying another lottery ticket while I think about it........!
West coast of NZ is beautiful as is Milford Sound. I liked Akaroa enormously, outside of Christchurch, and is a cool place to unwind. Great Ocean Rd is special and lots of fabulous coastline and temperate rainforests in the Otways. Queenscliff and Sorento are historic and are connected by a ferry.Queensland and Victoria can be quite hot in February. for hot. Sydney is not called the emerald city by some for nothing. It is spectacularly beautiful. Catch the commuter ferry to Manly, walk the corso, have lunch and on the ride back get the best views of Opera House. Walk the bridge and climb up the a south Pylon for spectacular views. Stroll around the rock and visit some of the old pubs. The Hero of Waterloo is one of my favourites. Book a show at Opera House online, have dinner at the Quay and enjoy the sunset over the bridge. Enjoy
@onie@filsie65@peterdegraaff Thank you all for responding. Special thanks to Peter for all those suggestions. I've followed your photos since I joined the 365 community and they are part of the reason that we finally got the trip booked. Can't wait - and keep those ideas coming!
In Sydney, there are some great sights to be had a Taronga zoo. Not only the animals, but also the views from the zoo across the harbour. There are some amazing walks around the coast- Bondi to Coogee, and the Manly Spit walk are two which I have done and they are beautiful. The Botanic Gardens is a great place too. Watsons Bay area. Darling Harbour, the Chinatown/Chinese Gardens....soooo many places!
If you're up for a day trip the Blue Mountains are also amazing. There would likely be buses which day trip up there, it's about 1-1 1/2 hours (depending where you visit in the mountains) to get up there and the walks and views are beautiful.
You will have an amazing time!!
The South Island is beautiful, absolutely stunning. From Christchurch you can access the West Coast as Peter suggested and the Nelson/ Golden Bay region is wonderful as well. (top of the South Island) Or kayaking trips around coastlines such as the Abel Tasman National Park. If you have time to explore Fiordland do, that is somewhere you won't see anywhere else on Earth. There are wonderful bush walks in most areas if you're inclined. The Catlins below Dunedin is phenomenal. I think Wellington is marvellous (It's home). You can meander either west or East going to Auckland from Wellington. East is prettier, West is more rugged but also beautiful. In the North Island some of the back roads are great, get off the highways and take the scenic routes. The Wairarapa South coast is amazing, Coromandel Peninsula is really pretty and close to Auckland. These links may help narrow it down. http://www.doc.govt.nz/by-region/ (Department of Conservtion website- shows national parks, walking tracks, DOC accommadation, natural history etc) http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/http://www.bookabach.co.nz/ (places to stay)
@hjbenson Harry I would love to meet up with you (NZ)
@julieco Tauranga is a gorgeous place to photograph very coastal and lots of gorgeous little hidee holes.. also if you can get up to the Northland area beautiful sceneries to be captured
@kellieem@carolinedreams@silverhorn Many thanks for all those ideas. You've made me even more impatient for the trip to start, but lots of planning and booking of accomodation to do before then.
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If you're up for a day trip the Blue Mountains are also amazing. There would likely be buses which day trip up there, it's about 1-1 1/2 hours (depending where you visit in the mountains) to get up there and the walks and views are beautiful.
You will have an amazing time!!
@julieco Tauranga is a gorgeous place to photograph very coastal and lots of gorgeous little hidee holes.. also if you can get up to the Northland area beautiful sceneries to be captured