Even in a small country like New Zealand, well known for its scenic beauty, there are many amazing places that are not well travelled. Images from two of these places have just been uploaded to the Recent Images Gallery. What places you ask?
The first one is Sawcut Gorge in the Isolated Hill Scenic Reserve at the northern end of the Kaikoura Coast (see Recent Images). Here a very narrow chasm can be found where water has cut through the limestone – the light filters down to the stream bed from around 30-40 meters above creating a beautiful mixture of colours through the chasm. Best time to get there is around the middle of the day when the sun is above – and don’t go after rain (multiple crossings of the stream and Waima River are required). But the whole experience can easily be done in a day and the uniqueness of it all is something to behold.
The second one is the Lewis Pass ‘tops’ where it is possible to get high up into the New Zealand Alps, and down again, in a day (also in Recent Images). From the pass itself it is a steep and steady climb of about 600 meters but once up there the views are ‘for miles’. Chances are not another soul will be seen as the track is a ‘one-way return’, although I guess you could go along the ridges and end up somewhere else! It is reasonably flat and walkable near the top and if you are a photographer then you need to stay until late afternoon at least (or sleep/tent over!). Then the sun gets low and the shadows and contrast light up the view for miles around.