Manuscripts; New Zealand Travel Log
Born in London, taken on a jumbo jet, aged 8 to Auckland New Zealand, I was instantly taken to international travel.
Highlights, Crown Range, Cardrona Valley New Zealand
Highlights, the clear blue lakes in Central Otago Lake Ruataniwhai, taken with Leica M6 and 35mm Fuji film
We started our trip in Queenstown and drove to Arrowtown for late lunch on the way to our Air bnb in Omarama.
The next day my son Francis took a snap of me as I rode from Dunstan Downs to Omarama 18 kilometres, Geva our host drove our car down there so we could both ride together!
I picked up the car in Omarama while Francis continued along state highway 8, it took me 45 minuets to cycle 18 kilometres. I am holding my vintage rolleiflex camera which I put Fuji Provia 100F Professional 120 roll film. This is one of my favourite films. I buy a 5 pack!
Francis Qureshi joined me later as I drove past him! He cycled 31 kilometres on state highway 8 to Lake Ruataniwhai.
5th Nov 2015
#francis qureshi #lake ruataniwhai
Lake Ruataniwhai, the azure lakes of the southern alps a coloured by rock flour there no photoshopping just pure celluloid film.
Leica camera fuji 35mm film leicam6
5th November 2015
Lake Ruataniwhai rolleiflex camera
Fujichrome Provia 100F Professional 120 roll film
We drove down together to the Hooker Valley Track after our picnic in Mount Cook village! We were lucky it was a brilliant day, so lots of good photographs. I used the rolleiflex camera
Fujichrome Provia 100F Professional 120 roll film
5th November 2015
The square format of the rolleiflex allowed me to capture this shot, the camera has a convenient grid on the viewfinder to keep it level. This is the hooker valley at Mount Cook Aoraki in Maori.
Fujichrome Provia 100F Professional 120 roll film
5th November 2015
Mount Cook or Aoraki, translates to cloud piercer is the highest mountain in New Zealand and it is considered sacred or tapu to the Maori traditions.
leicam6
35mm photography
Mount Cook, Aoraki is considered tapu, sacred, the Maori would not climb to the summit. The bones of high ranking men and women were laid to rest in burial caves on their tapu mountain. New Zealander's follow this tradition too!
Hooker valley
leicam6 35mm photography
5th November 2015
Mount Cook, Aoraki, cloud piercer. There is a saying in maori ‘he kapua kei rungai i Aoraki, whakarewa whakarewa' the cloud that floats aloft Aoraki, for ever fly, stay aloft! Mount Cook is often cloaked in clouds or mist; but today at lunch time were treated to a full sunny day!
Tasman lake
leicam6 35mm photography
6th November 2015
Mount Cook is not a people friendly mountain, you need a high fitness level and advanced mountaineering skills. There are mountain huts, at a lower altitude you can trek to, and they are very rewarding. There is plenty of information on the department of conservation website or DOC: Do take precautions, if you want to conquer an New Zealand mountain you can do the Tongariro crossing. I have done that too, which is located in the North Island, this mountain has "gentler" slopes, and mount Ngauruhoe is spectacular.
For more information on climbing Mount Cook see link
https://www.adventureconsultants.com/expeditions/new-zealand-ascents/aoraki-mount-cook/
Tasman lake leicam6
35mm photography @francisqureshi-blog photographer
We drove up to Glenorchy to paradise singing frog airbnb it was a cool relaxing refreshing place with a wonderful garden. We had a big day of walking the next day!
Saturday 7th November 2015
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with #francisqureshi.
Francis is looking at the Humboldt mountains of the Routeburn Track on our way to the Routeburn Falls Hut, elevation 1,290 meters. Francis was in London before, this is his first taste of New Zealands' back country, it is exhilarating!
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Sunday 8th November
The Maori walked in single file as did Francis and myself, the tracks soon became heavily worn, they would drive in pegs so they would not get lost.
They put up ladders of crossed rivers on flax mōkihi (rafts). We crossed the rivers on modern bridges images of the Maori came to mind as this was a place to find precious Pounamu or greenstone which was highly prized by the Maori and later the Europeans.
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Maori had many sayings about walking on a track. One remains true today: ‘Ka uia tonutia e koe ka roa tonu te ara; ka kāore koe e ui ka poto te ara’ (If you keep asking the distance, the path will be long; if you don’t ask, it will be short).
I shot Francis with Kodak TMax 400 ASA 35 mm black and white film with a LeicaM6
We stayed the night in the Routeburn Falls hut below us. It had incredible views.
We only stayed one night as we did not have all the equipment. I watched all the other backpackers and took mental notes, next time we will do the whole track!
Rolleiflex Fuji provia 120 roll film
We headed back to the carpark it was downhill from the Routeburn Falls Hut. Yesterday we climbed 1000 metres, as we came back we detoured to the other nature walks nearer to the base, we took our time!
Monday 9th November
We drove to Milford Sound it was breathtaking and checked into the Milford lodge, which, like the Routeburn track had to be booked well in advance. We had wine, beer and a lovely dinner there, which tasted all the better after backpacking.
Monday 9th November
LeicaM6 Kodak TMax 400 asa film
We checked out of the Milford Lodge after an excellent cooked breakfast, we explored the Milford coast it was cooler, but so enchanting, next time I will book two nights and bring food as there is a cooking area too, as well as a restaurant.
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Milford Sound or Piopiotahi, is named after the piopio, an extinct native bird said to have flown here in mourning at the death of legendary hero Maui.
Tuesday 10th November
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In the afternoon we boarded the Milford Wandered for an overnight cruise!
Maori legend tell the origin of the fiords were carved out by the demi god Tu-te-raki-whanoa. His aim was to create waterways and safe harbours stocked with fish and birds He started at the southern end of the south island and worked his way north.
Rolleiflex Ilford HP5 Plus 120 Black and White Film 400 ASA
On the Milford Wanderer, we took a detour to part of the Milford track called Sandfly point. Our guides showed us rare orchid flowering plants, it was simply brilliant!
Kodak TMax 400 ASA 35 mm black and white film with LeicaM6
After our great Milford walk we settled back on the boat for some fabulous food and amazing atmosphere! Francis and I played cards and talked under a pitch black sky, to our guests aboard the Milford Wanderer.
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The next day after breakfast we sailed to the Tasman sea we saw Fiordland crested penguins swimming by the boat. At the mouth of the fiord we saw many Hooker sea lions, whakahao in Maori and a humpback whale.
Rolleiflex Ilford HP5 Plus 120 Black and White Film 400 ASA
Wednesday 11th November
“Other glaciers ran down towards the coast, eroding the valleys well below sea level, which eventually gave us all the fiords.
In many cases, the water is actually deeper inside the mouths of the fiords than it is outside, because the ice piled up here, before melting when it was finally ejected into the water.”
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For more information on glaciation I found this excellent thesis.
https://www.fergusmurraysculpture.com/new-zealand/the-milford-road-and-sound-8-pages/vi-milford-sound-geology-and-glaciation/
The next day we took another cruise to the Doubtful Sound which I think was more outstanding than Milford Sound
That afternoon, we went Kayaking on the Doubtful Sound it was a beautiful calm day.
Kodak TMax 400 ASA 35 mm black and white film with LeicaM6
Sailing on the Doubtful Sound is just incredible!
Kayaking in the afternoon, so much fun amongst cascading waterfalls.In the evening we had an amazing buffet, so much food!
Just magical!
Rolleiflex Fuji provia 120 roll film
Thursday 12th November 2015
We all stood right at the front of the boat hugging mugs of tea as we made our way to the opening of the huge fiord. We saw Fiordland crested penguins, a pod of sea lions sunbathing.
It was just breathtaking!
Rolleiflex Fuji provia 120 roll film
Thursday 12th November 2015
The Doubtful Sound is truly a staggering area of natural beauty, next time I’m going to do the Dusky Sound. The camera cannot capture it all but I tried!
The Maori name for Doubtful Sound is Patea, which means ‘the place of silence.’ As we sailed, every one stayed silent it was memorable!
Thursday morning 12th November 2015
Rolleiflex Fuji provia 120 roll film
Kayaking on the Doubtful Sound
Kodak TMax 400 ASA 35 mm black and white film with LeicaM6 camera
We drove Back to Queenstown and then on to Glenorchy. The next day after an amazing breakfast, we drove to Paradise and walked around the Dart river above.
Rolleiflex, Fuji Provia 120mm Film
Friday 13th November 2015
#dart river #glenorchy #paradise #south island #new zealand #rolleiflex #120mm photography #Fuji Provia 100F Professional
Dart river iPhone 6 photography Glenorchy
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Friday 13th November
Francis is in front of me taking photos with his Leica M6 at the Dart river,
Afterwards we drove to Lake Hawea.
Iphone6 panorama
Friday 13th November 2015
After our hearty homemade breakfast of corn fritters, we climbed Grand view track, it took me back to my childhood of climbing every mountain my brother and I found, when I lived in Auckland.
In the evening I read books about the early colonial New Zealand women who worked long hours every day, without all our modern appliances.
Iphone6
Saturday 14th November 2015
Grand View Creek with Lake Hawea in the background
Rolleiflex, 120 mm roll film Fuji provia 100
Saturday 14th November 2015
We drove to Franz Joseph from Lake Hawea, the drive itself was astounding. We kept stopping and taking photos of the wild wind swept trees on New Zealands' west coast.
Kodak TMax 400 ASA 35 mm black and white film with LeicaM6 camera
Sunday 15th November
We visited Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere or Franz Joseph Glacier today. Glaciers all around the world are retreating because of global warming. The Fox and the Franz Josef glaciers are unique to other glaciers in the world and has been expanding since the 1970′s due to the warming of the Tasman Sea, which has created more humidity in the air, and increased the precipitation of snow.
Kodak TMax 400 ASA 35 mm black and white film in LeicaM6
In the afternoon we drove to Okarito which was 10 minutes from our Airbnb, it was a stunning beach! There was lots of drift wood and polished pebbles, we enjoyed beach combing!
Iphone6
Monday 16th November 2015
The journey on the way back to Queenstown was impressive, we stopped at Lake Hawea to stretch our legs
Tuesday 17th November
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Crown Range is the highest road in New Zealand, it lies between Wanaka and Queenstown. This is not my first time driving in New Zealand and I am used to steep roads, there is another less scenic route, but this one is more memorable. Francis went off to film the tussocks he was gone for 20 minutes! We are travelling in New Zealand spring time, in June to August there is an excellent ski school here, and you'll need snow tyres or chains.
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Tuesday 17th November 2015
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Tuesday 17th November 2015
The Queenstown to Auckland flight takes under an hour. We stayed in my hometown to visit friends and family. Then we hired another car and headed for Leigh up north. We stayed in a charming Airbnb overlooking Leigh and took the coastal walks and a picnic. I remembered coming here as a child.
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Saturday 21st November
We drove to Goat island in the morning, and stopped off at Makatana for lunch, before heading back to Auckland.
Sunday 22nd November
Kodak TMax 400 ASA 35 mm black and white film in LeicaM6
We had a great holiday, It was really inspiring for my next upcoming projects!
Tuesday 24th November 2105
