Peter Gallagher mark Peter Gallagher Dot Net
Sea stacks off Wharariki Beach, New Zealand
Sea stacks off Wharariki Beach, northern tip of the South Island

New Zealand Sea-scapes

Sea stacks and coasts of the South Island, May 2024

A collection of images made in May 2024 on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, on a trip organised by Brett Wood. We started near Nelson in the very north of the South Island and made our way down the West Coast over seven days to Fox Glacier and Lake Mathieson — all in glorious autumn weather.

The tour took in the dramatic sea-stacks and surf beaches of Wharariki and Motukiekie, the extraordinary Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, and the incomparable Lake Matheson with its famous reflections of the dual peaks of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.

All images were made with an OM-Systems OM-1 camera and either a 12–40mm f/4.0 or an 8–25mm f/4.0 lens. You are welcome to use or reproduce any of these with an acknowledgement.
Pre-dawn on Wharakiri Beach
Wharakiri sunset
Sand patterns, Pataurau Beach
Sea stacks from Motukiekie Beach
Rocks at Motukiekie Beach
Waves at Pancake Rocks
Motukiekie Rocks at Sunset
Starfish on the rocks at Motukiekie Beach
Sunset on the Motukiekie Rocks
Lake Matheson — looking toward Mt Cook and Mt Tasman
Changing light on the mountains at sunset
Blue hour looking west from Reflection Island
Peter's Pool — remnant of the Fox Glacier retreat
Lake Matheson at dawn, looking east toward Mt Haast and Mt La Perouse