I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind
My name is Johan Lolos, I’m a professional travel and adventure photographer, and I’m just back from New Zealand where I spent a whole year exploring every single region of the country. Between October 2014 and September 2015, I travelled 25,000+ km (15,500+ miles) across both main islands, including the smaller and less-known Stewart Island (NZ’s 3rd biggest island), most of the time road tripping with friends in a camper van or in my own car.
What I saw in New Zealand blew my mind. Not only did I find some pure wilderness I’ve never seen before, but also a true paradise for any outdoors enthusiasts and of course any landscape and travel photographers. Not to mention some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. Kiwi people are one of a kind!
New Zealand changed me forever. It is there that I started my career as a full-time photographer, it is there that I discovered my passion for the outdoors and mountains, and it is there that I lived for 7 months in the most relaxing place on Earth: Wanaka. Now I have some new plans for 2016 but I know that I’ll be back in New Zealand one day, probably sooner than expected. In the meantime, I’d like to share with you this series of pictures I took during my time there. There are 4O pictures that all represent a unique moment to me, and I hope you’ll find some inspiration in them.
More info: johanlolos.com | Instagram
Mt Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park
Cardrona ski resort
Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park
Southern lights (aurora australis) in Wanaka
Moke Lake, Queenstown
Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka
Mt Aspiring
Camping on top of Roys Peak, Lake Wanaka
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
Roys Peak, Wanaka
Ben Lomond, Queenstown
Lake Harris, Mt Aspiring National Park
Lake Gunn, Fiordland National Park
Lake Pukaki & Mt Cook
Roys Peak, Wanaka
Lake Wanaka
Hokitika Gorge, Westland
The Coromandel
Marlborough Sounds
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
Milford Road, Fiordland National Park
Mt Aspiring National Park
Franz Josef Glacier, Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Fiordland National Park
Hooker Lake & Mt Cook, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Aoraki, Mt Cook National Park
Bay of Islands, Northland
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
Abel Tasman National Park
Wanaka
Aoraki, Mt Cook National Park
The road to Mt Cook
Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka
Whale Bay, Northland
Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park
Lake Wanaka
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Share on FacebookThe most beautiful pictures of NZ that I have ever seen, terrific photography Johan, thank you, do come back again.
I've lived in New Zealand for 14 years and found it the most beautiful country in the world. Love the way you have captured NZ with your work.
I agree, I spent 15 months and traveled 20000kms and wanna go back to live. Why did you moved out and where?
Load More Replies...Your photogrphas ae simply amazing Johan but then NZ is an amazingly beautiful country of so many different palettes. Your captures are just exquisite, especially as I no longer live there.
Load More Replies...Visited there 6 times (my longest trip was a 6 week drive yourself) and just fell in love with the scenery and the people.
stunning work, our nation is so beautiful, the most precious part of it is the people, I am glad you enjoyed the time. Kia ora
Thank you for showing me such beauty in my own country... Thank you!
Amazing photos!! Are the photos of kayaking on wanaka lake sunrise or sunset ?
Very very beautifull pictures. The most picturisque country in thw world...great camera work
Yes, we are very lucky to live here. Heaven on Earth! Thanks Rachel, I will share it.
I'm in NZ right now and can't wait to see all those beautiful places... :) they look amazing!
Absolutely breathtaking i felt like i'm there! Really nice pictures, thank you for what you did! <3
Amazing! I loved NZ and wish to go back. Your photos are sublime :)
What beautiful photos! I'm heading to NZ for a few days and I hope to see as many beautiful landscape as I can while I'm there.
Pretty good. I live in New Zealand and near Whale Bay. Looks like you didn't have great weather while in Northland. You need to do another trip to see the rest of the stunning places. We are spoiled for choice here in NZ.
These stunning pictures of our beautiful country have reignited my dream to get out there and see it all through my own eyes. Thank you for sharing your pictures.
Awesome beauty, amazing pictures, only wish I could live there one day.
Wow, I love them all, and they are being shared on New Zealand Landscape FB group. We are all photographers so will appreciate the time and love you have put into each and every photo taken.
Stunning, great work. I would love to design jewellery to match the energy from these amazing pictures. Love your work.
We loved having you in our part of the world. Wanaka is beautiful but you captured it perfectly and have showed the world our little secret! This place really is a small piece of heaven. Thanks for sharing your wonderful shots.
We loved having you here in Wanaka - your photography does our area justice and brings alive this beautiful location.
Amazing photos! But not even close to EVERY region. Theres plenty more for you to see there bro!
Have a look at my website johanlolos.com and you'll see every regions of NZ except for North Island's east coast ;)
Load More Replies...Beautiful pictures! What time of year did you see the aurora australus?
Great photos. My wife I were in a mini helicopter that landed on Roys peak. I have a photo that would rival yours. No photos of the magnificent Wanganui river ? Most tourists canoe the upper regions. Come back & treat your self
beautiful photos Johan, so pleased you enjoyed your time but there is one important region you missed and that's our place - Rēkohu/Chatham islands, so you'll have to come back
Tino Ataahua, the Marlborough Sounds Picture is where my family lives, called Whangarae Bay :)
Hey Karamea :) am hoping to take my daughter to visit this year. It's been too long!! I hope you, Candy and Jason are well.
Load More Replies...The most beautiful pictures of NZ that I have ever seen, terrific photography Johan, thank you, do come back again.
I've lived in New Zealand for 14 years and found it the most beautiful country in the world. Love the way you have captured NZ with your work.
I agree, I spent 15 months and traveled 20000kms and wanna go back to live. Why did you moved out and where?
Load More Replies...Your photogrphas ae simply amazing Johan but then NZ is an amazingly beautiful country of so many different palettes. Your captures are just exquisite, especially as I no longer live there.
Load More Replies...Visited there 6 times (my longest trip was a 6 week drive yourself) and just fell in love with the scenery and the people.
stunning work, our nation is so beautiful, the most precious part of it is the people, I am glad you enjoyed the time. Kia ora
Thank you for showing me such beauty in my own country... Thank you!
Amazing photos!! Are the photos of kayaking on wanaka lake sunrise or sunset ?
Very very beautifull pictures. The most picturisque country in thw world...great camera work
Yes, we are very lucky to live here. Heaven on Earth! Thanks Rachel, I will share it.
I'm in NZ right now and can't wait to see all those beautiful places... :) they look amazing!
Absolutely breathtaking i felt like i'm there! Really nice pictures, thank you for what you did! <3
Amazing! I loved NZ and wish to go back. Your photos are sublime :)
What beautiful photos! I'm heading to NZ for a few days and I hope to see as many beautiful landscape as I can while I'm there.
Pretty good. I live in New Zealand and near Whale Bay. Looks like you didn't have great weather while in Northland. You need to do another trip to see the rest of the stunning places. We are spoiled for choice here in NZ.
These stunning pictures of our beautiful country have reignited my dream to get out there and see it all through my own eyes. Thank you for sharing your pictures.
Awesome beauty, amazing pictures, only wish I could live there one day.
Wow, I love them all, and they are being shared on New Zealand Landscape FB group. We are all photographers so will appreciate the time and love you have put into each and every photo taken.
Stunning, great work. I would love to design jewellery to match the energy from these amazing pictures. Love your work.
We loved having you in our part of the world. Wanaka is beautiful but you captured it perfectly and have showed the world our little secret! This place really is a small piece of heaven. Thanks for sharing your wonderful shots.
We loved having you here in Wanaka - your photography does our area justice and brings alive this beautiful location.
Amazing photos! But not even close to EVERY region. Theres plenty more for you to see there bro!
Have a look at my website johanlolos.com and you'll see every regions of NZ except for North Island's east coast ;)
Load More Replies...Beautiful pictures! What time of year did you see the aurora australus?
Great photos. My wife I were in a mini helicopter that landed on Roys peak. I have a photo that would rival yours. No photos of the magnificent Wanganui river ? Most tourists canoe the upper regions. Come back & treat your self
beautiful photos Johan, so pleased you enjoyed your time but there is one important region you missed and that's our place - Rēkohu/Chatham islands, so you'll have to come back
Tino Ataahua, the Marlborough Sounds Picture is where my family lives, called Whangarae Bay :)
Hey Karamea :) am hoping to take my daughter to visit this year. It's been too long!! I hope you, Candy and Jason are well.
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