South Island: 13 great places to take pictures

CNN Staff
5 minute read
Updated 10:10 PM EDT, Mon September 18, 2017
The best spot to stop for pictures along this 45-kilometer road trip is Bennets Bluff Lookout, says photographer Mike Hollman.
1. Glenorchy-Queenstown Road —
The best spot to stop for pictures along this 45-kilometer road trip is Bennets Bluff Lookout, says photographer Mike Hollman.
courtesy Mike Hollman
Alien space pods? Monster eggs? The bizarre boulders are best viewed at low tide.
2. Moeraki Boulders —
Alien space pods? Monster eggs? The bizarre boulders are best viewed at low tide.
courtesy Mike Hollman
The best time to see the lupins is the first two weeks of December, says Hollman.
3. Lupins on Lake Tekapo —
The best time to see the lupins is the first two weeks of December, says Hollman.
courtesy Mike Hollman
In the running for the country's most beautiful waterfall.
4. Matai Falls, The Catlins —
In the running for the country's most beautiful waterfall.
courtesy Mike Hollman
There's something about poles in water that draws photographers from all over the world.
5. St .Clair Beach, Dunedin —
There's something about poles in water that draws photographers from all over the world.
courtesy Mike Hollman
The church and Dark Sky Reserve behind it have graced many a photography roundup of beautiful places around the world.
6. Church of the Good Shepherd —
The church and Dark Sky Reserve behind it have graced many a photography roundup of beautiful places around the world.
courtesy Mike Hollman
Of all the purported eighth wonders of the world, this one may be the most striking.
7. Milford Sound —
Of all the purported eighth wonders of the world, this one may be the most striking.
courtesy Mike Hollman
At 3,754 meters, Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain.
8. Aoraki/Mount Cook —
At 3,754 meters, Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain.
courtesy Mike Hollman
The Tasman Glacier's terminus at Tasman Lake provides extraordinary access to icebergs like these.
9. Icebergs on Tasman Lake —
The Tasman Glacier's terminus at Tasman Lake provides extraordinary access to icebergs like these.
courtesy Mike Hollman
An easy walk over the Clearwater River suspension bridge can get you this shot.
10. Lake Matheson —
An easy walk over the Clearwater River suspension bridge can get you this shot.
courtesy Mike Hollman
The 12-kilometer-long glacier descends from the Southern Alps through temperate rainforest to near sea level.
11. Franz Josef Glacier —
The 12-kilometer-long glacier descends from the Southern Alps through temperate rainforest to near sea level.
courtesy Mike Hollman
Early morning and evening scenic flights are the best way to see the Southern Alps.
12. Southern Alps —
Early morning and evening scenic flights are the best way to see the Southern Alps.
courtesy Mike Hollman
"The braided river banks and mountain light make for some great landscape photography," says Hollman of one of his go-to spots.
13. Waimakariri River —
"The braided river banks and mountain light make for some great landscape photography," says Hollman of one of his go-to spots.
courtesy Mike Hollman
NZ South Island's 13 most beautiful photo ops

Story highlights

New Zealand's South Island has fewer people and more scenic views than North Island

NZ travel photographer Mike Hollman lists his favorite places to photograph

List includes best road trip, glaciers, icebergs and alien boulders

CNN  — 

It really isn’t fair that just a million people call New Zealand’s South Island home. Why should so few people get to hog such spectacular landscape? (Compared with, say, similarly sized England’s population of 52 million.)

The larger of the country’s two main islands is more visually stunning than the North Island. With its smaller population, it’s also more lonely and wild. To get a handle of the island’s most sublime landscapes, we asked Auckland-based award-winning photographer Mike Hollman to share his favorite spots to photograph.