After hiking the Kepler Track, I stumbled on this mighty stand of red beech and kahikatea. A light rain soon fell, softening the light that illuminated this old-growth grove.

A canyon carpeted in moss? Check. A roaring ice-cold river? Check. Two frozen feet after poor planning? Priceless. A truly stunning scene in Aotearoa’s scenic Mount Aspiring National Park.

The mountain forests of Fiordland are home to a treasure trove of giant old-growth trees. Near Milford Sound, I spotted this scene mid-hike as the canopy opened to reveal this beech tree surrounded by its peers.

After heavy rain, the crystal clear rivers of Fiordland rise into raging rapids. It’s one of the many moments of awe on offer in this land carved by ice—and still being sculpted with each downpour.

The mountains of Fiordland come alive with fleeting falls during heavy downpours.

Pure midday magic. An ancient beech tree standing strong against the sheer cliffs of Fiordland.

One of the many cascades I stumbled upon in New Zealand recently. Fiordland truly is a magical world and a photographer’s playground.

I stumbled on this scene early in my Fiordland trip, but the day was overcast and the light too flat. A week later the sky had cleared and I hiked up the mountain once more. The setting sun cloaked the valley in shade, yet these alpine branches remained aglow in the dying light.

This is a land where ancient beech trees twist and tower skywards. Where emerald ferns blanket the forest floor. And where sapphire streams carve valleys.

Ever since I hiked the Milford Track with my mother two decades ago, Fiordland’s splendour and solitude have left their mark on me. So it was a delight to return to and explore this enchanted land with her once more.

We hiked through puddles and paths, climbed over (and scrambled under) fallen trunks, shuffled along narrow wire bridges and fell through moss-covered tree roots. We loved every moment of it.

Fading light breaking through the seastack spires of New Zealand’s remote West Coast.

A moment of morning calm as the rising sun breaks through Fiordland’s ancient beech tree forest.

Giant Kahikatea trees towering through rain clouds in the stunning Mount Aspiring National Park.