Reflections of a Sound

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Reflections of a Sound

Showcasing Fiordland NZ to the world through photos, videos, blogs & music. https://fiordlandprints.weebly.com/

All Media © Nick Keizerwaard.

Email me at [email protected]

07/09/2026

Nice to get a bit of sun today between the rain, rain, and more rain 🙄

Here are a few single frames I haven't posted before 🖖

04/09/2026

📣 DOC is currently taking submissions on Real Journeys' application to continue and expand passenger/cruise operations here on Lake Te Anau — including opening up trips into South Fiord and other parts of the lake.

Submissions close 5pm TODAY, 4 September. Most of us only found out via a community post today, so if this is news to you too — you're not alone, but there's still time to have your say.

My take: I'm broadly supportive. More activation of the lake is good for Te Anau, and the potential to explore further into South Fiord is genuinely exciting — provided it doesn't come at the cost of public access, and any vessels used are genuinely moving toward carbon-neutral.

My one real hesi is the 30-year term being sought. That's a long time to lock in without review..! I'd rather see 10 years with a right of renewal, so the investment case still holds but DOC (and us locals) get a proper check-in down the track.

Thoughts? Comment below 👇

SUBMISSION LINK:
👉 https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/have-your-say/all-consultations/2026-consultations/consultations-on-authorisation-applications/real-journeys-ltd/

$A bit of 'Lothlórien' artistic license on this edit for your Friday. 🍂\Our big backyard is a confirmed location for land...$

03/09/2026

A bit of 'Lothlórien' artistic license on this edit for your Friday. 🍂\

Our big backyard is a confirmed location for landscape shots in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is now about 2 months into principal photography ahead of its December 2027 release.

The rugged wilderness of Fiordland National Park is heavily tied to the tracking sequences where Aragorn hunts down Gollum.

Who else is excited to see Middle-Earth back on the big screen? 🙋‍♂️🎬

📷: Falls Creek Track

28/08/2026

'Faith' parked up under a pretty sunset.

📷 Nov 2025

27/08/2026

Take me back! 🌞

I did a pretty daft thing up here. From the hut, I made my way up to a ridgeline overlooking South Fiord (not that you can see it here).

Because of the icy terrain, I brought my trekking poles for stability. The mistake? I left my gloves back at the hut.
I then soon decided to ditch the poles in favour of warm hands.
It seemed like the right call, until I got back and found my poles strewn down the hillside with massive chunks of rubber missing...🤦‍♂️🦜

📷 Luxmore Hut, Kepler Track | 21 July 2026

21/08/2026

Lake Alabaster | Late Night | Early Morning

🌳😍📷🌳

19/08/2026

Yes! The weather forecast was bang on! ☀️ 🌌

Three nights up the Hollyford Valley. Calm, clear nights, sunny days. Pretty much as good as it gets!*

But tbh, I’m still not sure what to make of the Hollyford Track 🤔

There are some proper good landmarks along the way, and I’ve tried to capture them as I saw them here. But when I reached Lake Alabaster, I had surprisingly little interest in venturing further.

Beyond this, “The Demon Trail” held little interest (name alone says a lot 😅)

Sure, you can take a jet boat during the season. But then you kinda want to say you walked the whole thing, right? It’s a bit like running a marathon and getting a cab for the last 10km.

So I’m left with a slightly odd conclusion: I absolutely loved the Hollyford Valley. I’m just not convinced I’d love doing the whole Hollyford Track...

Maybe I’m missing something.

For those who have done the full thing, is the Demon Trail day actually worth the suffering to get out to the coast?

Either way, Lake Alabaster is one hell of a destination, and it was great to see all the mahi done on the trail (new suspension bridges) since my last trip.

Here’s what I captured along the way.

*Except for the sleepless night next to a snorer 🥴👋➡️⛺️

12/08/2026

Moody scenes down at the lake tonight 🌦️

11/08/2026

It must be about time for another Milford adventure...!

📷 Shot in April 2025.

Southland NZ

09/08/2026

Before Fiordland, there was Queenstown.

I spent five years as a Licensed Sales Associate with RE/MAX Real Estate, selling some pretty spectacular properties in and around Queenstown while shooting all my own media.

Property was the focus, but looking back, it was also probably a precursor for my obsession with landscape photography. I had a few drones along the way and was the first to offer aerial photography in the Queenstown market; but given the choice, I’d still rather walk up a hill and wait for the right light.

There’s something about photographing a great property in great surroundings, and Queenstown certainly provided no shortage of either.

There were some great wins, plenty of interesting interactions, but always a sense of moving forward.

Now, after five years in Fiordland, I’m tinkering with the idea of getting back into real estate here.

Different landscape. Different market. Same appreciation for a good view.

Address

Te Anau
9600

Website

https://fiordlandprints.weebly.com/

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