AuthenticAs Queenstown: Love & Adventure Unite
Journey with us through Queenstown, New Zealand, where love and adventure converge in a tale as unique as yours. Meet Ian and Selena, a couple seeking something extraordinary for their pre-wedding shoot, and if we could include Ian’s parents Mercy & Noel, that would be the icing on the cake.
Here at AuthenticAs we pride ourselves on offering something different, not a run of the mill experience. Instead we can craft our packages individually for you whilst you visit the truly beautiful Southern Lakes district of Aotearoa / New Zealand.
Our AuthenticAs Queenstown Adventure isn't just about photographs; it's a journey guided by our passion for this stunning land we call home. Picture cruising in our stylish Land Rovers, exploring hidden gems known only to locals, and soaking in tales of Queenstown's rich history.
We share the history of this place with you, adding in personal observations and reflections we’ve had here during the course of the last two decades. The place has supported, nourished and amazed us every single day, for the last two decades and we want to pass that onto you.
On this particular Sunday, Tāwhirimātea, the Māori ancestor of the wind, decided to grace us with his presence. He certainly doesn’t make it easy for photographers, but when discovering the veil that Selena had with her, we just knew we were going to have to embrace the wind with all that we had.
Standing by the lake on a day like this is an incredible experience. The power embedded in the waves, the noise they make as they crash into the shore, it’s energy is infectious. As we started capturing photographs of Ian and Selena, Mum and Dad were able to enjoy the shore. As any couple will tell you, it’s amazing fun to be photographed, but it’s also so relieving if you can insert some natural rests. A bit of time away from the camera, just to yourselves to create some memories. We can capture this from a distance, but this morning we used that time to capture some incredible moments between Selena & Noel.
Onto the serene shores of Lake Hayes, where time stands still amidst nature's embrace. Lose yourselves in the beauty of the landscape, surrounded by the gentle rustle of willow trees. Nestled between Arrowtown and Frankton, this lake is much more intimate. The friendly ducks, the view of Kawarau, The Māori Giant who sat down to rest and has stayed there ever since, known to many as the Remarkables Mountain Range, these all make perfect ingredients of a Queenstown experience.
There’s been some amazing community work carried out here in the form of native plantings, meaning that as the years pass by, this place is going to become even more beautiful. The lake itself is surrounded by a 10km loop track, so if you’re that way inclined and have a few hours to spare during your stay here, you’ll know exactly where to come to enjoy this very popular route.
But no Queenstown adventure is complete without a dash of mountain magic, as we journeyed there we quickly stopped along the way at a beautiful tree lined road. We keep our eye out all the time for these kinds of opportunities, and because this is where we live, we know where to find them, and which ones work really well at certain time of day and year.
Ascending Paharaki (Coronet Peak) we witness the world unfold before us in a breathtaking panorama of beauty. Home to the famous Coronet Peak Ski Field, as well as an ever expanding network of world class mountain bike tracks, this mauka (mountain) is loved by many. It’s easy to see why.
From here you can take in the full majesty of the Wakatipu Basin. We create images with you that are 100% Queenstown. You can’t help but fall in love with this place, and as you do amazing memories are born with those who you love. It truly is one of the most incredible places on the planet. Everytime you look at the images we create together, you’ll be transported back to these times, the nourishing nature you feel as you stand here will come back, reminding you of everything you hold dear.
We even managed to quickly pop over the saddle and spend a very short amount of time at the beginning of the Skippers Road, one of the top ten road in the world apparently. This is such an amazing road to adventure along, we’ve created a separate adventure, one that deserves its own story, which we’ll bring to you soon.
Thanks for coming along on this incredible AuthenticAs Queenstown Adventure, you can book your own right here, it really is a world of difference to anything else out there. A fully private, yes - it is only you and your group, locally guided tour complete with a set of professional photographs of you, making lifelong memories.
