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I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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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

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Cardrona ski resort

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Southern lights (aurora australis) in Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Moke Lake, Queenstown

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Mt Aspiring

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Camping on top of Roys Peak, Lake Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Roys Peak, Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Ben Lomond, Queenstown

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Lake Harris, Mt Aspiring National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Gunn, Fiordland National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Pukaki & Mt Cook

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Roys Peak, Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Hokitika Gorge, Westland

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

The Coromandel

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Marlborough Sounds

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Milford Road, Fiordland National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Mt Aspiring National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Franz Josef Glacier, Westland Tai Poutini National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Fiordland National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Hooker Lake & Mt Cook, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Aoraki, Mt Cook National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Bay of Islands, Northland

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park

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I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Abel Tasman National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Aoraki, Mt Cook National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

The road to Mt Cook

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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Lake Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Whale Bay, Northland

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

Lake Wanaka

I Spent A Year Exploring New Zealand To Bring Back These Photos And It Blew My Mind

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322Kviews

Johan Lolos

Johan Lolos is a Belgian-born self-taught photographer with a passion for the outdoors and the wilderness. Between 2013 and 2015 he spent two years photographing Australia and NZ and shared his work to his constantly growing audience on Instagram @lebackpacker. In the summer of 2017, Johan completed a 5-month road trip around Europe, a personal project named Peaks of Europe, which is the topic of his first book that can be pre-ordered now.

Johan Lolos is a Belgian-born self-taught photographer with a passion for the outdoors and the wilderness. Between 2013 and 2015 he spent two years photographing Australia and NZ and shared his work to his constantly growing audience on Instagram @lebackpacker. In the summer of 2017, Johan completed a 5-month road trip around Europe, a personal project named Peaks of Europe, which is the topic of his first book that can be pre-ordered now.

What do you think ?

LorraineWilliams 8 years ago

The most beautiful pictures of NZ that I have ever seen, terrific photography Johan, thank you, do come back again.

5points

TonyBailey 8 years ago

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.

5points

DanielGroschup 8 years ago

I agree, I spent 15 months and traveled 20000kms and wanna go back to live. Why did you moved out and where?

0points

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FrancescaBerardi 8 years ago

Omg you're an amazing photographer an I love your pictures **

3points

Esmé Moreira 6 years ago

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.

0points

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LorraineWilliams 8 years ago

The most beautiful pictures of NZ that I have ever seen, terrific photography Johan, thank you, do come back again.

5points

TonyBailey 8 years ago

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.

5points

DanielGroschup 8 years ago

I agree, I spent 15 months and traveled 20000kms and wanna go back to live. Why did you moved out and where?

0points

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FrancescaBerardi 8 years ago

Omg you're an amazing photographer an I love your pictures **

3points

Esmé Moreira 6 years ago

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.

0points

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