New Zealand sea lions in the Catlins

The New Zealand sea lion, formerly known as Hooker sea lion is endemic to New Zealand. It is the rarest species of sea lion in the world, with the majority of their population restricted to sub-Antarctic islands. Since 1993, a breeding population has re-established itself on the mainland of New Zealand, after more than 150 years of no births occurring here. The following photos are of my first time seeing New Zealand sea lions, in the Catlins. 

New Zealand sealion (Scientific name) in Surat Bay

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National park in New Zealand has to be one of the most dramatic and beautiful areas in the world. It is a place where tall mountains, glacial-carved fjords, high rainfall and countless waterfalls come together to create stunning scenery with ever-changing moods. It's the perfect place to reconnect with nature. 

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound

Milford Sound

The steep-sided walls of the valleys have been carved out by glaciers

 Mirror lake

The wild west coast of the South Island of New Zealand

After being away from New Zealand for a while it was a treat to return and explore some new places that I hadn't visited before. You always appreciate your home a lot more when you have been away from it for a while. The west coast of the South Island of New Zealand instantly captivated me. The rugged and wild coastline is completely different to the east. This part of the country is often hit by high rainfall, creating lush rain forests, and the stunning mountain scenery is awe-inspiring.

Peter's Pool - my favourite little spot on the west coast of New Zealand

Franz Josef glacier

Punakaiki, pancake rocks

Cetaceans in crystal clear waters

One of the first things I noticed during my first summer in the Azores, is how amazingly clear the water gets as it starts to warm up. To add to the water clarity, on a few lucky days of the year there is little or no wind, forming a perfectly flat ocean without ripples. These are the best conditions for seeing whales and dolphins and we can often see beautiful reflections and the entire animals through the crystal clear water.

Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

Curious bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis)

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) diving into the deep

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)