Hawke’s Bay: Te Mata Peak

My favourite photographs of Te Mata Peak, Havelock North

One of the iconic places to visit in Hawke's Bay is Te Mata Peak. An easy 10-minute drive away from the centre of Havelock North, it’s a great spot for sunrise and sunset photos. And if you time is right, there may be some early morning fog around as well…

Golden Peak - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2024)

Light up the Peak - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2021)

Red Flowers and Green Hills - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2020)

Te Mata Peak Sunburst Panorama - Hawke's Bay (2020)

Brief Moment of Light - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2020)

Wake Up - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2017)

Tukituki Valley Fog Panorama - Hawke's Bay (2021)

Go with the Flow - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2021)

Peak Moments - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2021)

Morning fog climbing up the Peak - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2018)

The Morning Fog - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2022)

Golden Light at Te Mata Park - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2022)

Te Mata Peak: The Other Side

There’s more to Te Mata Peak than the grand view towards the bay. Looking in the opposite direction or walking the tracks in Te Mata Park provides quite a few photo opportunities as well.

Mount Erin Summer Panorama - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2021)

Peak Hour - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2020)

Light Dance (Horizontal) - Te Mata Park, Hawke's Bay (2024)

Through the Pines - Te Mata Park, Hawke's Bay

Goat Track Sunset - Te Mata Park, Hawke's Bay (2023)

Mount Erin above the clouds - Hawke's Bay, New Zealand (2018)

All photos from this series are available for licensing and as gallery-quality fine art prints.

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Timelapse Videos

I often go to the top of the peak just to experience the sleepy landscape of Hawke’s Bay wake up. From the summit of Te Mata Peak, you stand above the world, cradled by the ancient contours of the land, as the first light of dawn graces the horizon.

And then, that magical moment: the sun’s rim breaches the horizon. It spills warmth across your face, and you feel connected—to the land, to the sky, to the rhythm of life. Each day, it’s a reminder that no matter what challenges lie ahead, the sun will rise again, painting hope across the sky.

These timelapse videos show these moments.

Igniting Fog.

I have been walking up and down Te Mata Peak for a number of years now, and have taken quite a few photos at sunrise and sunset. Although the view is usually magnificent and I walk down with another pleasing shot, sometimes you feel like doing something different. This was my first attempt at creating a timelapse from the Peak.

Into the Morning Fog.

A timelapse of the dense fog flowing through the Tukituki Valley taken from the top of Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.