Autumn Colour in Hawke’s Bay
Autumn is a spectacular season for photography in the Hawke's Bay. Autumn in the Bay is full of colour with the vineyards turning gold, tree-lined roads, streets, driveways and gardens full of vibrant colours, and misty peaks and valleys emphasizing the explosion of colour.
Below follows a selection of my images displaying Hawke's Bay at its best in autumn.
Waimarama Road, Havelock North
Waimarama Road, just outside of Havelock North, where the famous Craggy Range vineyard is based, runs through the Tukituki valley and along the shadow of Te Mata Peak. In autumn, the trees along both sides of the road take on a golden colour that, combined with the early morning sun, creates quite a spectacle.
Autumn at Waimarama Road
A little bit of morning mist adds some mystique to this autumn-coloured arch of trees. I was surprised that this road was so busy on an early Saturday morning. I was interrupted so many times while putting my tripod in the middle of the road to take this photo.
Vanishing Path
The tree lined path along Waimarama Road, combined with autumn colours and lit up, early morning mist, create a vanishing way into the light.
Pekapeka Wetlands
The Pekapeka Wetlands is a wetland reserve located 12 kilometres by road south of Hastings in the Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The colours of the vegetation in the reserve subtly change throughout the year. Autumn brings early morning mist and a low sun that comes up directly above the walkway.
Pekapeka walkway to the sun
The thin mist in between the boardwalk and the rising sun create an interplay of cool and warm tones at the Pekapeka wetlands.
Pekapeka Wetlands Golden Tree Reflection
The mist floating above the Pekapeka Wetlands on a calm, autumn day creates a moody atmosphere with a golden reflection of a tree lit up by the early morning sun.
Te Mata Peak
Autumn brings in the fog that often covers the Tukituki Valley in the mornings. The trees at the foothills of the peak are something to keep a close eye on at this time of year.
Trees, Birds and Fog
These trees at the base of Te Mata Peak were showing themselves off and on as the fog flowed through the Tukituki Valley. I was watching them for quite some time just after sunrise, waiting for the right light and fog coverage, when these birds came flying by. That was the right moment to press the shutter.
Lake Tutira
Lake Tutira (Tūtira), and the smaller Lake Waikopiro (Waikopirō) are located approximately 50km north of Napier. Lake Tutira is home to an abundance of wildlife and is a popular fishing spot. These lakes are located in the Tutira Regional Park that has a basic camping ground ideal for camper vans and walking tracks. The Tutira Walkway, ascends to the Table Mountain trig station for stunning views over Hawke's Bay and takes about five hours to complete.
Both lakes are surrounded by magnificent trees that display awesome colours in autumn time. Mornings are often misty and calm, which creates lots of opportunity for moody photos.
Gone Fishing (Panorama)
Two fishermen standing in Lake Tutira in the midst of early morning mist and autumn colour.
Autumn at Lake Waikopiro
The autumn colours of the trees along Lake Waikopiro create a colourful reflection as the morning fog gradually lifts.
Lake Tutira Autumn Reflection
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More visual stories
One of Jos’s images is featured on the cover of the very first Hawke’s Bay Photographers 2025 Calendar.