The Wanaka Tree, often tagged as ‘#thatwanakatree’ is undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s most iconic sights. Nestled upon the shores of Lake Wanaka, this tree is a symbol of natural beauty and tranquility. Many photographers travel the world to capture this icon against the remarkable mountain backdrop. If you’re planning to photograph Lake Wanaka, here are a few of my top tips for capturing the Wanaka tree in all its glory.
Table of Contents
ToggleThe Seasons
Throughout the year, the Wanaka Tree transforms along with the seasons, offering an entirely different mood each time you visit. Autumn in one of my favourite seasons for photographing the tree, as well as the Otago region of New Zealand in general. The tree and its surrounds transform into shades of amber and gold, offering a warm contrast against the cool mountain backdrop. This year I aimed to arrive at the tree to capture the Autumn colours on the Wanaka tree at the start of May, but unfortunately arrived a little too late as the tree had already lost its leaves. The tree has a great form in its skeletal phase anyway, so I wouldn’t worry too much if you get a late Autumn or Winter shot.
Composition
Most people gravitate towards the closest viewpoint to the tree for their shots, however this isn’t my preferred location for shooting. You actually want to walk along the shores back towards the town foreshore, until the tree becomes nestled between the foreshore on the left and the island on the right. This offers a much more compositionally balanced shot. This is also important if you’re shooting in Autumn, as the vibrant colours of the trees on the left foreshore won’t be seen in the ‘classic’ location. You can see in the photographs below. These were taken on the same day, mere moments apart but the photograph on the right has much more of those beautiful autumn colours. Of course, photography is all about creativity and it’s great to find new and unique ways to photograph a well known location.


Focal Length
The lens of choice for the Wanaka tree depends on where you decide to shoot it and how much of the background you decide to include in your shot. The photo above on the left was shot at the closer location to the tree at a focal length of 70mm while the photo on the right was photographed at 140mm due to it being a much further location. Generally, you’ll be shooting at a minimum on 70mm, so you can leave you wide angle in the car!
Timing
As with most popular tourist locations, the best time to visit the Wanaka tree will be for sunrise as it won’t be as crowded. In saying that, there is plenty of space along the shoreline, and as mentioned above- the most popular place for tourists to take photos isn’t necessarily the best for landscape photography. It’s quite easy to block the crowd out of the photo as well. As you can see with the photo on the left, there was certainly a crowd but with the right zoom lens, you can very easily block them out by compressing the background.
The more important reason that sunrise is the best time for photographing the Wanaka tree is to capture the right light. Using a longer exposure will help smooth out the ripples in the lake which can create a distraction otherwise. The morning lighting will also cause a lovely glow on the mountain in the background and softly light up the tree, giving it some dimension. If you’re lucky, you will also get some mist or low lying cloud over the lake which can add to the tranquility of the atmosphere surrounding the tree.


Photographing the Wanaka tree is essential bucket-list item for all photographers travelling to New Zealand. Remember that photography isn’t just about the final image, but the journey along the way. Take your time to savour some of natures most picturesque scenes and capture not just a photo- but a memory, to treasure for years to come.
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About Me
I am a photographer based in Torquay, an hour south of Melbourne. I have wide range of experience in landscape, portrait, aerial and construction photography.
I have spent extensive time overseas, attending workshops with world renowned photographers, refining my photography style and knowledge.
Feel free to check out my other blogs, or browse my photography galleries. .