Waikawa Pier

Waikawa Pier is a low, weathered timber jetty reaching out into the estuary at Waikawa, a tiny former timber port at the southwestern edge of the Catlins in Southland. The silvered planks and old mooring poles run out over water that sits perfectly still on calm days and mirrors the low green hills wrapping the bay. That worn deck leading your eye out into the reflections is just begging to be photographed. Plus is a small boat shed near the shore, fishing boats moored out on the channel, and wide tidal sand flats that come and go with the tide to build amazing compositions around it. If you can set up low on the end of the pier then timber lines will lead the eye straight out toward the hills and the open estuary. You can easily access the shoreline beside the boat shed to shoot the pier against the water and the sky. The estuary opens roughly to the northeast toward the harbour mouth, so early morning is the perfect time to be here. The rising light comes up along the channel and reflections sit peacefully on the flat water. An overcast day also suits it just as well by keeping the greens and the weathered wood rich. Tide matters changes the view entirely with a high tide filling the channel for those clean mirror shots and a low tide highlights the sand flats while it strands the boats. So to check the tide schedule it before you go to make sure it reflects the type of photography you are looking to capture. Getting there is easy with a short detour off the Southern Scenic Route that is will marked and the pier sitting right at the end of the road. (Waikawa, Southland, New Zealand)