New Zealand Road Tripping

Name: Ben Tilden
Price range: $

Posted Oct 19, 2026

Overhanging fern fronds form a green canopy, with a stone path visible below among dense foliage.

Winding wet asphalt road beside a rushing river, with dense green jungle and rocky embankments on both sides.

Dark, jagged rocks scattered across a wet sandy beach with rough ocean waves and a gray, cloudy sky in the distance.

A windswept rocky shoreline with jagged black rocks, sparse sand, and a lone twisted tree atop a small hill against a gray cloudy sky.

Cliffs and tree branches frame a calm ocean at sunset, with pastel pinks and blues in the sky and gentle waves along the shore.

Tall silhouetted tree with sprawling branches stands against a clear blue sky, sun near the horizon casting light over a grassy field.

Sunset over a quiet bay with rocky formations, a sandy beach, and calm water; silhouettes of cliffs and trees frame the horizon as the sky fades from orange to deep blue.

Sunset over calm sea framed by dark cliff faces and silhouettes of distant hills, with gentle waves lapping at a rocky shore.

Sunlit crescent beach with calm blue water, towering rock formations, and cliffs, all framed by a sunset glow over the horizon.

Rocky cave opening in warm sunset light, with sandy beach foreground and distant ocean visible through the arch.

Sunlit sea stacks rise through an opening in a dark rocky cave, with calm water, distant islands, and a clear blue sky.

Overhanging gnarled tree branches frame a tranquil turquoise bay with a sandy shore and distant rocky island silhouettes under a clear blue sky.

Panoramic view of a steaming geothermal pool with yellow and beige hues, surrounded by trees, under a cloudy sky.

Steam rises from a multicolored hot spring with turquoise water and orange-brown mineral edge, against a gray cloudy sky and distant hills.

Green lake with rocky cliffside and dense pine forest in the background; a wooden viewing deck with a person stands on the left.

A misty river winds through a dense forest, with steam or fog rising between the trees and soft light breaking through the cloudy sky.

Dense fog over a calm lake with a forest of tall evergreen trees in the background and bare branches in the foreground.

Lush green lake surrounded by dense trees under a partly cloudy blue sky, with reflections on the water and distant hills across the water.

Mist surrounded lake with misty steam rising from water; distant green hills and dark forest under cloudy sky.

Wide tranquil lake under cloudy sky with distant islands; two black swans glide near the shore in shallow water.

Dark exterior doorway with wooden door under a small covered porch, surrounded by plants and a metal roof above.

Desert road with a curving warning sign, dry shrubbery, and snow-capped mountains under a blue sky.

Columns and arches form a beige colonnade framing a view of a snow-capped mountain under a blue sky.

Winding forest path lined with tall, moss-covered trees and scattered rocks, sunlight filtering through branches.

Rock-and-dirt trail with wooden steps winding uphill through sparse shrubs and rocky terrain.

A tall waterfall plunges between rugged cliffs into a rocky pool, surrounded by dense green shrubs and brown brush under a cloudy sky.

Water cascades down jagged rocks framed by mossy greenery and yellowing shrubs.

Dirt path through brown shrubs and rocky ground leads toward a distant brick building under dark, cloudy skies.

Desert scene with scattered clumps of dry grass on dark, ashy soil and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.

Rolling sand dunes with green shrubs under a cloudy sky, distant mountains on the horizon.

Overcast beach with calm waves, wet sand reflecting gray sky, and distant hills along a rocky coastline.

Cliffs with layered rock faces on left, tidal pools and rocky shore in foreground, two people standing near water, small island in distance.

Rough sea crashes against dark layered rocks with white foam, a distant rocky island visible on the horizon under a cloudy sky.

This is a “latergram” post to share some photos from a trip to New Zealand in September 2016.

I got off the plane jet-lagged out of my mind, walked up to a rental car counter, and somehow was out on the highway within an hour of landing. For each of next four days, I woke up each morning, checked the weather to pick someplace sunny for the day, and stayed someplace new each night.

Truly one of the funnest trips of my life.

Places

Alhambra in September

Posted Sep 24, 2026

Sunlit garden path with a pebbled walkway framed by tall hedges and metal arches, leading to orange flowers and a distant townscape under a bright sky.

Colorful garden foreground with orange, white, and purple flowers leading to a historic building with a tower, surrounded by tall trees under a blue sky.

Brick buildings with tiled roofs surround a narrow canal lined with green shrubs and flowering plants, with water jets arcing over the stone path.

Clerestory windows and ornate archway carved into a beige wall, with a tiled roof and manicured hedges in the foreground.

Arched window with ornate carvings frames a distant hilltop church, green trees, and a blue sky with light clouds.

Intricate geometric pattern on a wooden surface featuring interlocking stars and polygons in earthy brown tones.

Stone fountain with carved animal figures (horse-like) supporting a large basined centerpiece; water flows from mouths into a marble pool.

Intricately carved archway with ornate patterns frames a view of a sunlit hillside town dotted with trees and terracotta rooftops.

Panoramic view of a European town with white and terracotta-roofed buildings nestled among green trees, under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Places

The Alacazaba, Malaga

Posted Dec 10, 2024

Stone pathway with brick steps leads to a dark arched doorway, framed by brick walls and lush green trees and shrubs.

Man with blue uniform carrying two large trash bags walks through a stone courtyard framed by archways, with greenery and a lemon tree nearby.

Old stone archway and brick walls lining a cobblestone path leading into a dark tunnel.

Small circular pool of rippled water at center, set in dark textured pavement, flanked by narrow metal channel leading to a green reflective pool.

Sunlit brick arches and tiled floor seen through a dark arched opening, with stacked brick columns casting shadows on the pavement.

Rectangular courtyard pool with pale green water, bordered by a checkerboard tile edge and trimmed hedges beside a white wall.

Curved brick and stone stairwell with a circular stone pattern, surrounded by red brick walls and small palm leaves in the foreground.

Stone courtyard with a weathered circular fountain in the foreground, brick terraces with potted plants, and trimmed hedges in the background.

Cobblestone and brick paving with a curved stone step, irregularly arranged stones, and wet, glossy surfaces in earthy tones.

The Alcazaba in Malaga is a military palace dating back to the 11^th century when the southern part of Spain was under Moorish rule.

The Alcazar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada are larger and more spectacular, but impossible to experience in solitude due to ever-present throngs of tourists (of which I am admittedly one).

I got up a bit early on a Tuesday morning and had the place largely to myself, other than a few maintenance staff starting their day. It felt pretty magical.

Places

The Gherkin

Posted Nov 15, 2024

Spherical glass-clad skyscraper with a diamond-patterned metal grid reflects blue sky and clouds.

The Gherkin, London November 13, 2024

Places

Kyoto, Early Fall

Posted Dec 26, 2023

A riverside village with traditional buildings along a winding greenish river, surrounded by dense autumn trees on hillsides.

Moss-covered square grid edging a stone path, with a wavy blue-gray border separating the greenery from the beige ground.

Five-story pagoda with a tall spire rises above a traditional Japanese street lined with wooden buildings and a stone-paved path.

Tiered wooden eaves of a traditional Asian temple, with upturned corners and decorative tiles, set against a clear blue sky.

Stone gate and traditional Japanese building with curved roof, trimmed trees, and a gravel Zen garden in front.

City skyline framed by orange temple railing and posts, with a tall tower and distant mountains under a blue sky.

Stone steps lead to a bright orange temple gate with hanging white lanterns and a person in a white robe standing near the entrance.

View from a framed courtyard to a Japanese rock garden, with raked gravel, stones, manicured trees, and a traditional roofed structure against a blue sky with clouds.

Row of moss-covered stone Buddha statues seated outdoors, framed by green and autumn-colored trees on a gravel ground.

Rickshaw parked on a street beside a thatched-roof building, with three people seated and trees in autumn colors overhead.

Stone steps form a long path through a green, garden-like corridor with trees and shrubs on both sides, leading toward a distant group of people.

Colorful vertical banners hang along a walkway lined with green trees and railings, reflecting in a narrow water channel below.

These are some favorite photos from a recent trip to Kyoto. We arrived at the tail end of October and stayed until mid-November. View this gallery on Flickr to see more from the trip, including Tokyo, Nara, and Miyajima.

Gallery: Japan Fall 2023

Places

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Posted Nov 02, 2023

Golden Kinkaku-ji pavilion sits on a calm lake, surrounded by trees, with its reflection shimmering in the water.

Golden, multi-tiered pagoda by the water, with reflections, perched on rocky shoreline amid green trees.

Golden three-story Kinkaku-ji temple in a pond, framed by a textured foreground tree and surrounding green foliage.

Golden temple pavilion with curved dark roof, balcony railing, and a rooster weather vane atop, set among green trees and distant hills.

Golden pagoda temple on stilts by a calm pond, surrounded by green trees with a mountain backdrop.

Sunlit traditional Japanese rooftops peek from behind a large tree with lush foliage, set against a clear sky at dusk.

The Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple commonly called the Golden Pavilion, stands serenely against Kyoto’s lush landscape. The top two floors are covered in brilliant gold leaf that glowed warmly in the afternoon sun on my visit. In spite of the crowds, it’s a place of transcendent beauty, and it’s easy to see why it’s one of Japan’s most iconic and historic sites.

Places

Kyoto bell tower

Posted Oct 31, 2023

Traditional wooden Japanese temple with ornate tiled roof, surrounded by green shrubs and trees, under a blue sky.

Small tower at the entrance to Otani Sobyo October 31, 2023

Places

Photo: Royal Palace of Madrid

Posted Jan 17, 2023

Dome-topped grand cathedral with ornate spires rises above a neoclassical facade, framed by silhouettes of people in the foreground at sunset.

Royal Palace of Madrid January 14, 2023

This view of the Palace of Madrid at sunset was a beautiful moment in a quick, three-day stopover in Madrid before heading on to Seville, Malaga and Granada. Seen from about a mile to the north at the temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple gifted to Spain in the 1960s. The weather was wintry and the spot was crowded – although Madrid has a lot to offer, we were glad to be on our way somewhere warmer.

Places

Sauk Mountain

Posted Oct 08, 2022

Mist-shrouded mountainside with evergreen trees and sunlit rocky slope revealing patches of green grass and shrubs.

Rugged rock peak in the foreground with clouds and distant blue mountains rising behind.

Aerial view of a forested mountain slope with misty clouds drifting over treetops and sunlit grassy patches.

A narrow rocky trail along a steep cliff, with blue sky and clouds on the left, rugged gray rock face on the right, and green shrubs and small red flowers along the path.

Jagged gray rocks and scattered alpine vegetation on a mountainside, with misty clouds over green valleys and distant forested slopes.

Rugged jagged rocks form a broken mountain ridge with a cloudy sky and distant peaks visible above the treeline.

Photos from a summer hike on the Sauk Mountain trail, in the Washington state Cascades.

Places

Paris in November

Posted Mar 14, 2022

Aerial view of a city skyline emerging above low clouds, with tall buildings silhouette against a hazy horizon and a sprawling urban landscape below.

Cellist wearing a red hat and white mask, seated and playing a cello inside a stone colonnade with tall fluted columns.

Interwoven steel scaffolding forms a large rectangular frame against a cloudy sky.

Colorful paintings lined along a stone wall with Notre-Dame cathedral and a river in the background, a crane visible in the sky.

Graffiti of a person in a red shirt and blue jeans painted on a weathered brick wall, with scattered fallen leaves on a cobblestone ground.

A person in front of a wall-to-wall mirrored room with circular stained-glass-like ceiling reflections and a reflective floor creating repeating patterns.

Cobblestone alley lined with graffiti-covered buildings, a single person walking away in the distance between two narrow sidewalks.

Eiffel Tower lit in warm orange at night beside the river, with blurred boat lights and a docked waterboat in foreground.

A dense Parisian cityscape viewed through a diagonal chain-link fence, with streets, Haussmann-style buildings, and the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.

Crowded museum gallery with visitors lined up behind ropes, viewing large classical paintings on dark walls and a polished wooden floor.

Interior view of a domed ceiling with a large circular skylight and a statue with wings at the lower center.

Ornate classical building facade with sculpted figures along a decorative cornice, arched window, and a dome against a sunset sky.

Two people walk out of a stone archway toward the glass pyramid at the Louvre, accompanied by a dog and shopping bags.

Glass and metal pyramid lattice against a partly cloudy sky, triangular peak at center with geometric grid patterns.

Eiffel Tower silhouette against a sunset sky with dark clouds and a glowing orange horizon, city lights at the base.

Dimly lit underground tunnel with arched brick ceiling, concrete floor, and a long wall lined with numerous wine bottles in circular rims.

A dimly lit wine cellar with stacked bottles in a curved, rocky arched wall; a small sign showing number 36 is attached to the wall.

Several plates of stuffed deviled eggs with green garnish, a basket of bread, and a bottle of water on a dining table set with utensils.

Mont Saint-Michel rises atop a rocky island with surrounding ancient stone walls and village buildings at its base, set against a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Fortified stone castle by the shore with round towers, attached rectangular buildings, and a rocky beach in the foreground under a blue sky.

Mont Saint-Michel perched on a rocky island with surrounding sea, against a blue sky with scattered clouds, and a grassy foreground.

iPhone photos from a trip to Paris, France in November 2021, with side trips to the Champagne region and Mont-Saint-Michel.

Places

Puerto Vallarta

Posted Sep 02, 2021

Infinity-edge swimming pool with blue tiles overlooks a calm ocean, hillside town, and mountains under a clear blue sky; poolside seating and leafy plants on the right.

White two-story building with decorative gold awnings, arched doors, wrought-iron balconies, potted plants, and tree-shaped planters flanking the entrance.

Sunset sky with pink, orange, and blue hues viewed through a decorative cutout window shape in a dark frame; silhouettes of trees and distant coastline visible.

Horizon over calm ocean at sunset with pink, purple, and orange sky, silhouetted palm fronds and distant rocky islands along the shore.

Small white fortune slip with black text reading "Horoscope Planetario" and inspirational message; held between fingers over a tiled floor.

Rain pummels a street view with a person in a blue poncho walking past a covered storefront as a car drives through puddles.

Thin glass shot glass held upright containing a small cluster of dark brown seaweed or plant fragments inside.

Colorful street scene with a yellow building, blue shop, and outdoor cafe seating under a white umbrella, vines and mural on a shuttered door.

A metallic gold cocktail glass adorned with pastel confetti and white flowers sits in a tray of crushed ice and rose petals on a wooden table.

iPhone photos from a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Places

Pike Place Market at night

Posted Jun 10, 2021

Neon red "PUBLIC MARKET" sign on a dark night with a smaller pink fish-shaped neon sign reading "CITY FISH MARKET" below.

Neon red "PUBLIC MARKET" sign on a dark background with a smaller neon fish market sign lit in pink and green at the bottom left.

Blurred red-orange reflections on dark water with abstract neon shapes.

Nighttime city scene with neon signs for restaurants and seafood, along a lit storefront corridor with striped awnings and a person walking away.

Night scene of Pike Place Market with large red neon "PUBLIC MARKET CENTER" sign and a bright "FARMERS MARKET" sign, wet pavement, and parked cars.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was just taking hold and Seattle was shutting down. I wandered out on a rainy night to snap a few photos of the largely abandoned Pike Place Market and try out a new lens filter (Tiffen 52mm Black Pro-Mist ¹⁄₄). It gives the photos a moody glow, although I discovered in some cases incoming light bounced off the lens, back to the inside surface of the filter and then back again toward the lens, resulting in an inverted double image (somewhat visible in the first photo). Worth the trouble though; I love the effect.

Places

Cherry blossoms

Posted Apr 14, 2021

East Prospect Street and 21st Avenue East, Seattle April 14, 2021 · 7:01 p.m. · RAW on iPhone 12 Pro Max

Places

Jack Block Park

Posted Mar 27, 2021

Sturdy red framework and railing extend over blue water, with a skyline of tall buildings across the harbor under a partly cloudy sky.

Seattle skyline seen across Elliott Bay from Jack Block Park in West Seattle March 27, 2021

Places

Cherry Creek Falls

Posted Jul 15, 2020

Waterfalls cascade over mossy rocks into a calm pool, with a large fallen tree spanning diagonally across the scene and lush green forest surroundings.

Cherry Creek Falls July 12, 2020

For Seattle-area folks, Cherry Creek Falls is relatively close by, just a few miles outside the nearby town of Duvall.

A five mile round-trip hike through mossy rainforest takes you to the falls and back. At first, you’ll take what feels like a trip back in time, traveling the remains of a long-abandoned road, passing an ancient crashed car or two along the way. Eventually, though, you’ll leave the old road behind and delve deeper into the forest, following a network of paths past several little waterways and possibly encountering a few communities of bees and mosquitoes if you don’t keep moving, before reaching the falls — a nice spot for a picnic or a little wading.

The trip through the forest is picturesque and sometimes mysterious, though a little bushwhacking can occasionally be required. The falls are a pleasant reward, and this hike is an easy way to get outside and get a little exercise.

Places

All places

Photographs in view