capture a perfect sunrise from behind Ben Lomond looking out over Lake Wakatipu towards The Remarkables. While the plan was good, I knew it would be hard to pull it off. As is always the way, I was balancing the timing and the light, and on this occasion, also the helicopter.
Ben Lomond is one of Queenstown’s most recognisable peaks, rising to a height of 1,748 metres (5,735 feet) and sitting alongside Bob’s Peak, best-known as the home of the Skyline Gondola. From those up for a challenging hike, the views from the summit of Ben Lomond deliver a breathtaking perspective over the entire Wakatipu Basin.
With 6 am being the earliest possible lift‑off time for the helicopter at Queenstown Airport and official sunrise at 6:01 am, there was no room for error. Thankfully, the immense Remarkables mountain range blocked the first direct rays of sunlight, giving us time to get into position for the sunrise shot. We met at 5:30 am to roll the helicopter out of the hangar, refuel, and be ready to lift off exactly on the dot.
Fuelling up at the crack of dawn
A few minutes later, we were in the air and approaching Ben Lomond from the south. The first distant peaks were already catching the sun, while Queenstown below was still asleep.
A quiet Queenstown
The moment we completed our first circle around the mountain, the sun popped over the horizon—perfect timing.
Sunrise behind Remarkables
Shooting directly into the sun almost always creates lens flare. On the ground, that’s manageable: you lock the camera on a tripod, take one image with the sun visible and another with it briefly covered, then blend them later. In a helicopter, it’s a different story. Every frame is metres apart, the camera is heavy, and trying to block the sun without losing landscape detail is challenging.
not easy…
While circling Ben Lomond, I turned my attention in the opposite direction and captured some fantastic shots. I don’t often shoot backlit scenes, but the morning light and the drama in the sky made it work beautifully. Two hikers were standing right on the summit (they clearly started well before us) and they seemed just as entertained to see us in the helicopter as we were to see them.
Two hikers who made an even earlier start than us
Realising we needed the sun a get a little higher for the hero shot, we decided to use the time wisely and fly to Wānaka. I’m often asked if I have a classic Lake Wānaka piece – that isn’t the classic Roys Peak view. Shooting from the side of Treble Cone has always felt like the right answer—especially in the morning, when the light suits my photography style best.
The flight from Ben Lomond to Treble Cone is 15 minutes, and is a beautiful flight along Skippers Canyon before a gentle turn along the Harris Mountains. As we approached Black Peak and banked hard right, Lake Wānaka appeared beneath us.
Skippers Canyon from above
After a few slow circles around Treble Cone, a thin band of cloud appeared and softened the sunlight, and everything aligned. The Matukituki River, Lake Wānaka, and Roys Peak all fell perfectly into place.
Treble Cone with the Matukituki River to the left and Lake Wānaka in the distance. Roys Peak in the centre of the image.
Some fun on the way…
On the flight back to Queenstown, god rays began forming over Lake Wakatipu—an incredibly promising sign. By then, the hikers had descended, leaving Ben Lomond entirely to us. After a few more passes, we finally captured the image I’d been waiting for—this time without any lens flare at all.
Ben Lomond
We were back in the hangar by 7:30am, just in time to be the first customers at the little coffee van on the corner.
Thanks to Alfie and Glacier Southern Lakes for another exceptional flight. It doesn’t happen often, but every now and then you come home with more than one gallery‑worthy image, and mornings like this are exactly why I keep chasing the light.
