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From the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to the rugged and remote beaches of the West Coast of New Zealand rests the Westland/Tai Poutini National Park, an exquisitely diverse landscape that makes every photographer's wildest dreams come true. Snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests, lakes, wetlands and beaches all come together in one central location, and locum tenens doctors on assignment in the country have easy access to this prized and beautiful territory.
In the early 1900s, the discovery of the stunning snowfields and ice glaciers caused such a stir for Europeans that the government began making annual grants to hoteliers for tracks and huts. Certain families even became famous for leading tourists through the icy mountain landscape, notably the Graham brothers, Peter and Alec. The glaciers still attract thousands of visitors each year, and you can see them for yourself on a tour of Fox or Franz Josef glaciers.
Even with such rugged terrain, mountain biking is a popular activity in Westland/Tai Poutini. Two tracks allow bikes—Te Ara a Waiau (Franz Josef Waiau) and Te Weheka (Fox Glacier Weheka). If you're more concerned about capturing the perfect picture, you can tour the region on foot and snap away at your leisure.