Family photography in Hahei
Hahei is a beautiful place for family photos. We're lucky to be surrounded by stunning beaches and nature reserves that make taking beautiful photos easy. As a local photographer (I live in Cooks beach) I often get asked for the best locations and times to get photos taken in Hahei, so I thought I'd share some of these with you. I'm a mum of two and we go for family visits to Hahei at least once per week, so I've seen most of the locations around in different light, seasons and tides.
Photo locations around Hahei
There are so many beautiful beaches and reserves around, but I'm going to keep it local today and tell you more about my favourite corners of the beaches closest to Hahei.
Pā road end of Hahei beach
At the end of Pā road is a walkway that leads up the top of the hill, but before that it takes you to a small beach that's separated from the main beach strip by a small river unless the tide is very low. This is my absolute favourite location in Hahei, with dramatic backdrops of big Pohutukawa trees, beautiful cliffs and a rope swing perfect for the kids.
Pā road end of Hahei beach
If you continue on the walking track instead of going to the secret beach, you'll get to the big hill in the southern corner of Hahei. This hill is covered by an open grassy field with the most stunning views, perfect for flying a kite or having a family picnic during your session. A word of warning though, the drop is really steep at the edge of the hill and there are no rails, so kids need constant supervision (we always hold my 4 year olds hand when we get to the top).
Cathedral Cove
Last but definitely not least, the famous Cathedral Cove. My favourite way to go here is by the local boat taxi, which makes it an easy 5 minute boat trip there and back. Perfect for the adventurous family or for a sunrise elopement or surprise engagement, if that sounds like you reach out and I'll help you plan and book the boat.
Timing for light and tides
The best time of the day for these beaches are either during sunrise, sunset or golden hour (within a couple hours of sunrise and sunset). During summertime, this is usually between 6-8am and 6-8pm, and in wintertime it's between 7-9am and 3-5pm. When you book a session with me, I help you determine the best time based on light, tides, season and the needs of your family - some of these spots are more forgiving than others for the harsher midday sun if we need to work around nap- and bedtimes.
