Travelling along the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand one winter morning, as I entered the forest and began a steady incline towards the mountains, I noticed an incredible light show begin in the valley below me.

Century old Pāhautea (New Zealand Cedar) stood tall above the early morning fog as light rays danced through their branches.

I had never witnessed a forest scene with so much atmosphere with my own eyes and still to this day have never seen anything quite like it.

The West Coast of New Zealand has some of the oldest giant rain forest trees in the country and is home to many of the 6000 native species that call New Zealand home.