Mountain climber reaching the peak with a snow covered mountain in the distance

A hiker with a large blue backpack walks along a narrow mountain trail in misty, rainy conditions, surrounded by rugged grassy terrain and distant fog-covered cliffs.

A climber dressed in black ascends a steep, rocky slope with a towering, snow covered mountain in the background.

A silhouette of a hiker stands looking out at a serene lake during a vibrant sunset, with mountains in the distance, while carrying a backpack and hiking poles on a sandy beach.

A view of a dirt path through some trees

Hikers dot the Tongariro Alpine Crossing landscape, which features stark volcanic mountainsides and vividly turquoise Emerald Lakes nestled amidst the rugged terrain under a partly cloudy sky.

A church steeple peaks out over the treetops in a valley surrounded by snowy mountains.

Bathed in sunset light, a woman with long hair stands in the ocean, holding a large, orange fabric wide; ripples spread from her foot as her silhouette and the fabric are gently illuminated.

A person hiking in a mountain

Mountainous landscape covered in mist.

A man leaning back on this elbows on the beach looking out at the ocean.

a timelapse over the mountain with the stars

A mountain and cliff area covered in trees

Turquoise lakes contrast with the arid, rocky landscape, while hikers explore the volcanic terrain.

A serene landscape with a lake surrounded by hills covered in fog.

Mountains covered with vegetation emerge between clouds, creating a mystical landscape.

A narrow dirt trail winds along the ridge of a golden grassy mountain, surrounded by rugged peaks under a misty sky.

A winding trail leads to a backpacker contemplating misty mountains.

Vast lake surrounded by green hills and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky, with a small island in the water and dense vegetation covering the foreground.

Woman with a large backpack crosses a suspension bridge over a river amidst the mountains.

A mountain with a thing in the distance

Vast sandy landscape with small streams of water stretches to the sea, with mountains in the background.

Aerial view of mountains along the river under a cloudy sky

A person hiking with a backpack on a ridge

A field leading out to a lake.

A person holding a lantern stands in a dark cave illuminated by glowing blue bioluminescent creatures on the rocky ceiling, with reflections on the wet cave floor.

Person holds a torch in a cave lit by bioluminescent fireflies on the rocky ceiling.

Woman from behind looks at a glacial lake with snow-capped mountains in the background.

A signpost with multiple destinations on it

Human silhouette is standing in the sea water reflecting the golden colors of the sunset.

A winding road cuts through the landscape between trees, mountains and a blue lake.

Straight road crosses a golden field and leads towards snow-capped mountains under a clear sky.

A field extending out to a lake.

A mountain landscape behind a lake.

Lonely tree partially submerged in a calm lake.

A bridge over a canyon.

A rugged mountain landscape features snow-capped peaks with a cloud hovering above, steep green slopes, and a rocky foreground bathed in warm sunlight.

A snowy mountain peak with a wispy cloud.

A car parked outdoors near a lake and mountains

Snow covered mountains along the coast with ice floating on the water

Long-exposure star trails streaking across the night sky over a calm lake, with silhouettes of distant mountains in the background.

Person with walking sticks looks out over a lake and islands from atop a mountain.

A winding wooden trail in a golden field with snowy mountains in the background.

A mountain range with a lake at the base

A traveler walking through the vegetation with snowy mountains in the background.

A view of a mountain at the edge of a lake

A mountain range with a lake

The shadow of a person with a cap reflected in a foggy window at sunset.

Towering snow-capped mountain stands out against a clear sky, with rocky slopes and glaciers.

A person standing on a mountain overlooking a river in the valley.

Two people hiking in a mountain range

A person walks along a path surrounded by vegetation towards an imposing snowy mountain.

Mountains along the coast as a woman stands in the water

A backpacking traveler watches a lake, holding walking sticks.

A mountain landscape with grass beginning to turn brown.

Many steep rolling hills

Traveler walks along a mountain trail surrounded by vegetation under a partly cloudy sky.

Aerial view of a rugged mountain trail winding through golden grass and rocky slopes, with a small chalet perched on the hillside and a hiker making their way along the path.

A person hiking alongside tall mountains.

Mountains covered in dry vegetation in the foreground, with a blue-green lake in the background and misty peaks in the distance.

Ocean wave hits the edge of an ocean pool, mixing with the crystal clear water.

Extensive sandy terrain with small watercourses stretches to the horizon, with mountains in the background.

A person sitting on a dock along a lake

Man looks at a yellow directional sign indicating distances to various cities and geographic points.

Streams and waterfalls flow down a tropical mountain

A beach and ocean view through a stand of trees and shrubs.

Two ducks swimming in a lake at sunset with a mountain range in the distance.

Wooden pier stretches over a tranquil lake that reflects the golden dawn sky.

Palm trees over a tropical lake.

Imposing mountain with rocky slopes rises above a dense forest at dusk.

Fence across a rural field under a cloudy sunset sky

A man riding a dirt bike outdoors

The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are illuminated against a dark cloudy sky at dusk, with boats floating on the calm waters reflecting the city lights.

Silhouette of a woman in the sea during sunset.

A beach with blue sea and breaking waves on a rocky slope.

Golden fields stretching to steep snow-capped mountains, with low clouds covering part of the top.

A silhouette of a woman stands in the ocean up to their knees at sunset, with golden light reflecting on the water and scattered clouds in the sky.

Silhouette of a woman in a dark swimsuit, standing in the sea during sunset, with golden light reflecting on the water.

A person crosses a suspension bridge with snowy mountains in the background.

Erik Poppen

Images from roughly 7 months of pure adventure throughout the entirety of New Zealand, sharing a vibrantly eclectic mix of landscape, travel, and portraiture.

200 days down under