Iceland

[Peter Ward]

I have some leave coming up.

For something different, we're thinking of visiting to Iceland. (Geographically about as far from Sydney as you can get)

Anyone been? Are there some "must see" locations?

TIA

[Colsmith]

I haven't been there, but Michael Reichmann (Luminous Landscape) visited in 2003 -http://www.luminous- http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/iceland.shtml

[DavidTrap]

I'm going there next year for a photography workshop - Link (http://blog.jholko.com/2013/05/29/iceland-ultimate-summer-workshops-2014-open-for-bookings/)

Fingers crossed for no eruptions!

DT

[RickS]

We did a two week self drive tour of Iceland a few years back and then visited again with Fred Watson's Fire in the Sky tour. I'll put together a list of what we thought were the highlights tonight...

[Octane]

I'm going mid-February for a couple of weeks. :)

H

[iceman]

Looks like a stunning place to visit. Would love to go!

[Peter Ward]

Thank you all for info so far.... looks like I'll be towing a bit of camera gear :lol:



Thanks Rick... this will be much appreciated.

[DavidTrap]

Hope you get favourable excess baggage charges!

DT

[wavelandscott]

I have been and it is a stunning place! We were there on the longest day of the year so not much night sky viewing (none) was possible.

I enjoyed it all...see the capital, the Blue Lagoon, we went all over Dettifoss and Godafoss (waterfalls). We were there 17 years ago and went to the active hot pots and recent lava flows.

I am not a photo person but the pictures talented folks could put together could be amazing. The columner basalt formations were super cool.

My Father in Law was University pals with the then US Ambassador and he took us around to see the sights. We met the then President and then raided the wine cellar for a camping trip around the country. Hot water in every camp we stayed and most had pools. Something neat to see...puffins, harlequin ducks and zillions of no-see-um insects all making hay while the sun shown.

It was a trip to remember! Enjoy!

[Octane]

Puffins and minke whales are a big delicacy.

Poor puffins and whales!

H

[seeker372011]

Was there last year for a few days
Honestly it's ok but NZ is closer and offers just as wonderful sights

As for the whale watching... They still hung and eat whales there.. So guess what there are not all that many whales to see

Cloudy and overcast the whole time we were there

The Blue Lagoon is fun though and sure the Golden Circle is interesting

I suspect the real charm is places off the beaten track don't know as we never made it

[seeker372011]

Was there last year for a few days
Honestly it's ok but NZ is closer and offers just as wonderful sights

As for the whale watching... They still hung and eat whales there.. So guess what there are not all that many whales to see

Cloudy and overcast the whole time we were there

The Blue Lagoon is fun though and sure the Golden Circle is interesting

I suspect the real charm is places off the beaten track don't know as we never made it

[Octane]

Yep, I'll be bypassing the Blue Lagoon and going straight for the good stuff. :)

H

[acropolite]

Peter, it's worth a look at Dylan Toh's images from Iceland, might give you some ideas. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmtoh/sets/72157624711469874/. If you click on any image you'll get a full description of the area. Dylan posts on the Ausphotography forum, may also be worth joining up and sending him a PM. If anyone else is interested in Landscape photography it's well worth a look throuugh Dylan's Flickr pages.

[RickS]

All of Iceland is incredibly scenic. They have more varieties of desolation than you will find anywhere else in the world :)

The places I would recommend are:


Reykjavik: it's a very cool town and small enough to walk around. It's hard to miss the Hallgrímskirkja. Lots of interesting little shops in town in Laugavegur and Skólavödustígur. The museum is very interesting too. Also check out the newish convention centre at night.
Have a swim at the Blue Lagoon. If you eat there I'm pretty sure the chicken is actually puffin.
The best lobster I have ever eaten: http://www.fjorubordid.is/
The Krýsuvík geothermal area on the mid-Atlantic ridge.
The "golden circle" area is not far from Reykjavik: Gullfoss (Golden Falls) the Geysir geothermal area and Thingvellir national park.
There are a bazillion waterfalls but Skógafoss is not to be missed and it is on the way to:
The black beaches and basalt formations of Vík í Mýrdal
Jökulsárlón the "glacial river lagoon." They filmed James Bond car chases on ice here.
Dettifoss waterfall in the Vatnajökull National Park. There are a couple of other very nice waterfalls just downstream as well.
Ásbyrgi canyon. There's an amazing lake here: Botnstjorn.
The whole area around Lake Mývatn is full of geothermal goodies. Check out the region around Krafla. The Grjótagjá lava cave and thermal spring was very interesting and photogenic.
More waterfalls: Goðafoss
The Northwest Fjord country is a bit remote but worth the trip.
Dynjandi waterfall (while you're up that direction)
The wreck of the Gardar BA 64
The Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Snæfellsjökull volcano/glacier

I'm sure there's lots of other great stuff we missed. Try a 4WD glacier tour. If you're there at the right time of year (we weren't on either trip) check out the puffins and other nesting seabirds.

The roads aren't great (the main highway has gravel bits and single lane bridges in places) but there is hardly any traffic outside of Reykjavik so driving is pretty easy. The only part that freaked my wife out was the the northwestern fjords where we were traversing hairpin turns in a dirt road in huge winds. She's such a wuss :lol: The route we took is marked in blue on the attached map.

There are some pictures from our 2010 trip here: http://rickstevenson.smugmug.com/Travel/Iceland-2010/14791489_5b2CLS

Cheers,
Rick.

[Wavytone]

Recommended homework:

http://blog.jholko.com/2013/05/25/iceland-where-to-go-and-what-to-photograph-2nd-print-edition-map-review/

[rustigsmed]

Hi Peter,


heaps to do and see.

I was there at midsommar so didn't see the night. and was actually in europe visiting friends and decided last minute to go to Iceland, which resulted in the need to pick up a cheapie 'point and shoot' camera at the airport. didn't go home with no pics at all. i would love to go back and do the photography properly.

but yes there are great geographical features everywhere. the althing area was quite amazing - it happens to be the boundary of the n american and euro plates. i think you can go swimming in the water (massive wetsuit required) and its supposed to be super clear.

i really liked bjarnfoss (i think it was called - maybe it was because the sky was blue then :rofl:)

A car is a must to make the most of the scenary, i was there on a shoestring and took the bus tours.

One tip is if you're strapped for time do blue lagoon on the way to the airport (flying out), a good way to loosen the muscles before a long flight. :thumbsup:

Rusty

[slt]

It also depends when you are going, since you're saying "leave coming up"...

The main tourist season is June-August. Much of the highland can be out of bounds as early as September (depending on the first serious cold snap), and then you're pretty much limited to non-F roads ("F roads" being the mountain roads, pretty much anything above 300m amsl).

Still plenty to see during the "off season" mind you, and hotels/car will be quite a bit cheaper. I'm heading back in late November for my 4th visit in 5 years, hoping ISON might put on a decent display...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gunther2/sets/

[Peter Ward]

Thanks for the many and varied responses. Much appreciated! :)