New Year Urban Wander

Our one January outing, timed for late in the month once everyone's actually back from holiday.

We're meeting in the CBD for a morning wander through Britomart, Queen Street, and the laneways in between — the city easing into the new year properly, streets a little emptier than the usual weekday crush, and good clean morning light coming down between the buildings. It's a loose, low-pressure one to start the year, no early alarm or late finish required.

Post-holiday Auckland has a slightly different feel to it — fewer commuters, more space to work a frame without dodging foot traffic, and a city that hasn't quite snapped back into its usual rhythm yet. Good one to shake off the summer break and get back into the habit of walking with a camera.

No theme, no pressure. You'll be walking alongside a friendly, easygoing group of photographers, all looking at the same people and alleyways and seeing something slightly different in it.

• Britomart's transport hub, architecture, and laneways in morning light
• Queen Street quieter than its usual weekday self
• Laneways and arcades between the main streets
• Reflections and glass frontages catching the morning sun
• A CBD still easing back into its normal pace after the holidays
• Street life and passersby with more room to move than usual
• The contrast between wide main streets and tight, shaded laneways

• Your camera or smartphone
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Curiosity and an open mind — this is all about exploring and having fun!