I was inspired to move to Canmore in Canada through photography and a desire to explore the mountains of the beautiful Canadian Rockies.
My inspiration for photography originated from my father who used to shoot commercially many years ago. It was when I began shooting film on his old camera that I really started to get invested in capturing those beautiful moments in time.
I’m originally from Australia and my background is in Graphic Design & Advertising. I grew up in a town close to the beach and I’ve always loved the fresh air and being outside exploring. Even as a child, I was always outside getting dirty, hiking, riding bikes and everything else!
What drew me to Canada was the beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains as well as the different animals here in North America. I also drew a lot of inspiration from Canadian photographers and creators such as Chris Hau and Peter McKinnon.
It’s such a different type of geography than what I am used to back home in Australia. In fact, there are a lot of Australians living here in the mountain towns of Canada and after living here for a year, it’s so easy to see why.
Canadians are so welcoming. They are always happy to help and provide good vibes! It’s culturally very similar in Canada to back home in Australia and economically it’s quite similar too.
When you combine these elements with the incredibly different landscape, it makes it easy to see why this place feels like home so quickly to us. I love living here and it’s a wonderful area.
I am also a massive fan of hiking and camping. However, a few months ago I moved into a van as my full time house so I basically get to camp every single day!
My Favourite Natural Wonders of Canada
Recently, I was lucky to have my parents visit me here in Canmore for 3 weeks. We had some incredible days outside exploring some of the natural wonders of Canada.
I honestly think the best way to experience Canada is to live outdoors every waking moment the weather permits. Be outside, in the sunshine at lakes, doing hikes, in the forest or simply have a picnic.
The area around Calgary, for one, is a magical space with tons of amazing natural wonders to explore and enjoy. It’s an ideal place for anyone who loves adventure, mountain vistas, wildlife, and outdoor activities. Tourists love booking a room at this resort in Canmore making it a starting point for amazing adventures around the Canadian wilderness. This place is known for its beautiful lakes, stunning mountains, and vast forests. The perfect combination that makes it a popular destination among tourists.
I’ve taken my parents to so many lakes but a day that was a huge highlight for us was a helicopter flight over the mountains to see lakes and peaks from the air. This was a wonderful and different perspective.
Then, after our flight, we headed to Emerald Lake to enjoy a picnic by the water and on our way home we stopped off at the beautiful Moraine Lake.
Moraine Lake is one of my favourite natural wonders of Canada. I recently had an epic adventure there earlier in the season when the road entrance was still closed. A few photography friends and I rode our bikes along the uphill 11km road before the sun rose.
We enjoyed the lake with the perfect early morning light on the peaks. By also heading up at this time of day, we had the entire lake to ourselves, which is almost unheard of!
Although my ultimate favourite natural wonder of Canada would have to be Peyto Lake. Not only because of the incredible colour of the water, but it’s shape is also wonderful.
It’s pretty amazing that the lake has naturally formed in the shape of a wolf’s head! It’s such an iconic shape and so recognisable. If you know the right spots to hike to you can enjoy this lake all by yourself too.
Another location that is incredibly underrated is Cascade Pond. Located 10 minutes outside of Banff, you have a stunning view of the mountains from a lakeside picnic area!
If you’re lucky, animals also love to visit and take a bath in the lake. Cascade Pond would be in my top 3 natural wonders of Canada behind Peyto Lake and Moraine Lake.
Tips for First-Time Travelers to Canada
My first tip for travelers to Canada would be not to restrict your time by planning everything to the minute.
The weather here in the mountains can change quite drastically throughout the course of any given day, and planning for specific activities on days can make this challenging. Keeping your schedule flexible is a must!
Secondly – Always have your camera/phone ready. This area is so beautiful and you never know what is around the next corner. In saying that, it’s also so important to put the camera down and enjoy the beauty for yourself – especially when taking on the best hiking trails of Canada.
Sure photos are great to have, but without giving the time to create memories of the locations you visit, those photos may as well be someone else’s you’re looking at. Take time to absorb the landscape with your own eyes.
Thirdly – As much as everyone talks about it, it’s incredibly important to keep a distance from the animals, regardless of what they are. Even if these animals aren’t dangerous (squirrels for example) it’s important to leave them alone, and don’t feed them.
By involving ourselves in their lives, we are disrupting their natural rhythm and in turn putting their lives at risk. Enjoy nature from a distance, keep the parks clean and don’t leave anything behind (except footprints).
If you’re not sure what time of year to visit Canada, I would recommend spring/summer. It’s a beautiful temperature, the lakes are thawed out and their gorgeous teal colour is amazing. I think that April – June is the best time to visit.
The bears are also more active now as they’ve just woken up, and their cubs are so adorable! There are less tourists than in the middle of summer and the lakes are looking their best. Plus hotels are cheaper when it’s quieter.
