He Flew From Australia to Propose at Cathedral Cove — Lachlan & Megan's Sunrise Proposal | Auckland Proposal Photographer

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand | December 2025

When Lachlan first messaged me on Instagram, he was sitting in Australia with a ring, a plan, and a dream. His girlfriend Megan had no idea what was coming. And somehow, across the Tasman, he was asking a photographer from West Auckland if she'd be willing to drive three hours, hike through the Coromandel bush before dawn, and help him pull off the most important moment of his life.

Of course I said yes.

The Plan

Cathedral Cove is one of those places that needs no introduction. That iconic natural stone arch, the white sand beach, the sea stacks rising out of the water — it's one of the most photographed spots in all of New Zealand for good reason. It's also a place that belongs to the whole world, which meant that to make this proposal feel private and intimate, we had one option: get there before everyone else.

Lachlan had a general vision in mind but we built the plan together over several weeks of chatting. He wanted flowers. He wanted champagne ready to pop. He wanted the moment to feel curated but not staged. My job was to make sure that when he got down on one knee, everything around him looked the way it deserved to.

We decided on a sunrise proposal. The park opens early, the crowds don't arrive until mid-morning, and the light at that hour at Cathedral Cove is something else entirely. We laid a picnic blanket at the perfect spot in the cove as Lachlan's marker — so when the moment came, he'd know exactly where to lead her.

I also gave Lachlan a piece of advice I give every person I work with before a proposal:

Take your time. There is no rush. Take a deep breath before you kneel. Say everything you need to say. This is your moment to make her one of the happiest people in the world — and I will be right there to capture every second of it.

The Morning of

December in the Coromandel can be unpredictable, and this day proved it. What was supposed to be a golden sunrise proposal turned overcast and drizzly by the time we woke up. We pushed the timing to 7:30am and hoped the weather would cooperate.

I parked at the trailhead and started the 30–40 minute hike down to the cove while it was still dark. Flowers. Champagne on ice. Camera gear on my back. The beach was completely empty when I arrived — just the sound of waves, the arch overhead, and the light beginning to shift through the clouds.

For the next hour, I waited. I scouted every angle. I watched how the light moved. I stayed in contact with Lachlan the whole time, checking his ETA, reassuring him, keeping the energy calm. By the time they started making their way down the stairs to the beach, the crowds were beginning to trickle in. I positioned myself as just another photographer taking shots of the scenery — which wasn't entirely a lie.

When I spotted Lachlan coming down, we locked eyes across the beach. No words needed. Everything is ready. You've got this.

I did have one more thing to do before the moment arrived — I quietly approached the small group of visitors near the picnic blanket and asked if they'd mind clearing the area for just a few minutes. Every single one of them understood immediately and stepped back with smiles on their faces. Strangers, becoming part of someone else's love story for a moment.

The Proposal

Lachlan led Megan around the cove — a little detour to throw her off — and then walked her back toward the blanket. I noticed Megan was wearing a white dress to hike in. Just saying.

When he knelt down, the cove was theirs. Just the two of them, the arch, the sea, and the silence between his words. Her reaction came in waves — stunned stillness first, then a slow smile that broke open into joy. She said yes.

I kept shooting through all of it.

After the proposal, I introduced myself to Megan, welcomed her into the moment, and told her we'd do their photos whenever they were ready. Then I played their song — and they danced on the sand at Cathedral Cove, barefoot, champagne in hand, laughing and spinning and completely in their own world.

Effortlessly romantic doesn't even begin to cover it. Those two were made for each other.

What Made This One Special

Lachlan flew across the Tasman to propose. He planned for months. He drove three hours, woke up before dawn, and hiked through the Coromandel bush because he wanted the moment to be perfect for Megan. That kind of love and intentionality — it comes through in every single photo.

Getting to be the person trusted to capture that? I will never take it for granted.

Planning a Proposal in New Zealand?

Whether you're local or flying in from overseas, I would love to help you plan and photograph your proposal. I'm based in West Auckland but I travel — and yes, that absolutely includes the Coromandel, Piha, and beyond. I can help you with location scouting, timing, logistics, and I'll be there to make sure the moment is captured exactly as it deserves to be.

Every proposal I shoot, I treat like it's the only one in the world. Because for you, it is.

YM Photography | West Auckland proposal & couples photographer | Available for proposals, engagements, and weddings across New Zealand.