New Zealand Winter Photo Tour guided by Andy Marty – June 14-23, 2027
Date: June 14-23, 2027
New Zealand’s South Island is home to some of the world’s most spectacular and accessible landscapes. The South Island’s spectacular landscapes make it an exceptional destination for landscape photography. Mesmerising fjords, pristine glaciers, rugged mountains, and plenty to see and do on a smaller scale make this photography workshop a bonafide once in a lifetime experience that you’ll treasure forever.
Alongside our professional photo guides, you’ll capture the astonishing views while developing your skills in the best possible environment. Our itinerary will take in the finest sights the scenic South Island can throw at us, and we’ll have plenty of time to focus on all the hidden gems we are bound to encounter as we go.
Beginning in Christchurch, we’ll head into the heart of the South Island mountains. There we’ll enjoy the heady sights of the Aoraki National Park, eventually moving on to the wondrous photography haven of Fiordland, with much more in between!
In an epic photo adventure we will see the range of natural diversity that inspired Peter Jackson to film his Lord of the Rings trilogy here, from the peak of Mount Cook to the magical lakes of Tekapo, Wanaka and Pukaki.
Day 1, June 14
We begin our tour in Christchurch with breakfast and an introduction session at 9:00 AM, where we meet the group and go over the plans for the days ahead. From Christchurch, we travel south toward Lake Tekapo, stopping in Fairlie for lunch at the famous local pie shop. After arriving in Tekapo, we take a charter flight with Air Safaris, giving us a spectacular aerial perspective of the surrounding landscapes. The flight time can be adjusted depending on the weather and our plans for the following days.
Day 2
We start the day around Lake Tekapo, with time to photograph the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd and the lake foreshore. We then continue toward Aoraki / Mount Cook, making photographic stops along the way, including Lake Pukaki and Peter’s Lookout. After reaching the Mount Cook area, we take a short walk to Tasman Lake Lookout. The surrounding mountains, glaciers and braided rivers give us plenty of opportunities to capture the dramatic alpine scenery.
Day 3
We spend a full day exploring the spectacular landscapes around Aoraki / Mount Cook. We begin with a visit to Tasman Lake before heading out on the Hooker Valley Track, a scenic three-hour return walk through the national park. Along the route, we photograph glaciers, alpine peaks and the Hooker River. We keep the day flexible so we have plenty of time to explore and photograph the landscape at a comfortable pace.
Day 4
We leave Aoraki / Mount Cook and travel toward Wanaka, making photographic stops along the way. We photograph the Tasman River braids and make another stop at Peter’s Lookout for a different perspective of the surrounding mountains. We then continue through the spectacular South Island scenery toward Wanaka. In the evening, we visit the iconic Wanaka Tree on the shores of Lake Wanaka.
Day 5
We take a scenic day trip through Haast Pass, one of the most beautiful routes in the South Island. Along the way, we explore the lush landscapes and stop at locations such as Thunder Creek Falls for photography. We also have opportunities to make additional stops along Haast Pass or later on the journey toward Queenstown. We continue to Queenstown and settle in for the evening.
Day 6
Today we take a well-earned break in Queenstown with no planned tour activities. We can use the day to rest, explore Queenstown independently or simply enjoy some downtime after several days of travelling and photography. Dinner is not included, giving us the flexibility to choose where and what we would like to eat.
Day 7
We leave Queenstown for a scenic day trip toward Glenorchy. Depending on conditions, we may stop at Moke Lake before continuing toward Glenorchy and its spectacular mountain and lakeside landscapes. We have plenty of opportunities to photograph the scenery along the route and around Glenorchy. Depending on conditions, we may also choose to focus on photographic opportunities closer to Queenstown.
Day 8
We depart Queenstown and travel toward Milford Sound, stopping at some of the spectacular locations along the Milford Road. Depending on conditions and timing, our stops may include Mirror Lakes, Marian Creek, Monkey Creek and Falls Creek. We continue into the Milford Sound area and spend time photographing the foreshore or exploring additional locations along Milford Road. The day takes us through some of the most dramatic landscapes of Fiordland.
Day 9
We spend another full day exploring Milford Sound and the surrounding Milford Road. In the morning, we take a two-hour fiord cruise, giving us a different perspective on the towering cliffs, waterfalls and dramatic landscape. In the afternoon, we continue exploring photographic locations along Milford Road, returning to favourite spots from the previous day or discovering new ones. We also have time to photograph the Milford Sound foreshore.
Day 10
We enjoy a final morning around Milford Sound, with time for photography along the foreshore or another opportunity to explore the Milford Road. We then begin our journey back to Queenstown, making photographic stops along the way as conditions and timing allow. We take in the spectacular scenery one last time as we travel out of Fiordland. We arrive in Queenstown at approximately 4:00 PM, where our tour concludes.
Included in the price:
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All transfers (except airport transfers)
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Lodging
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Breakfasts and dinners (except dinner on Day 6)
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Milford Sound cruise
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Charter photography flight over Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park
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Instruction and master classes by two professional guides
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Price: 8900 USD
Not included in the price:
– Airfare
– Lunches and dinner on day 6, beverages
– Visas (if applicable)
– Single supplement (1000 USD – if you want to stay in a single room)
What to bring
Gear:
– DSLR camera with tripod and remote shutter release
– A wide angle lens. For example, Nikkor 14-24 or Canon 16-35. Best lens for use in wide-angle scenes – mountain photography
– A middle-zoom lens such as a 24-70 mm
– A telephoto zoom lens, such as a 70-200 mm
Wear:
– Waterproof and windproof jacket (consider the average temperatures 0 – 10 C)
– Waterproof pants
– Warm down-jacket and thermal pants
– Casual clothes for dinners and lunches and photography workshops
Full list of recommended wear will be sent to participants.
