Day 1 - Christchurch - Ashburton Lakes
The first day of our tour sees us heading for Ashburton Lakes. This is a remarkable area of placid lakes and high country wetlands, all set in the huge basin between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, both of which drain the central Southern Alps. Much of the area is protected as the Hakatere Conservation Park, and it is the home to such rare species as the Crested grebe and other wetland birds. Sunset will be spent photographing Lakes Clearwater and Camp, arguably the finest of all the Ashburton Lakes. We drive back east for 30 minutes to our hotel, where we will also have dinner.

Day 2 - Ashburton Lakes
After an early breakfast, we return to the Ashburton Lakes, hoping for a good frost to photograph, and perhaps even some ice on the lakes. At sunset, we may visit Lake Heron, to photograph this large lake with the distinctive Mt Sugarloaf beyond it. We return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 3 - Ashburton Lakes to Arthurs Pass
After breakfast, the tutors will run a review session, giving students an opportunity to have their work processed and critiqued. By late morning we depart Ashburton and head north towards Christchurch, with a late lunch at Springfield. Our itinerary takes us through the Canterbury High Country, past Mount Somers, and further inland to Arthurs Pass

Day 4 – Arthur's Pass
After our sunrise shoot, we return to the Hotel for breakfast. Following breakfast, we drive into Arthur’s Pass National Park to photograph the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall, 131 meters high. The track crosses the Bealey River and Punchbowl Creek with the aid of two footbridges before zigzagging up steps (240 of them) through mountain beech forest to a viewing area just below the falls.  In the afternoon we drive across Arthur’s Pass, and descend towards the coast. This is a landscape of lush forests, many waterfalls and the impressive Otira Gorge. The tutors will decide which sunset location according to the weather conditions, but may be over alpine lake near Arthur’s Pass itself.