HIGHLIGHTS

LOCATION: Christchurch - Auckland

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Christchurch - Mt White
We will pick you up early from Christchurch to travel to Mt White Station at midday. After assembling at the lodge we will run through an introductory programme of advanced camera setup for landscape photography and tutorials on composition along with advanced topics such as hyperfocal distance for getting sharp photographs. Late afternoon, we will head out for our first 4WD trip to the top of a nearby peak to shoot sunset across the stunning river braids.

Day 2 - Mt White
Headed out before sunrise in 4WDs to capture sunrise over the mountains and Esk River. After breakfast head on to the Mound of Misery to spend the day exploring the mounds and the many photographic opportunities this remote area offers. Tonight we will shoot sunset with stunning views across the terraced high country landscapes with mountains and the Waimakariri River as a backdrop.

Day 3 - Mt White
After an early morning sunrise, we will then spend the morning in the lodge conference room to offer a group critique of the photographs from the last days and an in-depth post-production session covering the processing of landscape photographs. We will then help you process your two best images from the workshop and produce a finished 16x22" fine art print to take home. We will head out in the unimog to capture sunset returning to the best location on the station for the weather conditions.

Day 4 - Mt White - Christchurch - Auckland
During our last sunrise shoot, we will capture some of the first morning light across surrounding mountains. We will depart the Station mid morning to head out to Castle Hill to photograph the strange and spectacular landscapes of this area before heading onto Christchurch to meet with late afternoon flights to Auckland (included).

Day 5  – Auckland
Today you have a free day to explore Auckland, with the inclusion of a return ferry ticket to explore the volcanic landscape Rangitoto Island, a pest-free island that sits in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland. It is the youngest volcano in New Zealand and offers some great photography opportunities from old lava flow to beautiful Pohutukawa trees.

Day 6 - Auckland - Hokianga
The day starts with an early morning departure from Auckland, driving up to the beautiful Hokianga Harbour, where we will stay tonight. En route, we stop to explore native Kauri forests, reaching the Harbour for sunset over the West Coast. The scenes we will be photographing today are unlike any you’ll find elsewhere across the country.

Day 7 – Hokianga - Karikari Peninsula
Today we say goodbye to Hokianga and begin to make our way to one of mainland New Zealand’s furthest-north points, Cape Reinga. We will be stopping en route to capture several picturesque jetties—these are well-suited to black and white ‘fine art’ style photographs. As we drive up, we will check into our hotel for the next three nights; the stunning Carrington Estate, before heading to capture sunset along the coast here.

Day 8 – Karikari Peninsula
We will spend the day exploring the stunning Karikari Peninsula, with its white silica sand beaches and serene bays, fringed with the red blossoms of pohutukawa trees.

Day 9 – Cape Reinga (Karikari Peninsula)
Today, we head to Cape Reinga stopping on the way to photograph the Te Paki sand dunes—humongous desert-like dunes created over millions of years through volcanic eruptions. Later in the afternoon we travel up to Cape Reinga, a location of great significance both geographically and culturally. A beautiful lighthouse sits high above the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean: this is where we shall capture sunset tonight.

Day 10 – Karikari Peninsula - Russell
This morning, we set off toward the picturesque Bay of Islands: the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell will be our home for the next two nights. Russell features many historic sites, as it was the first capital of New Zealand during European colonisation. Our day ends with a sunset shoot over the picturesque coastline, on one of many beautiful bays nearby.

Day 11 – Russell
We have an early start for a sunrise shoot this morning, followed by breakfast back at the hotel. On our chartered boat, we spend the day exploring the Bay of Islands by sea, including parts of the coastline not accessible by road. We have some beautiful island stops to look forward to, and we will capture these at our own pace.

Day 12 - Russel - Auckland 
Another early-morning sunrise shoot across the Bay of Islands allows you to hone your field technique and capture more stunning beaches. Today, we depart the Bay of Islands and head towards Whangarei and the beautiful Whangarei Falls. This is the last stop on our journey, and we will be driving back to Auckland in the afternoon to meet with evening flights from the airport.

PRICE INCLUDES

• 4 days’ photography guiding by Glen Howey and Shaun Matthias Risse

• 7 days photography guiding by Ken Wright & Spencer Clubb

• 11 nights’ hotel accommodation (twin-share, single upgrade available) mostly 4✩ 

• 2 nights’ stay at Carrington Estate

• 2 nights’ stay at the Duke Of Marlborough Hotel

• Boat charter in the Bay of Islands

• 3 nights stay at Mt White Station 

• 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners

• One way Air New Zealand flights Christchurch to Auckland

• Copy of Pocket Guide to Landscape Photography

• Free Online Course Essential Landscape Photography 

• E-book masterclass workshop topics

• Use of Benro filters kits

• Transport during the tour

• DOC (National Park) concession fees

• Copy of our Pocket Guide to Landscape & Wildlife Photography 

• Donation to our Conservation Fund

• Native tree planting to Carbon Offset your tour