2024 - Northern Landscapes Photography Tour

2024 - Northern Landscapes Photography Tour
NZD $10,390.00
  • Duration: 12 Days

EXPERIENCE

You will start this spectacular tour by exploring the best of Northland’s scenery, from wild coastlines to waterfalls, and classic jetty shots. Historically, Northland was the central hub for activity in New Zealand—and to date, it retains numerous remarkable landmarks: Russell, the former capital; the Treaty of Waitangi grounds, the home of modern New Zealand; giant sand dunes created by volcanoes; the meeting place of the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea; stunning bays; waterfalls; Kauri forest—Northland has it all! The never-ending summers of Northland make it a beautiful place to relax. 

We will then continue on to the awe-inspiring Taranaki Coast to capture lush rainforests, the iconic mountain and the stunning coastline. Staying for 3 nights in the Ahu Ahu Beach Villas, just outside New Plymouth. If any New Zealand volcano has the perfect shape, it is Mt Taranaki⁠—which, at 2518m, is the second-highest peak in the North Island. This volcano forms the centrepiece of Egmont National Park, one of the country’s oldest national parks. We will explore the many contrasting photography opportunities from mountain to sea.


HIGHLIGHTS

  • Cape Reinga & Te Paki sand dunes

  • The Northlands’ white silica sand beaches

  • Chartered boat around the Bay of Islands

  • Stay at Carrington Estate & Duke Of Marlborough Hotel

  • Mt Taranaki

  • Cape Egmont 


LOCATION: Auckland - Auckland

  • Hokianga

  • Te Paki Sand Dunes

  • Cape Reinga

  • Karikari Peninsula

  • Bay of Islands

  • Raglan

  • New Plymouth

  • Egmont National Park


ITINERARY

Day 0 - Auckland 

Arrive in Auckland and make your way to the hotel - this night accommodation is included in the tour. 

Day 1  - Auckland - Hokianga
To start the tour we will drive 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 2 – 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 3 – 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 4 – 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 5 – 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 6 – 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 7 – Russell - Auckland - Taranaki
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, as we head back to Auckland and then catch a flight to our final destination today Taranaki. (Domestic flight included).

Day 8  – Taranaki
Today you have a free day to explore New Plymouth  or catch up on some post-processing.

Day 9 - Taranaki
Today we are  traveling to our stunning accommodation for the next three nights; Ahu Ahu Beach Villas which is pitched right on the coast.  After assembling, we will run through some tuition sessions covering long exposure photography and tutorials on composition. Later in the afternoon we will head out to the coast, capturing the sun setting over a dramatic coastline—a scene including volcanoes that have eroded into offshore islands.

Day 10 - Taranaki
We will explore Egmont National Park and its wonderfully stunted forest and shapely waterfalls flowing over old lava escarpments offer excellent photographic opportunities. Heading into the national park, you will learn to shoot a diverse range of subjects including classic landscape, mountain, waterfall and forest photography. This afternoon, we can journey further south⁠—to the North Island’s western-most point at Cape Egmont, well known for its iconic lighthouse⁠ to capture sunset here.

Day 11 - Taranaki
Today we will journey further north along the wild and dramatic coastline, with so many stunning beaches we are spoilt for choice and spend the day capturing the coastline. Tonight we will shoot sunset on one of the dramatic black sand beaches with views back to Mt Taranaki⁠.

Day 12 - New Plymouth - Auckland
Today we will capture the coastal sunrise, heading out once again to one of the amazing local beaches with a view of the mountain. After this we will spend the rest of the morning reviewing over some of the work from the last 3 days, offering critique and advice on post processing, and after lunch we return back to New Plymouth for late afternoon flights to Auckland (included in tour)


PRICE INCLUDES