EXPERIENCE

Experience the untouched natural beauty of New Zealand on this wonderful 12-day tour to photograph the best South Island landscapes in winter! During this tour you will photograph spectacular and diverse landscapes; from glistening glaciers, majestic mountains, deep fiords, ancient forests, and rugged coastline. Guided by Richard Young, who has designed this tour to share some of his favourite locations and experiences at a time of the year that offers the most spectacular conditions for landscape photography. You’ll capture the mighty snow-covered peaks and misty mornings beside frosty lakes. 

Highlights include Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and the Dark Sky Reserve, the stunning, wild, and remote West Coast with its incredible coastlines and beech forests, the majestic towering peaks of Fiordland’s Milford Sound, and the unique pancake rock formations of Punakaiki. As well as the iconic vistas, we will also visit some off-the-beaten-track locations in the New Zealand backcountry around Ashburton Lakes, the Mackenzie Country, and Wanaka; offering the finest winter photography. We will take 4WD trips into remote valleys to capture some impressive backcountry vistas, mountain views, and endless winter photography opportunities.

The tour has been designed to include some amazing experiences including a two-night lodge stay on a high-country station to be immersed in the landscape, and Milford Sound where we’ll spend two nights in a luxury lodge in the heart of the Fiordland wilderness. We will even take you to one of the best Central Otago wineries for a wine tasting along the way. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to New Zealand or a seasoned local photographer, the tour offers an unforgettable experience and some of the finest winter photography.

• The snow-covered mountains of the Southern Alps

• Frosty high-country landscapes

• Aoraki Mt Cook National Park 

• Luxury Lodge and cruise out onto Milford Sound

• Backcountry 4WD trips

• New Zealand’s best coastline at Punakaiki 

• Visit to one of Central Otago’s finest wineries

• 12 days of tuition with Richard Young

• Additional local photography guide

• 12 nights of hotel accommodation - Twin share, single room upgrade available (mainly 4 stars, plus 2 nights luxury lodge & 2 nights high-country lodge)

• 12 breakfasts

• Milford Sound boat trip

• Backcountry 4WD trips

• Wine tasting

• Transport in a luxury minivan

• National Park guiding fees (DOC concessions)

• Meals (except breakfasts)

• Airfares

• Single supplement

Itinerary

Tour Starts: Christchurch

20th August 2025: Arrive in Christchurch, take the evening to relax in the city before we depart the next day, we have included your hotel accommodation for the night before the tour.

Day 1-2: Ashburton Lakes 

Our tour begins with a two night stay at Ashburton Lakes in a lodge in a high-country station for a unique experience. Located in the heart of Middle Earth, a world-famous for film locations from the Lord of the Rings movies. At sunrise and sunset, we’ll photograph arguably some of the finest lakes for winter photography in New Zealand, hoping for a frost and perhaps some ice on the lakes.

Day 3-4: Twizel & Aoraki/Mt Cook

We’ll explore Twizel and the Mackenzie Country’s surrounding mountains and lakes. We stay in Twizel for 2 nights as it’s the perfect base from which to take advantage of the spectacular surrounding locations of Aoraki National Park and remote Mackenzie Country which offers some amazing winter photography and the opportunity for some astro photography. From deep within the mountains at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park we’ll visit locations in the Tasman and Hooker valleys, including alpine lakes, sweeping river vistas, and views of New Zealand’s highest peaks. 

Day 5-6: Milford Sound

We will explore diverse landscapes along the dramatic Milford Road and enjoy 2 nights at the luxurious Milford Lodge deep in the wilderness. We’ll photograph the majestic Mitre Peak which towers over the sounds, and take a boat cruise through Milford’s unique granite peaks that soar more than a mile above the dark waters of the fiord. The huge waterfalls that tumble down into the sea give the area a scale and grandeur that has to be seen to be believed. 

Day 7-8: Wanaka

In Wanaka, we’ll explore some of the remote bays around the lake and ‘That Wanaka Tree’ - a short walk from our hotel. We’ll enjoy a 4WD adventure to a remote mountain valley where we’ll photograph spectacular and varied landscapes. You’ll also have the opportunity to take a helicopter flight landing on an iconic Wanaka peak with the opportunity to photograph the expansive views from the summit - this experience is an optional extra (at additional cost).

Day 9: Fox Glacier

We’ll photograph stunning waterfalls in the Haast Pass and stay a night in the tiny town of Fox Glacier - a unique and remote community on the West Coast. We will photograph Lake Matheson, capturing the often-perfect reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman - New Zealand's highest mountains. 

You also have an optional extra experience (at additional cost) to do a helicopter flight onto the vast upper névé of the Fox Glacier for unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Day 10-12: Punakaiki 

At Punakaiki we will photograph the famous Pancake Rocks - unique and dramatic limestone formations. At the Paparoa National Park, we will explore the exquisite limestone and river landscapes and exceptional coastline. 

Tour Finishes: Christchurch

1 September 2025: You’ll photograph some stunning mountain locations through the famous Arthur's Pass. We will return to Christchurch at 3pm, arriving in time for international flights departing after 6pm or hotel drop-offs.