This 14-day photography tour showcases some of the South Island’s most iconic landscapes, including the Catlins, Mt Cook and Milford Sound, along with some of the country’s exceptional coastal wildlife. Timing is planned to make the most of New Zealand’s most settled season in autumn. The whole tour will feature the stunning golden colours of the southern landscapes.
You will explore the iconic highlights and hidden gems of the South Island’s stunning coastal and mountain landscapes with Ken Wright & Joel Staveley. We adventure to the Catlins Coast and Otago Peninsula, which is full of surprises, including fossilised forests, curious boulders, and outstanding coastal scenery. We will photograph some of the huge diversity of rare wildlife that this area boasts: penguins, sea lions, fur seals and Royal Albatross in New Zealand’s wildlife capital. Next we journey to the high country of Mt Cook National Park where we will photograph some of the amazing alpine scenery around New Zealand’s highest peak.
Then you will join Ken Wright & Ben Wallbank to explore the untouched wilderness of Fiordland including the majestic Milford and Doubtful Sounds. Milford, the most northerly of Fiordland’s many sounds, is renowned as one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Doubtful Sound is far more remote and scenic than the well-known Milford Sound offering a true wilderness experience with a 2-night stay here on a boat within the tranquil fiords.
Tour Starts: Queenstown
27 April 2026: The tour starts in Queenstown – we can pick you up at any central location in Queenstown or from Queenstown Airport.
We then head to the wild beauty of The Catlins Coast with sweeping views and abundant wildlife that make it an unforgettable location for photography; its pristine beaches provide the perfect setting for a dramatic sunset over the Southern Ocean. We explore the highlights of the coastline from Nugget Point; one of New Zealand’s most stunning coastal landmarks featuring a historic lighthouse perched above rocky inlets to Waipapa Point Lighthouse with its iconic windswept macrocarpa trees and expansive coastal vistas. Inland we will visit the tranquil waterfalls of the Catlins Coastal Rainforest Park which offer serene scenes surrounded by lush greenery.
Next, we travel to the Otago Peninsula to stay in the historic Larnach Castle, one of New Zealand’s most impressive buildings. Here, you’ll experience the acclaimed Trust the Chef dining experience in the castle’s grand dining room—an unforgettable culinary highlight of our tour. The Otago Peninsula’s dramatic coastal landscapes offer spectacular sunrise and sunset photo opportunities. It is also known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand with many rare species including penguins, albatrosses, and sea lions.
We will spend our stay here focusing on some exceptional wildlife experiences including a boat trip to take you around the world’s only mainland breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross to photograph these majestic birds from the sea. We will also visit a private eco-reserve, where you’ll photograph yellow-eyed penguins and blue penguins. And Orokonui Ecosanctuary; home to native birds and rare species like the takahe and tuatara, you’ll have the chance to photograph these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat.
We will make a stop at Moeraki to photograph the striking Moeraki Boulders and extraordinary collection of large spherical rocks scattered along the beach in a dramatic coastal setting.
We journey inland to the majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Photographic opportunities abound, from the glacial turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki to the alpine lakes and towering peaks surrounding Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s tallest peak.
Here, we’ll explore the breathtaking Tasman & Hooker Valleys; walking out along well-graded tracks leading to alpine lakes, sweeping river views, and majestic mountain scenery—ideal for capturing the raw beauty of this alpine environment.
For an added adventure, you can also book an optional extra ski-plane flight, which provides an unparalleled aerial view of the Southern Alps from which to land on Tasman Glacier. This thrilling flight offers unobstructed views of the stunning ice formations and towering peaks, perfect for capturing dramatic views of this extraordinary landscape.
We then have two nights in Queenstown to capture changing light across Lake Wakatipu and serene reflections of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. We will travel to the picturesque town of Glenorchy, with its iconic boatshed and jetty. Nestled among native beech forests and towering mountains, Glenorchy offers a taste of Middle Earth where the natural beauty is truly unparalleled. We will also have some free time to explore Queenstown before the next part of our tour.
We journey out to Milford Sound, the jewel of Fiordland National Park and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area characterised by dramatic landscapes with towering granite peaks and cascading waterfalls. We have a luxury overnight stay at Milford Lodge and the opportunity to photograph the famous Mitre Peak at sunset and sunrise. Then a further two nights in Te Anau allow us to fully explore the stunning Milford Road with its reflective lakes and moss-covered beech forests clinging to steep mountainsides. Along with capturing the serene beauty of Lake Te Anau, we will also explore the majestic beech forest on the Kepler Track.
For those seeking aerial views, an optional extra helicopter flight offers a spectacular perspective of Fiordland National Park, with an opportunity to photograph the fiords and glacial lakes from above.
We embark on a two-night cruise through Doubtful Sound, while it may not be as well known as Milford it is arguably more photogenic. With no direct road access, we must first take a boat across Lake Manapouri, then drive through lush rainforest and over the dramatic Wilmot Pass to arrive at Doubtful Sound where we will meet our boat. The peaceful and awe-inspiring environment of Doubtful Sound offers an unforgettable experience, surrounded by natural grandeur. We will photograph waterfalls, jagged peaks, and the pristine waters of this remote wilderness.
Tour Finishes: Queenstown
Sunday, 10 May 2026: After travelling back from Doubtful Sound, the tour finishes in Queenstown. We will arrive at Queenstown airport at 3 pm in time for domestic flights departing from 4 pm. Please only book flights after 4 pm, or you will not make it to the airport on time. For international departures, please ensure you plan your flight departure allowing for the required check-in time requested by the airline.
Ken Wright’s seascapes speak for themselves, outstanding moments in time that capture sunrise and sunset. With 40 years experience in creative industries, Ken is highly skilled in design, illustration and photography.
Joel Staveley is a Director of Photography who’s time is equally divided between stills and video production living in Auckland, New Zealand.
Ken Wright’s seascapes speak for themselves, outstanding moments in time that capture sunrise and sunset. With 40 years experience in creative industries, Ken is highly skilled in design, illustration and photography.
Ben is a passionate guide and photographer dedicated to capturing the beauty of life through videography and photography.
Accommodation Type: This tour uses comfortable lodge accommodation and mainly 4 star hotels.
Sole Occupancy/Twin Room: Please select sole occupancy or twin share room when booking.
Food:The price tour includes breakfast each morning, this is normally at the hotel but sometimes a local cafe. Lunch and dinner (apart from any listed as being included) are at your own expense. We will stop at a cafe/shop for lunch and book a table for the group for dinner each day at a local restaurant. Sometimes evening meal times might be early/late to fit around the time of sunset. New Zealand has great food and caters well for any preferences like allergies, vegetarian etc.
A 15% deposit is required to reserve your space (deposit is non-refundable). The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
Booking and Cancellation Policy: Please click here for our booking and cancellation policy.
Our exact schedule each day will be determined according to the weather to allow for the best shooting, we may choose to swap out locations for others that are better suited to the conditions and we keep a flexible itinerary to accommodate this. We focus on spending as much time as possible out shooting, often from before dawn until sunset. During the tour, we will make time for some image review and processing session, we will fit these around times that are not optimum for shooting.
This tour runs with a maximum group size of 8 and 2 tutors, offering 1:4 ratio of tutors to guests. Limiting group sizes ensure we provide you with expert guidance, instruction, and personal attention according to your learning style. Smaller groups of up to 4 may only be led by one tutor.
A minimum level of physical activity is necessary to enjoy this tour. A lot of locations we shoot require a short walk (10-20mins one way) along the forest tracks or the coastline. These are sometimes uphill, over uneven ground, or rocky beaches and you will be carrying your own equipment. On this tour, there may be a couple of longer walk options (30-45 min one way) but if these are difficult for the group, we do have the option to split the group at these locations. If your fitness or mobility is an issue please let us know.
Camera Equipment: Our tours focus on how to use your camera, not your type of camera. A basic list of recommended camera equipment can be found here
Clothing: A list of recommended clothing to bring on the tour can be found here