Capture the best of New Zealand’s Lower South Island, a region of breathtaking landscapes and iconic photography locations. From rugged fiords and windswept beaches to glacial lakes and towering alpine peaks, this journey offers an extraordinary variety of scenes perfect for capturing stunning images.
Begin in Milford Sound, exploring its untouched wilderness with an overnight cruise where waterfalls tumble from rainforest-clad cliffs into the fiord below. Continue along the southern coast to The Catlins, where dense forests meet the Southern Ocean and remote beaches provide opportunities to photograph coastal wildlife such as fur seals and sea lions.
Travel inland to Wanaka and Twizel, where golden tussock landscapes, alpine vistas, and glacial lakes create a dramatic backdrop for both daytime and astrophotography. Conclude your adventure at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, photographing New Zealand’s highest peaks, pristine glacial lakes, and sweeping alpine scenery.
This Lower South Island adventure combines world-class landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unforgettable photographic experiences, making it a must for photographers seeking to capture the essence of New Zealand’s South Island.
Tour Starts: Queenstown
17th September 2026: Our tour starts with three nights based in Te Anau, the perfect base to explore Fiordland National Park and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area, characterised by dramatic landscapes. We will journey out to Milford Sound, the jewel of Fiordland with towering granite peaks, cascading waterfalls, brooding lakes and mossy beech forests. At Milford Sound we take a cruise to capture the amazing landscapes from unique, alternative perspectives.
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. Inland we will visit the majestic waterfalls of the Catlins Coastal Rainforest Park which offer serene scenes surrounded by lush greenery.
We arrive in Wanaka, a photographer’s paradise famed for its dramatic surrounding mountain ranges, stunning lake reflections and iconic lone tree. Our lakefront hotel offers the perfect base to capture the raw beauty and shifting moods as the light shifts across the snow capped mountains beyond.
We will stay in Twizel for two nights as it’s the perfect base from which to take advantage of the spectacular surrounding locations of Aoraki National Park and the remote Mackenzie Country, which offer some amazing photography opportunities. We will venture deep within the mountains at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to visit locations including alpine lakes, sweeping river vistas, and views of New Zealand’s highest peaks.
Tour Finishes: Christchurch
27th September 2026: We will arrive at Christchurch 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.
Ben is a passionate guide and photographer dedicated to capturing the beauty of life through videography and photography.
Glen has worked as a travel, documentary, and landscape photographer for over 30 years. As an educator at Massey University, The Photo School, and through photography workshops, he’s passionate about helping others discover and develop their own connection to photography.
Accommodation Type: This tour features mainly 4–4.5 star hotel, motel or lodge accommodation.
Sole Occupancy/Twin Room: Please select sole occupancy or twin share room when booking.
Food: The tour includes 10 cooked breakfasts, lunch and dinners are not included. We’ll stop daily at local cafés or supermarkets for lunch, and a dinner reservation will be arranged each evening at a restaurant. We recommend bringing a water bottle and plenty of snacks to keep you energised throughout the day!
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