Join Glen Howey and Ken Wright on an exclusive winter 4WD adventure. This photography tour offers an incredible opportunity to New Zealand’s High Country and the Southern Alps at the height of their winter beauty. Timing provides the most spectacular conditions for winter landscape photography; you’ll capture the mighty snow-covered peaks and misty mornings beside frosty lakes.
Starting in Queenstown we journey to the Mackenzie Country, where we will photograph around Twizel and Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. We will explore the remote valleys by 4WD, which offers some fantastic winter photography opportunities and the breathtaking majesty of the mountains. We continue to the serene Ashburton Lakes, home to some of the most awe-inspiring winter landscapes. This area features mountain views, alpine lakes, beautiful rivers, and elegantly placed trees. We’ll stay three nights at a lodge on a high-country station for a unique experience immersed in the landscape.
Tour Starts: Queenstown
Saturday, 31st July 2027: After early morning hotel pickups in Queenstown, we’ll travel over the picturesque Lindis Pass, taking in sweeping tussock valleys, snow-dusted peaks, and crisp winter landscapes — an inspiring scene for photography.
In the heart of Mackenzie Country, we’ll stay for three nights in Twizel, the perfect base for exploring and photographing New Zealand’s highest peaks and breathtaking glacial lakes. This charming town provides access to a diverse tapestry of landscapes, from snow-laden mountains to vibrant turquoise lakes and serene, reflective waters.
We’ll venture into the surrounding mountains and remote high-country landscapes, capturing the spectacular winter scenery the region is famous for. We’ll explore the best locations within Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, including the Tasman Valley, the Hooker Valley, and the striking peaks and alpine lakes of the Southern Alps. Photographic opportunities abound—from the glacial turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki to the towering mountains and pristine alpine lakes that define this iconic region.
For three nights, we’ll stay in a remote lodge on a high-country station—an ideal base for exploring these pristine winter landscapes. This remarkable region is defined by serene lakes set within a vast basin framed by the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, both fed by the central Southern Alps. Much of it is protected as part of the Hakatere Conservation Park.
Each sunrise brings the possibility of crisp, frosty mornings and lakes edged with delicate ice—perfect conditions for capturing the beauty and atmosphere of the high country. We’ll also visit an iconic location featured in the Lord of the Rings films.
Throughout our stay, we’ll photograph some of the region’s most spectacular lakes. At sunset, we’ll head to Lake Heron for stunning views toward Mt Sugarloaf, and we’ll spend time at Lakes Clearwater and Camp—two of the most photogenic lakes in the Ashburton region.
On our journey back to Christchurch, we will travel through Arthurs Pass, stopping to photograph its dramatic mountain landscapes.
Tour Finishes: Christchurch
Friday, 6th August 2027: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.
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.
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 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 tour includes 6 cooked breakfasts. Additional 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 5 may only be led by one tutor.
A minimum level of physical activity is necessary to enjoy this tour. Many of the locations we shoot require a short walk (10–20 minutes one way) along tracks or uneven terrain. These paths can sometimes be uphill or rocky, and you will be carrying your own equipment. On this tour, there may be a couple of longer walk options (30–45 minutes one way), but if these are challenging for the group, we can split the group at these locations. If your fitness or mobility is a concern, 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