Over seven days you will photograph two of the finest stretches of coastline at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, with three nights based in Kaikōura and three in Golden Bay. Kaikōura is where the mountains rise straight out of the ocean; Golden Bay is golden sand, weathered limestone and the sea-formed arches of the Archway Islands at Wharariki Beach.
You will travel with tutors Ken Wright and Matthias H. Risse throughout. Ken’s seascape work is built on a deep understanding of coastal light, and Matthias brings a technical eye to how landscape and nature come together. Both will be alongside you in the field for every shoot, from pre-dawn starts through to the last of the evening light.
Two bases rather than three is a deliberate choice. Three nights in each place gives us the time to work a region properly rather than pass through it, and to choose our locations around the conditions on the day. You unpack twice in seven days.
Timed for late September, when the light is low and clean and the Kaikōura mountains are still covered in snow, this is an immersive coastal tour built around being in the right place at the right time. You will come home with a considered body of coastal work and a stronger sense of how to build one.
Tour Starts: Christchurch
21 September 2027: The tour starts in Christchurch with an early pickup [start time to be confirmed]. We can collect you from any central Christchurch location or from Christchurch Airport.
Days 1–3: Kaikōura
We take the inland road north to Kaikōura, stopping to photograph the high country and river valleys on the way — a part of Canterbury most visitors drive straight past — and arrive on the coast in time for sunset.
Kaikōura is where the mountains meet the sea, and three nights here give us the time to work it properly. The peninsula, the coastline north towards Mangamaunu and the Seaward Kaikōura Range behind, still under snow at this time of year, give us both sunrise and sunset options whichever way the weather turns. We head out on the Albatross Encounter boat to photograph albatross and other wildlife off the Kaikōura coastline, and New Zealand fur seals are a regular presence along the rocks.
An early start out of Kaikōura for a day that crosses the top of the island. We follow the coast north and stop to photograph along the Marlborough shoreline, then turn inland to a river running clear over rock through mature beech forest — a complete change of subject after three days of open coast, and a good one for slow shutter work. We continue west through Nelson and out along the bay, arriving in Collingwood in time to be out for sunset on our first evening in Golden Bay.
Three nights based at Collingwood let us photograph the Golden Bay coastline in depth, working sunrise and sunset across the region. A full day out to Wharariki Beach takes in the Archway Islands and the shifting dunes behind them, and there is a great deal more along this coast besides — Farewell Spit, the long tidal flats of the bay, and quieter beaches that reward an evening of their own.
Inland we turn to the limestone country and beech forest that sit behind the bay, adding texture, detail and intimate forest work to the wider coastal scenes. Between them these days build a varied and coherent set of images from a single region, and a fitting close to a tour that began among the highest peaks in the country. With the moon now rising late, clear evenings here also give us the option of night sky photography over the coast.
Tour Finishes: Nelson
27 September 2027: We will arrive at Nelson 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, capturing outstanding moments of sunrise and sunset. With 40 years in creative industries, Ken is highly skilled in design, illustration and photography.
Matthias H. Risse is a photographer and technologist who has dedicated his career to exploring the intersection of nature, technology, and human experience.
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.
This tour runs with a maximum group size of 8 and 2 tutors, a 1:4 ratio of tutors to clients. Keeping the group small means both Ken and Matthias can give you proper attention in the field and work to how you learn. Smaller groups of up to 5 may be led by one tutor.
A minimum level of physical activity is needed to enjoy this tour. Most locations involve a short walk of 10 to 20 minutes each way along forest tracks, coastline or rocky beaches, sometimes uphill and over uneven ground, carrying your own equipment. There are one or two longer options of 30 to 45 minutes each way, and we can split the group at these locations if that suits people better.
We focus on being out shooting in the best light, which often means starting before dawn and finishing after sunset. There is usually time to rest through the middle of the day, and your tutors will run through the following day’s plan each evening so you always know what to expect.
The daily schedule is set by the conditions rather than fixed in advance. If a location is not working we will swap it for one better suited to the weather that day. This coastline is often at its best in changeable conditions — moving cloud and swell give Wharariki and the Kaikōura coast far more character than a clear sky does.
This tour is about how to use your camera rather than what camera you own. A tripod is essential for the long-exposure coastal work we do throughout, a wide-to-standard zoom will cover most locations, and a longer lens is useful on the Albatross Encounter. A recommended equipment list can be found here.
It will be early spring on an exposed coastline, so expect wind and cool mornings, particularly for sunrise. Warm layers, a waterproof outer and footwear you are happy to get wet are the essentials. Our recommended clothing list can be found here.
Sole occupancy and twin share are both offered on this tour — simply select which you would like when you book.
The tour includes 6 cooked breakfasts. Lunches and additional dinners are not included. We stop daily at local cafés or supermarkets for lunch, and a dinner reservation is arranged each evening at a restaurant. We recommend bringing a water bottle and plenty of snacks to keep you energised through the day.
Yes. New Zealand caters well for allergies, vegetarian, vegan and other dietary preferences, and we book group dinners at local restaurants each evening. Let us know your requirements when you book so we can pass them on to our accommodation and restaurants in advance.
Due to limited space in the vehicle there is a limit of two items per person: one 25 kg suitcase and one carry-on or camera bag.
For the start of the tour we recommend flying into Christchurch the day before, as a delayed flight on the morning of day one cannot be waited for. At the end of the tour we arrive at Nelson Airport at 3 pm, so book domestic flights departing after 4 pm and allow the airline’s check-in time for international departures.
Mobile coverage is reliable in Kaikōura and Collingwood, and drops out at some of the more remote coastal locations we visit. Wifi is available at our accommodation, though speeds in Golden Bay can be limited.
Yes. We build image review and processing sessions into the tour, scheduled around the times of day when the light is not suited to shooting. Bring a laptop, enough memory cards and a means of backing up your work