NZ Mountains to Coast Photography Tour – experience the hidden beauty of the South Island.
Our 12-day Mountains to Coast Photography Tour offers an incredible variety of landscapes, from majestic mountains and cascading waterfalls to wild beaches, dense forests, and the snow-covered peaks of the Southern Alps. Highlights include photographing a traditional merino sheep muster on a remote high-country station, where you’ll capture both the exhilarating action and the stunning mountain vistas of the Ashburton Lakes region.
Journey through the dramatic landscapes of Arthur’s Pass, the unique formations of Castle Rock, and the geological wonders of Punakaiki before exploring the West Coast wilderness. This region, home to more protected lands than any other in New Zealand, offers unparalleled photographic opportunities. From the perfect reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman at Lake Matheson to the untouched rainforests and rugged coastlines, every moment of the Mountains to Coast Photography Tour is designed to inspire and enrich your photography.
Tour Starts: Christchurch
12 Sept 2025: The tour starts in Christchurch. We will pick you up early (approx 8am) from any central location in Christchurch on the first day and provide transport for the entire tour.
Days 1-4: Ashburton Lakes
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking Ashburton Lakes region during a four-day Muster Photography Workshop, capturing the thrilling spectacle of a traditional merino sheep muster on a remote high country station.
Surrounded by serene glacial lakes, majestic peaks, and pristine alpine beauty, you’ll refine your skills in capturing sweeping vistas, emphasizing the texture and depth of rugged terrain, and working with the shifting light of this dramatic environment. Guided by professional photographers, this workshop provides an exceptional opportunity to refine your craft in one of New Zealand’s most inspiring settings. Visit to the spectacular and mysterious limestone landscapes of Castle Hill on route to Christchurch.
After a relaxing morning in Christchurch, we will head to Akaroa in the afternoon. From Akaroa Harbour, you will enjoy a 2-hour nature cruise showcasing impressive geological features as well as diverse wildlife, including fur seals, coastal birds, and the world’s smallest and rarest Hector’s dolphins.
We will photograph waterfalls and lush forest in Arthur’s Pass, the highest pass over the Southern Alps. At Punakaiki we will explore and photograph the unique and fascinating rock limestone formations that began to form 30 million years ago and were pushed from the seabed by earthquakes. At Paparoa National Park we’ll explore the exquisite limestone and river landscapes and exceptionally wild and beautiful coastline with its huge breaking waves and vast, deserted beaches.
We will capture the stunning turquoise waters of the Hokitika Gorge and visit Whataroa for a guided White Heron Sanctuary Tour along the Whataroa River—the only way to access the protected Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. Here, we will have the opportunity to photograph the country’s only nesting site for the elegant White Heron (Kotuku), along with the striking Royal Spoonbill. We’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Southern Alps as they rise beyond a vast expanse of rainforest at Okarito Lagoon,
Exploring the magnificent rainforest of Te Wāhipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage area, we will immerse ourselves in its rich landscapes and diverse ecosystems. If conditions allow, there is an opportunity (at additional cost) to take a helicopter flight onto the Franz Josef Glacier, offering an incredible vantage point for photography. Our journey also includes a visit to the stunning Lake Matheson, where we can capture the mirror-like reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
We will explore Haast Pass, the gateway back inland to Wanaka, stopping to photograph a series of extraordinary waterfalls, including a stunning 30-metre cascade set within a stately beech forest. From our lakeside base in Wanaka we’ll capture the stunning vistas of multiple mountain ranges and the lake. Via a 4WD adventure, we’ll capture the shifting light over rugged peaks and mountain valleys. The rest of the time will be spent exploring the hills around Wanaka.
Tour Finishes: Queenstown
23rd Sept 2025: After travelling from Wanaka, 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.
Glen has been a travel, documentary and landscape photographer for more than 30 years. As an educator at Massey University, The Photo School and through workshops, really enjoying helping others discover their affinity for 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
Ken and Glen were wonderful, I never cease to be amazed at their ongoing enthusiasm and delight at what is on offer and what they can find for us to photograph. They are both a credit to New Zealand Photography Workshops. Your administration support and response to queries is also commendable. The timeliness of responses and information is really appreciated.
The workshop was a one-of-a-kind experience. Apart from learning Photography, I could see the inner and hidden beauty in the interior of New Zealand, which no one could have seen as a tourist.