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 two nights at a lodge on a high-country station for a unique experience immersed in the landscape.
Tour Starts: Queenstown
Saturday, 25th July 2026: After early morning hotel pickups in Queenstown, we’ll set off on a picturesque journey over Lindis Pass, offering a first glimpse of the stunning winter landscape we’ll be photographing throughout the week.
In the heart of Mackenzie Country, we’ll stay for two nights in Twizel. This charming town provides the perfect base to explore a diverse tapestry of landscapes, from majestic snow-laden mountains to vibrant turquoise lakes and serene, reflective waters. We’ll explore the Mackenzie Country’s surrounding mountains and lakes and take advantage of the spectacular surrounding locations, travelling into some remote high country landscapes which offer some amazing winter photography.
We’ll spend two nights in the heart of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park at the stunning Hermitage Hotel, the perfect base for exploring and photographing dramatic views of New Zealand’s highest peaks and its breathtaking glacial lakes.
From our hotel, we’ll venture to the best locations within the park, including the Tasman Valley, the breathtaking Hooker Valley, and the striking landscapes surrounding Aoraki/Mt Cook. Photographic opportunities are endless, from the glacial turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki to the alpine lakes and towering peaks of the Southern Alps.
In the Ashburton Lakes area, we’ll immerse ourselves in remarkable high-country landscapes, where serene lakes nestle within the Southern Alps. For two nights, we’ll stay in a remote lodge on a high-country station, surrounded by breathtaking scenery—an ideal base for exploring the region. We’ll photograph one of the lakes at sunset, renowned for offering some of the finest winter views.
Sunrises here each morning bring a sense of anticipation and beauty. We hope for the perfect conditions—when the air is crisp, the ground is covered in frost, and the lakes might even have a thin layer of ice, framed by a striking mountain backdrops. We’ll explore the Hakatere Conservation Area and photograph an iconic location from the Lord of the Rings films.
Tour Finishes: Christchurch
Friday, 31st July 2026: You’ll photograph some stunning mountain locations through the famous Arthur’s Pass. We will return to Christchurch at 3pm, arriving in time for international flights departing after 6pm or hotel drop-offs.
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 tour includes 6 cooked breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 dinners. 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 6 and 2 tutors, offering 1:3 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
Thanks to Ken and Glen for an enjoyable trip, great locations and broadening my musical horizons.
I have now done a few workshops and tours with New Zealand Photography Workshops, and they keep getting better. The last Winter Landscape Tour was unforgettable. Some stunning locations and great places to stay, topped off by the exceptional guides Ken and Glen. They know the best locations and offer great advice, Can’t wait for the next one.
I’ve been on 2 workshops. One 4-day and one 7-day. The tuition on both were excellent. All with top knowledge and work experience in this field.
I have gained a better understanding of my camera and editing and have seen some beautiful parts of New Zealand that are not accessible to the general public. I will definitely be back.
I have been on three previous workshops and have been impressed with the tuition, the attention to detail and the fun with other like-minded people. The tutors I have had so far have been very good. I know my photography and my way of seeing things has improved dramatically.
The Winter landscape tour opened up some special times with a great group of photographers and unforgettable photo opportunities. Thanks Glen and Ken for an inspiring 7 days.