Explore one of New Zealand’s most dramatic and least-visited coastlines on this intimate four-day photography workshop through the Catlins, guided by expert landscape photographer Glen Howey.
Stretching across the southeastern tip of the South Island, the Catlins offers a remarkable variety of subjects: wild beaches, ancient petrified forests, cascading waterfalls, and wind-sculpted trees found almost nowhere else in New Zealand. Constantly shifting weather brings moody skies, coastal mist, and extraordinary light that keeps every shoot different. With a small group and Glen alongside you in the field throughout, this is a focused workshop designed entirely around serious image-making.
This workshop has been designed to include return accommodation from Dunedin to enable you to fly in and out of Dunedin Airport.
Based in the Catlins, on the southeastern tip of the South Island, we will photograph some of New Zealand’s most iconic and photogenic coastal scenery. Purakaunui Falls and McLean Falls, two of New Zealand’s most photographed waterfalls, reward both early-morning and afternoon sessions. At Curio Bay, a 180-million-year-old petrified forest is exposed at low tide, a photographer’s dream of texture, pattern, and geological time. At Nugget Point, a nineteenth-century lighthouse stands sentinel above reef-strewn waters, with some amazing wildlife adding life to the scene. At Slope Point, the southernmost tip of the South Island, wind-sculpted trees lean into the prevailing gale, creating compositions unlike anything found elsewhere in the country.
You will learn to make deliberate images in demanding coastal and forest conditions, rather than hoping the light does the work for you. You will develop how to build a composition that holds together.
Reading coastal light and weather so you know when to shoot and when to wait, then controlling shutter speed while photographing waterfalls and the coast to render moving water exactly as you intend.
Building strong compositions from waterfall, bush and sea. Working with natural frames and lead in lines, placing a horizon with intent, using foreground to create depth, and finding order in a wild.
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.
The workshop is based in the Catlins on the east coast of New Zealand. Accommodation details and recommendations will be provided upon booking. On the last day, we will aim to finish in time to connect with late afternoon travel.
Start time Day 1: The workshop will start at 10:30am from Dunedin Airport on 19th November 2026.
Finish time Day 4: The workshop will finish on 22nd November 2026 at 3pm at Dunedin Airport.
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.
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.
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
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.