We have designed this as the ultimate New Zealand photography tour! Learn from four different New Zealand photographers on an 18-day experience, showcasing the South Island’s iconic highlights and hidden gems. Timed perfectly to capture the best of the autumn colours in Central Otago, then travel through the classic southern landscapes, adorned with golden hues and onwards to Mt Cook and Milford Sound, along with some of the country’s exceptional coastal wildlife.
For the first five days of the tour, you will be based in Wanaka and on our Autumn Masterclass with Richard Young & Glen Howey. The workshop has been tailored to offer a rewarding blend of tuition, and post-processing sessions as well as 4WD trips into some remote areas to capture the best autumn colours. You’ll hone your skills and technique whilst shooting stunning autumn landscapes and autumn abstracts.
Then you will join Ken Wright & Spencer Clubb to explore iconic highlights and hidden gems of the South Island’s stunning coastal and mountain landscapes. Starting in the Catlins Coast and Otago Peninsula, which is full of surprises, including fossilised forests, curious boulders, and outstanding coastal scenery. We will photograph some of the huge diversity of rare wildlife that this area boasts: penguins, sea lions, fur seals and Royal Albatross in New Zealand’s wildlife capital. Then adventure to the high country of Mt Cook National Park where we will photograph some of the amazing alpine scenery around New Zealand’s highest peak.
We’ll explore the untouched wilderness of Fiordland and on to the majestic Milford Sound. Milford, the most northerly of Fiordland’s many sounds, is renowned as one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes, offering dramatic scenery and the opportunity to experience this iconic fiord both from the shore and on an unforgettable overnight cruise.
Tour Starts: Queenstown
22 April 2026: The tour starts in Queenstown at 10 am to travel to Wanaka. We can pick you up at any central location in Queenstown or from Queenstown Airport.
Days 1-5: Wānaka
Your tour starts with the luxury of spending 5 nights in Wanaka on our Autumn Masterclass Workshop. The Autumn Masterclass offers us the time to capture the drama of Autumn Colours and misty mornings in spectacular Central Otago landscapes. Expert tutors Richard Young and Glen Howey will help you expand your creative approach to nature and landscape photography in stunning autumn locations.
With the best local knowledge and 4WDs, you will be immersed in the autumn landscapes around Lake Wanaka, the Clutha River, and Mt Aspiring National Park. We explore the remote Nevis Valley and head into the mountains with expansive views over Lake Wanaka and stunning autumn colours.
Our masterclass blends hands-on fieldwork, expert tuition, and post-processing sessions, with a focus on abstract and intimate compositions inspired by autumn. The experience concludes with two of your best images produced as stunning 16×22″ fine art prints—a lasting showcase of your photographic achievements.
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. We journey inland to the majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Photographic opportunities abound, from the glacial turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki to the alpine lakes and towering peaks surrounding Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s tallest peak.
Here, we’ll explore the breathtaking Tasman & Hooker Valleys; walking out along well-graded tracks leading to alpine lakes, sweeping river views, and majestic mountain scenery—ideal for capturing the raw beauty of this alpine environment.
Next, we travel to the Otago Peninsula to stay in the historic Larnach Castle, one of New Zealand’s most impressive buildings. Here, you’ll experience the acclaimed Trust the Chef dining experience in the castle’s grand dining room—an unforgettable culinary highlight of our tour. The Otago Peninsula’s dramatic coastal landscapes offer spectacular sunrise and sunset photo opportunities. It is also known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand with many rare species including penguins, albatrosses, and sea lions.
We will spend our stay here focusing on some exceptional wildlife experiences including a boat trip to take you around the world’s only mainland breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross to photograph these majestic birds from the sea. We will also visit a private eco-reserve, where you’ll photograph yellow-eyed penguins and blue penguins. And Orokonui Ecosanctuary; home to native birds and rare species like the takahe and tuatara, you’ll have the chance to photograph these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat.
We will make a stop at Moeraki to photograph the striking Moeraki Boulders and extraordinary collection of large spherical rocks scattered along the beach in a dramatic coastal setting.
We then head to the wild beauty of The Catlins Coast with sweeping views and abundant wildlife that make it an unforgettable location for photography; its pristine beaches provide the perfect setting for a dramatic sunset over the Southern Ocean. We explore the highlights of the coastline from Nugget Point; one of New Zealand’s most stunning coastal landmarks featuring a historic lighthouse perched above rocky inlets to Waipapa Point Lighthouse with its iconic windswept macrocarpa trees and expansive coastal vistas. Inland we will visit the tranquil waterfalls of the Catlins Coastal Rainforest Park which offer serene scenes surrounded by lush greenery.
We then have two nights in Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city. From here we embark on an unforgettable day trip to Stewart Island/Rakiura — New Zealand’s third largest island and one of its most treasured wilderness destinations. We will visit the remarkable Ulva Island, an open sanctuary within Paterson Inlet, where predator-free forest is alive with rare and endangered native birds. With no roads and virtually no human disturbance, Ulva Island offers extraordinary opportunities to photograph species such as the South Island robin, Stewart Island weka, and kaka in their natural habitat. The pristine beaches, towering podocarp forest, and crystal-clear waters of Paterson Inlet provide a stunning backdrop for photography throughout the day.
We journey to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. Two nights here allow us to fully immerse ourselves in this extraordinary wilderness region. We will explore the stunning Milford Road, widely regarded as one of the world’s great drives, stopping to photograph its many highlights: reflective alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, and moss-covered beech forests clinging to steep mountainsides. We will also capture the serene beauty of Lake Te Anau and explore the majestic beech forest on the Kepler Track.
For those seeking aerial views, an optional extra helicopter flight offers a spectacular perspective of Fiordland National Park, with an opportunity to photograph the fiords and glacial lakes from above.
We journey to Milford Sound, the jewel of Fiordland National Park, for a luxury overnight stay at Milford Sound Lodge. With the iconic Mitre Peak rising dramatically from the fiord, the lodge provides an extraordinary base to photograph Milford at its most magical — at sunset as the golden light plays across the peaks, and at sunrise before the day visitors arrive. The dramatic landscapes of towering granite peaks and cascading waterfalls make every moment here a photographic opportunity. We then embark on an overnight cruise on Milford Sound, where the experience of the fiord transforms completely after dark. As the day visitors depart, a profound stillness settles over the water. We will photograph the iconic scenery in the evening and morning light, with resident dolphins, fur seals, and the ever-changing mist that rolls through the fiord. Waking up on the boat to a Milford Sound sunrise is an experience and photographic opportunity unlike any other. After disembarking from the overnight cruise on, we make our way back to Queenstown to conclude this unforgettable tour.
Tour Finishes: Queenstown
Saturday, 9 May 2026: 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.
Richard Young is a full-time landscape and wildlife photographer based in Wanaka. He has been guiding groups of photographers in New Zealand since 2010, and in 2013, he founded New Zealand Photography Workshops.
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.
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.
Joel Staveley is a Director of Photography who’s time is equally divided between stills and video production living in Auckland, New Zealand.
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