New Zealand
April 8 – 18, 2024
Spectacular and Diverse Landscape Photography in Springtime
October 18 – 28, 2024
Even if you’ve never been to New Zealand, you’ve seen it many times. It’s one of the world’s premier filmmaking locations, and the South Island is one of the most rewarding destinations for landscape photographers. Spring is a perfect time of the year to visit New Zealand:
- Days are getting longer and warmer.
- The countryside and woodlands everywhere are alive with vibrant shades of green.
- The mountain peaks that form the backdrop to many spectacular scenes and are still capped with pristine winter snow.
On this journey, we’ll photograph the high peaks and glacial lakes of the Southern Alps, including Mount Cook National Park. Guided 4×4 drives will get us into the remote, high-country wilderness of Nevis Valley, and a helicopter flight will drop us at one of the most spectacular views in the country.
We will also visit Milford Sound, once described by Rudyard Kipling as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and the highlight of our trip—a private, exclusive overnight cruise on remote Doubtful Sound, offers a unique photographic experience.
Other highlights include the Catlins, a lesser-visited coastal region known for unspoiled beaches and waterfalls, along with the ruggedly beautiful Fiordland National Park.
As impressive as that list of photographic opportunities is, we will teach you everything from camera settings and pre-visualization to post-processing your images.
Join us for this magical experience in one of the most photogenic regions on earth.
Of course, we are approved by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Your Pro
Location
New Zealand's South Island
Tuition
$9,995
Dates
October 18 – 28, 2024
Availability
Sold Out
Limited to 5 Guests
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
October 18, 2024: We’ll meet in Queenstown today at 1:00 PM. Guests already staying in Queenstown can be picked up at their hotel by arrangement. We’ll then drive to Twizel and check into our hotel before gathering for a meet-and-greet dinner at a local restaurant and our first sunset shoot.
October 19, 2024: We’ll photograph sunrise this morning at Peter’s Lookout for a picture-perfect view of Aoraki-Mount Cook at the head of Lake Pukaki. After breakfast, we’ll spend some time shooting around Lake Pukaki and Twizel before heading out in the afternoon to photograph in the Hooker Valley. Dinner at Mount Cook Village.
October 20, 2024: This morning we’re up early for a panoramic sunrise from the opposite shore of the lake, looking towards the Ben Ohau Range. After breakfast, we’ll take some time for an interactive image review session. We’ll head out to nearby Lakes Alexandrina and Tekapo in the afternoon. The area surrounding these lakes is the world’s largest dark sky reserve and offers an excellent vantage for Milky Way shooting.
October 21, 2024: We’ll get an early start this morning to shoot sunrise at Tasman Lake, where we’ll hope to see icebergs and stunning reflections of Mount Cook and the surrounding alps. After breakfast at Mount Cook Village, we’ll head back to Twizel for check-out for a short drive to Wanaka. We’ll enjoy a great dinner at our favorite local restaurant and finish the day with a sunset shoot at Dublin Bay.
October 22, 2024: Photograph sunrise at the famous Wanaka Tree, with its backdrop of snow-capped mountains. We’ll have an early lunch today before being picked up by our 4×4 driver guides and heading out to the remote backcountry of the Nevis Valley. We’ll end the day with a golden hour shoot of this spectacular wilderness from Duffers Saddle, the highest point on the New Zealand road network.
October 23, 2024: For a unique perspective and unforgettable view of Lake Wanaka, we will take a dawn helicopter flight up to Coromandel Peak, a mountain overlook we will have to ourselves. The snow-capped Southern Alps stretch endlessly into the far distance, while the surrounding countryside below is a vibrant green palette. After breakfast, we’ll check out of our lodgings and enjoy a scenic drive to the southeast coast, an area known as the Catlins. Our accommodations will be in the small township of Kaka Point.
October 24, 2024: Sunrise at Nugget Point, a lighthouse on the peninsula at Kaka Point. After breakfast, we’ll leave for the day, visiting four beautiful waterfalls hidden away in lush green woodlands. These woodlands will be vibrant green at the start of spring, and the waterfalls will run fast after the winter rains. Dinner upon our return at Kaka Point.
October 25, 2024: Breakfast and check-out. Today we’ll drive at a leisurely pace across the South Island to the lakeside town of Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park, the most remote corner of New Zealand. Dinner will be in town.
October 26, 2024: Sunrise across Lake Te Anau. Mid-morning, we’ll head out along the incredibly scenic Milford Highway, stopping at Te Anau Downs, the spectacular Eglinton Valley, Lake Gunn, and the glacial-blue Hollyford River. Our journey takes us through the Homer Tunnel and down through the spectacularly rugged valley to Milford Sound, where we’ll spend some time shooting from the foreshore, followed by dinner and then a sunset shoot before driving back to Te Anau.
October 27, 2024: This morning we depart to board our privately chartered vessel, Southern Secret, for a unique cruising experience on remote Doubtful Sound. We’ll be on board for lunch, tea, overnight, and breakfast. The scenery in the Sound is spectacular: lush green forests, countless waterfalls, and a variety of wildlife, including dolphins, penguins, seals, and occasionally orca. Try your hand at fishing under the guidance of our crew, or simply enjoy photographing the scenic beauty and tranquility of this unpopulated wilderness.
October 28, 2024: After disembarking our vessel, we’ll head to Queenstown with a photo stop at Devil’s Staircase. You can make onward travel arrangements from 4:00 PM.
Gallery
Fitness
Moderate: You are able to walk up to two miles on uneven ground.
Flights
Arrive Queenstown Airport (ZQN), Queenstown, New Zealand before 11:00 AM on October 18, 2024. Flights out can be made after 4:00 PM on October 28, 2024.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $1,000 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- Internal flights during the workshop.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- All helicopter charters.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from Neil Protheroe.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Queenstown, New Zealand.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $1,000 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $3,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further payment of $3,000 is due by March 1, 2024.
- The balance is due not later than July 1, 2024.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Testimonials
“Thank you and your team for a wonderful workshop. New Zealand is spectacular and your workshop made the exploration even more enjoyable. Theresa and I learned so much and came back with some memorable images. Working on my images over the last couple days has really energize me to keep working on my craft. The workshop opened the door to a new hobby for Theresa. One that we can both enjoy together. We hope to do another workshop with you in the future. There are so many destinations on both our bucket lists and using your workshops as away to really explore these places makes it even better! ”
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