5 Nights / 6 Days : Mon 5 April – Sat 10 April 2027
Designed to put you in front of the best that Fiordland has to offer, this six-day photography adventure is an immersive journey into one of New Zealand’s most remote and dramatic landscapes.
Based out of Te Anau and designed for photographers of all levels, we’ll explore Milford Sound, the Hollyford Valley, and spend a night deep in Doubtful Sound, giving us the time and opportunity to capture amazing images in these ultimate landscapes. Days are structured around the best light, with mornings and evenings spent photographing to make the most of dawn and dusk.
Fiordland is a dramatic landscape of magnificent mountains, alpine lakes, quiet fiords, moss-laden forests, and cascading waterfalls, all of which provide unparalleled photographic opportunities. Flexibility is built into the itinerary, giving time to revisit locations, explore hidden gems, and respond to light and weather conditions to get the best possible shots.
This tour is designed for photographers of all levels, from keen enthusiasts through to those with more experience. It suits those who want to refine how they see, compose, and work with light in the field, in some of the most amazing scenery anywhere. Days generally start early and time is spent on location. The emphasis is on thoughtful photography, working scenes as conditions change, and coming away with a strong set of images and a clearer photographic approach.
My photography tours are structured around being in the right place at the right time, which often means working in some truly outstanding locations.
Days start before dawn and often run through until after sunset, taking full advantage of the best light of the day. Locations are not rushed. Time is deliberately built in so we can work a scene properly, refine compositions, and leave knowing you’ve captured the images you came for.
Many of the locations we visit are quiet and remote, and it’s common to be the only people there. During the middle of the day there is time to rest, review images, and plan for the next location.
The tours place a strong emphasis on learning through doing. At each location we work through composition, light, camera settings, and technique, so you develop a clear approach to photographing landscapes.
Post-processing sessions using Lightroom and Photoshop are also included, focusing on a clear, repeatable workflow and showing you how to turn your raw files into strong finished images that reflect the conditions and experience of being there.
This tour begins and finishes in Queenstown
We meet mid-morning in Queenstown. After introductions, we’ll run through a tour briefing, covering equipment, current weather conditions, and what to expect over the coming days, with time to answer any questions.
From here we drive to Te Anau where we settle in for the next couple of days.
The afternoon and evening are spent photographing at a range of locations around the shoreline of Lake Te Anau, making the most of changing light and conditions.
Today we explore the Milford Road, one of the most dramatic drives in the country and a highlight of the tour. As we descend into the Hollyford Valley, the scale of Fiordland really reveals itself, with towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and constantly changing conditions.
The day is planned around the light, with stops at key locations along the route before continuing through to Milford Sound.
We aim to arrive at Milford Sound with plenty of time to work the area as the light fades throughout dusk.
Today we travel from Te Anau to Manapouri and begin the journey into Doubtful Sound. This involves crossing Lake Manapouri by boat, followed by a drive over Wilmot Pass, where the landscape becomes increasingly remote and rugged.
From here we board our vessel and head deep into Doubtful Sound, spending the afternoon and evening exploring and photographing this vast and quiet fiord. Staying overnight on the ship allows time to work with the changing light as well as experience Doubtful Sound in a special way. The sense of scale, silence, and isolation makes this a standout part of the tour and a rare opportunity to photograph Fiordland at its most immersive.
The morning is spent back out on Doubtful Sound, taking advantage of early light and the calm conditions that often settle in overnight. After breakfast, we begin the return journey, retracing our route back across Doubtful Sound etc before arriving back in Te Anau later in the day. The afternoon is kept flexible, allowing time to rest, review images, and head out for a short local shoot.
The focus of today is a Milford Sound cruise, giving us the chance to photograph the fiord from the water and capture iconic sights such as Bowen Falls, towering cliffs, and cascading waterfalls from a unique perspective.
Along the way, there is flexibility to revisit locations along the Milford Road or explore hidden gems, alpine lakes, and other stops that caught our attention earlier in the tour. The emphasis is on making the most of the day, capturing the images you want, and responding to what Fiordland has to offer as the light and weather allow.
On the final morning of the tour, we spend time photographing around the shores of Lake Te Anau and its surrounds, taking advantage of the early light and revisiting any spots that may have caught your eye.
After a relaxed morning we make our way back to Queenstown where the tour concludes.