6 Nights / 7 Days : Mon 6 July – Sun 12 July 2026
Designed to take advantage of the unique light and conditions of winter, this photography tour focuses on capturing the South Island at its most dramatic. Short days, clear air, and snow-covered landscapes create ideal conditions for strong landscape photography.
The tour begins in the Ashburton Lakes region before continuing south to Tekapo and Twizel in the Mackenzie Country, providing access to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and the surrounding alpine landscapes. Working across these regions gives us a wide range of winter subjects, from frozen lakes and open basins to snow-covered peaks and winter rivers, all under the crisp light that winter is known for.
Winter is an amazing season to photograph the South Island, offering unique light, landscapes and a sense of scale that is unique to this time of year.
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 in Christchurch and finishes in Queenstown
We meet mid-morning in Christchurch. After introductions, we’ll run through a tour briefing covering equipment, weather conditions, and what to expect over the coming days, with time to answer any questions.
We then head west through Arthur’s Pass, with opportunities to stop and photograph dramatic mountain landscapes along the way. Once we settle into our base for the next two nights we start to explore this area which is within the Hakatere Conservation Park between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers.
Over the next few days, we photograph frozen lakes, expansive open basins, and snow-covered mountains. Key locations include Lake Heron, Lakes Clearwater and Lake Camp, each offering distinct mountain -dropped compositions. We will also visit a Lord of the Rings location adding a cinematic backdrop to our photography.
On day 3 we head south into the Mackenzie District, spending a night at Lake Tekapo. There are fantastic options for us to explore and photograph from here including some off the beaten track back-country gems, expansive open landscapes as well as Lake Alexandrina and Lake Tekapo itself.
The short winter days allow us to take full advantage of changing light conditions, while flexibility in the itinerary ensures we can respond to the weather and make the most of every photographic opportunity.
For the next three nights we are based in Twizel, providing access to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park, Lake Ohau, and surrounding alpine backcountry. Snow-covered peaks, glacial basins, alpine rivers, and dramatic mountain provide a wide range of winter subjects.
We explore iconic locations including the Tasman and Hooker Valleys, Lake Pukaki, and the backcountry around Lake Ohau. Mornings and evenings are spent photographing the mountains in crisp low-angle light, while the flexible schedule allows us to revisit locations, experiment with composition, and capture scenes under changing conditions.
The tour concludes with our journey back to Queenstown, crossing the Lindis Pass, where the tussock valleys, snow-dusted mountains, and frosted landscapes offer another opportunity for photography.