The first New Zealand Tour that we posted filled up so quickly Art decided to add a second one!
New Zealand’s extreme beauty is central to its identity. It will leave you speechless with the beauty of its mystical fjords, pristine beaches, and glacier-carved mountains.
The landscapes are dramatic, varied, and accessible. In addition to the photography, you will find New Zealand to be a charming country that’s easy to explore. Prepare yourself for incredible scenery, stunning photos, and memorable experiences.
The South Island offers some of the world’s most dramatic sunsets and sunrises. Our tour will take you to carefully selected spots, ensuring you capture the magical moments when the sky is ablaze with color.
Explore this magnificent landscape with Art Wolfe by your side instructing you on the best ways to properly capture the immense beauty that surrounds you.
To ensure an intimate and personalized experience, we have limited the tour to a small group of photography enthusiasts. Reserve your spot now to avoid disappointment!
Images provided by: Richard Young
Led by Art Wolfe
Assisted by Gavriel Jecan
Limited to 10 participants
Transportation and Accommodation
All meals, lodging, and transportation specified on the itinerary are included. You will be responsible for your flight to and from New Zealand.
Itinerary
Shooting schedules have the ability to be altered to effectively cater to the photographic desires of the group, as well as to adapt to changeable weather conditions.
Day 1 Oct 14, 2024 Arrival in Christchurch, New Zealand
Arrive at any time today and make your way to the accommodation in Christchurch. (It is approximately a 15 minute shuttle ride to downtown Christchurch.)
This evening there will be a welcome dinner with Art Wolfe, Gavriel Jecan and our expert guide and professional photographer Richard Young. (D)
Day 2 Christchurch – Mt. White
Setting off from Christchurch we make our way inland across the Canterbury plains heading towards Mt White Station. Stopping along the way to capture views through Arthurs pass. After settling into the Lodge at Mt White, we will head out for our first 4WD unimog trip to the top of a nearby peak to shoot sunset across the stunning river braids. (B, L, D)
Day 3 Mt. White
The day begins with an early sunrise shoot before returning to the lodge for breakfast. The rest of the day will be taken up alternating between locations on the station to capture some of the amazing high country terrain and make the most of our time here, the day will end with us heading out in the unimog to capture sunset over the terraced high country landscape with mountain backdrop. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Mt. White – Punakaiki
Our last day at Mt White sees us capturing another sunrise over the stunning high country landscapes. After breakfast we pack up, and drive back through the famous Arthur’s Pass. We will stop to photograph the waterfalls and forests of this area as we make our way to the West Coast. We will reach Punakaiki and its famous Punakaiki rock formations in time for sunset photography. (B)
Day 5 – Punakaiki
The day begins with an exploration of the exquisite limestone and river landscapes of Paparoa National Park. We will spend the rest of the day exploring the exceptional coastline and sunset sees us heading out onto stunning beaches to capture the last light hitting the coastline and huge breaking waves. (B)
Day 6 – Punakaiki – Franz Josef
This morning, we drive down the coast stopping in at the Hokitika Gorge to capture the beautiful turquoise waters and then heading further down to Whataroa for a guided White Heron Sanctuary Tour up the Whataroa river; this is the only way to access the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. Here, we will photograph the country’s only nesting site for the beautiful White Herons (Kotuku), along with the Royal Spoonbill. We finish the day at sunset, we visit a remote west coast beach offering panoramic views of the snow-covered peaks of the Southern Alps. (B)
Day 7 Franz Josef – Wanaka
This morning, we photograph sunrise at Lake Matheson, capturing the often-perfect reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman—New Zealand’s highest mountains. If the weather is right, you have the option (at additional cost) to take a helicopter flight onto the vast upper neve of the Fox Glacier for some unparalleled photo opportunities. From here we will make our way over to Wanaka where we will shoot sunset over the Lake. (B)
Day 8 – Wanaka
This morning’s sunrise will be at the famous Wanaka tree, just a 5 minute walk from our hotel, capturing the early morning light against the backdrop of surrounding mountains. This morning we will have a conference room session to review over the images you have taken in the first half of the tour. This evening there is the optional extra of heading out in 4WD’s to a remote location high above Lake Wanaka of a private station, to capture the beautiful vistas across the tussock-covered landscape and panoramic views of the lake. (B)
Day 9 Wanaka – Te Anau
After an early start to photograph sunrise over the lake we will make our way to Fiordland, stopping on the way to photograph Arrowtown, a quaint mining town with picturesque scenery. This afternoon we will walk the tranquil shores of Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest lake. This evening we photograph the sunset over the lake, with a vast array of mountains beyond. (B)
Day 10 – Te Anau
Today we will head into Milford Sound, taking the Milford Highway up the Eglinton Valley. Winding through the mountains; past dark, brooding lakes and mossy beech forests, perched at impossibly steep slopes, we arrive at Milford Sound. Milford Sound is one of the country’s most iconic locations, granite peaks soaring more than a mile above the dark waters of the fjord. Huge waterfalls tumble down into the sea giving the area a scale and grandeur that has to be seen to be believed. This afternoon we will take a cruise on the fiord to capture this magical place from the water, we will finish up with a sunset shoot before heading back to Te Anau. (B)
Day 11 – Te Anau – Mt Cook
Today is our biggest driving day of the tour. We will head off early stopping on the way to capture some of the amazing scenery we will be driving through on our way to Mt Cook. This evening we shall photograph the sunset in the Tasman Valley where icebergs float gracefully in lakes below the mountains. (B)
Day 12 – Mt Cook
The day begins with the option to shoot sunrise over the summit of Mt Cook from right outside our hotel. There is also the option to do some aerial photography (optional extra). This includes taking a flight over Aoraki/Mt Cook and landing to photograph the glaciers above. This afternoon we will explore the Hooker Valley, including alpine lakes and views of New Zealand’s highest peaks. All the locations we visit are along well-graded tracks on the valley floors. Mt Cook offers a brilliant place for Astrophotography with the ability to shoot the stars over Mt Cook from right outside our hotel. (B)
Day 13 – Mt Cook – Christchurch
After an early start to photograph sunrise over Mt Cook once more, we then head back to Christchurch with a few stops along the way to end our tour in time to meet with late afternoon flights. (B)
Optional Extras
If a client wishes to book these optional extras we can add these to their individual bookings. Please note that any flights are weather dependent, but may be arranged on the day of. If a flight does not fly you will be refunded.
Day 6: Fox Glacier Flight – Price TBC
Discover the wonders of both the Fox Glacier in one scenic flight with the advantage of seeing more high peaks and a fantastic overview of the Southern Alps. Soar across pinnacles and crevasses and witness the deep blue ice of glacier country. Take advantage of the terrific photo opportunities of Aoraki/Mt Cook (New Zealand’s highest mountain) and Mt Tasman while landing on the snow.
Day 7: Wanaka Wild Hills 4WD Adventure – Price TBC
Wild Hills off road Safari through a private farm to the hills surrounding Lake Wanaka to capture the landscape from this stunning vantage point. Minimum of 5 people to run.
Day 9: Dusky Doubtful Sound Helicopter Flight – Price TBC
This flight offers an amazing experience to visit some of the most remote parts of NZ, this is our favorite flight to do in NZ. This 1hr 40min flight will visit the southern part of the South Island’s wild West Coast and experience the many scattered islands and early history unique to New Zealand’s largest fiord, Dusky Sound. Your return journey will take you to the head of Doubtful Sound, through the hidden valley of Campbell’s Kingdom and back down the South Arm of Lake Te Anau. They fly low through the fjords, over the ridge lines and the coast. There will be two (10 min) landings overlooking amazing views. Minimum of 2 bookings to fly.
Day 11: Mt Cook Ski Plane flight – Price TBC
Enjoy the scenic beauty of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the national park surrounding it from takeoff to landing. The snow-capped mountains, the bright blue of the glacier lake and the lush greens of the vegetation are just a few of the magnificent sights you will experience as you fly through the Southern Alps. Once you’ve traveled up the Tasman Valley, you will make a glacier landing for a picture-perfect moment. This incredible journey is 45 minutes long, you will return to Mount Cook Airport once completed.
Services Included
- Accommodations (twin sharing basis) as indicated above in the itinerary. If you wish to upgrade to a single room, the single room supplement fee is $1,900.
- The price tour includes breakfast each morning. Lunches and dinners 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. Please note due to the time of the year dinners would likely have to be at around 5 to 6 pm to then head out for a sunset after this.
- Local Photography Guide
- Local Driver
- Transport in 17 seater Sprinter with luggage trailer
- DOC concession fees & Licenses to enter National Parks
- Trip to White Herons breeding ground
- Milford Sound Cruise
Services Not Included
- Any international Airfare, travel insurance or medical insurance. (health insurance is mandatory and travel insurance is highly recommended)
- Anything not mentioned in inclusion above.
- Tipping to accompanying escort is not included in our quote.
- Any expenditure of personal nature like alcoholic drinks, Fruit shakes, sodas, laundry, telephone calls, or internet
- Anything ordered from room service at any hotel including mineral water (other than what being offered by the hotels on their compliment).
- Any sudden increase in price due to steep hike in fuel cost, change in government tax policy or for any reason beyond our control like acts of god, natural calamity, law and order situation, riots etc and any forced change in itinerary for any unforeseen situation or reason beyond our control.
- Laundry services