New Zealand Photography Workshops Christchurch Overnight Experiences

EXPERIENCE

Join Glen Howey and Ken Wright on this winter 4WD adventure with a small group of only 6 photographers. You will have the opportunity to capture Canturbury's High Country and the Southern Alps at its wintery best. The itinerary takes you inland through the iconic Mackenzie Country to Tekapo, a picturesque village in the Southern Alps. We then travel through the Canterbury High Country onto  Ashburton Lakes. This is a remarkable area of placid lakes and high country wetlands, all set in the huge basin between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, both of which drain the central Southern Alps. You will then find yourself immersed in the majestic beauty of the mountains and rolling pastoral High Country of Mt White Station. Here you’ll experience a diverse range of landscapes ranging from braided rivers to mountainous terrain before we end our experience in Christchurch. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The snow-covered mountains of the Southern Alps

• The braided Waimakariri River

• Lakes Heron & Clearwater

• Frosty high country landscapes

QUEENSTOWN - CHRISTCHURCH

• Tekapo

• Ashburton Lakes

• Kura Tawhiti /Castle Hill

• Arthurs Pass National Park

ITINERARY

Day 1 Queenstown - Tekapo
After early morning hotel pickups, we make our way inland and enjoy a beautiful variety of scenery as we travel further inland, deep into the Southern Alps, and will stop for some fantastic photo opportunities along the way. We will be staying in the majestic Tekapo for 2 nights, and will enjoy our first night with a sunset shoot on the side of the lake. 

Day 2  – Tekapo 
Today we will spend the day in the beautiful lakeside town of Tekapo, famed for its iconic church on the lake which will be framed with the milky way tonight for a spectacular sunset tonight. This is truly one of the most peaceful vistas in the whole country. It’s always incredible to take in the colour of the lake – no filters required! 

Day 3 - Tekapo - Ashburton Lakes
Today we head for Ashburton Lakes. This is a remarkable area of placid lakes and high country wetlands, all set in the huge basin between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, both of which drain the central Southern Alps. Much of the area is protected as the Hakatere Conservation Park, and it is the home to such rare species as the Crested grebe and other wetland birds. Sunset will be spent photographing Lakes Clearwater and Camp, arguably the finest of all the Ashburton Lakes. We drive back east for 30 minutes to our hotel, where we will also have dinner. 

Day 4 - Ashburton Lakes
After an early breakfast, we return to the Ashburton Lakes, hoping for a good frost to photograph, and perhaps even some ice on the lakes. At sunset, we may visit Lake Heron, to photograph this large lake with the distinctive Mt Sugarloaf beyond it. 

Day 5 - Ashburton Lakes to Mt White 
This morning we depart Ashburton and head north towards Christchurch, with a late lunch at Springfield. Our itinerary takes us through the Canterbury High Country, past Mount Somers, and further inland to Mt White.

Day 6 – 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.

Day 7 - Mt White - Christchurch
Our last day sees us capturing another sunrise and hopefully more icy landscapes around the Station. After breakfast at our hotel, we pack up, and have a last review session before making our way back towards Christchurch. If conditions are suitable, we may stop to capture local waterfalls en route. By late afternoon we arrive in Christchurch in time for late afternoon flights.

PRICE INCLUDES

• 7 days’ photography guiding

• 6 nights accommodation - twin share (single upgrade available)

• 6 cooked breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 Dinners 

• Copy of Pocket Guide to Landscape Photography

• Use of Benro filters kits

• 4WD Transport during the tour 

• Christchurch pickup & drop off

• DOC concession fees

• Donation to our Conservation Fund

• Native tree planting to Carbon Offset your Tour

EXPERIENCE
Join Glen Howey and Ken Wright on this winter 4WD adventure with a small group of only 6 photographers. You will have the opportunity to capture Canturbury's High Country and the Southern Alps at its wintery best. The itinerary takes you inland through the iconic Mackenzie Country to Tekapo, a picturesque village in the Southern Alps. We then travel through the Canterbury High Country onto Ashburton Lakes. This is a remarkable area of placid lakes and high country wetlands, all set in the huge basin between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, both of which drain the central Southern Alps. You will then find yourself immersed in the majestic beauty of the mountains and rolling pastoral High Country of Mt White Station. Here you’ll experience a diverse range of landscapes ranging from braided rivers to mountainous terrain before we end our experience in Christchurch. HIGHLIGHTS
The snow-covered mountains of the Southern Alps
The braided Waimakariri River
Lakes Heron & Clearwater
Frosty high country landscapes QUEENSTOWN - CHRISTCHURCH
Tekapo
Ashburton Lakes
Kura Tawhiti /Castle Hill
Arthurs Pass National Park
ITINERARY
Day 1 Queenstown - Tekapo
After early morning hotel pickups, we make our way inland and enjoy a beautiful variety of scenery as we travel further inland, deep into the Southern Alps, and will stop for some fantastic photo opportunities along the way. We will be staying in the majestic Tekapo for 2 nights, and will enjoy our first night with a sunset shoot on the side of the lake.
Day 2 – Tekapo
Today we will spend the day in the beautiful lakeside town of Tekapo, famed for its iconic church on the lake which will be framed with the milky way tonight for a spectacular sunset tonight. This is truly one of the most peaceful vistas in the whole country. It’s always incredible to take in the colour of the lake – no filters required!
Day 3 - Tekapo - Ashburton Lakes
Today we head for Ashburton Lakes. This is a remarkable area of placid lakes and high country wetlands, all set in the huge basin between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, both of which drain the central Southern Alps. Much of the area is protected as the Hakatere Conservation Park, and it is the home to such rare species as the Crested grebe and other wetland birds. Sunset will be spent photographing Lakes Clearwater and Camp, arguably the finest of all the Ashburton Lakes. We drive back east for 30 minutes to our hotel, where we will also have dinner.
Day 4 - Ashburton Lakes
After an early breakfast, we return to the Ashburton Lakes, hoping for a good frost to photograph, and perhaps even some ice on the lakes. At sunset, we may visit Lake Heron, to photograph this large lake with the distinctive Mt Sugarloaf beyond it.
Day 5 - Ashburton Lakes to Mt White
This morning we depart Ashburton and head north towards Christchurch, with a late lunch at Springfield. Our itinerary takes us through the Canterbury High Country, past Mount Somers, and further inland to Mt White.
Day 6 – 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.
Day 7 - Mt White - Christchurch
Our last day sees us capturing another sunrise and hopefully more icy landscapes around the Station. After breakfast at our hotel, we pack up, and have a last review session before making our way back towards Christchurch. If conditions are suitable, we may stop to capture local waterfalls en route. By late afternoon we arrive in Christchurch in time for late afternoon flights.
PRICE INCLUDES
7 days’ photography guiding
6 nights accommodation - twin share (single upgrade available)
6 cooked breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 Dinners
Copy of Pocket Guide to Landscape Photography
Use of Benro filters kits
4WD Transport during the tour
Christchurch pickup & drop off
DOC concession fees
Donation to our Conservation Fund
Native tree planting to Carbon Offset your Tour