Join us on a private photography expedition to the tallest peaks of Te Wai Pounamu, New Zealand’s South Island. This amazing region, framed by the majestic Southern Alps boasts serene lakes, meandering rivers, and majestic mountains.

Here, the raw power of nature is always on display: colossal glaciers carve their way through the alpine landscape, while braided rivers flow swiftly across plains, eventually merging with the sea. 

Our 3-day private photography tour offers a glimpse into this extraordinary environment. Tailored to accommodate weather conditions, lighting, your photography expertise, and the rest of your New Zealand itinerary, our goal is for you to capture images you’ll proudly showcase—whether on social media, in a photo book, on your wall, or even in an art gallery. 

In the majestic depths of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, where the highest peaks of New Zealand proudly stand, you will find yourself immersed in awe-inspiring beauty. From dawn to sunset, you will have the opportunity to capture the breathtaking alpine scenery that surrounds you.

Journey through the park with us, exploring various locations that offer stunning views of Mt Cook, the Tasman Valley, and the icebergs in Tasman Lake. With skies free from light pollution, the Milky Way can be seen shining brightly above the Southern Alps, creating a truly unforgettable scene.

This exclusive 3-day private tour of Aoraki Mt Cook allows for a customisable itinerary tailored to your specific photographic goals, the time of year, and your travel plans.

Priced at $5500 for solo travellers or $2900 per person for groups of 2-8, this experience includes accommodation at the renowned Hermitage Hotel. We can accommodate groups up to 12 people on request. Please get in touch with us for details and pricing.

Prepare to be captivated by the unparalleled beauty of Aoraki Mt Cook and capture memories that will last a lifetime.

It truly is an experience you will never forget.

For those interested, we also offer a customisable 5-6 day tour that travels further afield, with the opportunity for you to venture off the beaten track to capture classic high altitude, back country scenes. We give you an opportunity to experience and shoot the stars of the Southern skies in the unparalleled clarity of the pristine alpine air. Please contact us for more details.

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Queenstown to Aoraki Mount Cook

Our tour leaves Queenstown, and steeply climbs the Crown Range, this being the highest public sealed road in the country, with photo stops at the summit and the iconic Cardrona Hotel.

Heading on to Wanaka and its beautiful lake, the journey promises breathtaking views and photo opportunities.

Meandering through the Lindis Pass, we arrive at Omarama, with a chance for a much-needed lunch break. In this unique landscape, we may encounter the spellbinding beauty of hoar frost and fog, depending on the season. Depending on time, we may make a side journey to the Omarama Clay Cliffs... a geological wonder formed millions of years ago from layers of silt and gravel deposited by ancient lakes and rivers.

Continuing on, the tour stops to capture majestic views of Mount Cook towering over the ice blue waters of Lake Pukaki. The grand finale awaits at Mt Cook Aoraki, a place so stunning that we don't need superlatives to describe it. You will be blown away!

Upon arrival, guests will be checked in to their luxury accommodation at the Hermitage Hotel, followed by a delicious buffet dinner at the Hermitage Hotel restaurant. This will be our base for the next two nights.

Depending on the season we may make a short trip to Lake Tasman for sunset shots.

Day 2 - Aoraki Mount Cook

Get ready to start your day with a burst of excitement! After an exhilarating sunrise shoot to capture the first glow on the summit of Aoraki Mt Cook, we head back to the hotel for a satisfying breakfast (included) as we gear up for the day ahead.

For those of you taking part in the heli hike, get ready for an unforgettable experience! We'll whisk you away to Mount Cook Airport where you'll receive a safety briefing and gear check before taking off on a thrilling helicopter flight into the mountains. The guided interpretative glacier walk will take you through a breathtaking landscape of fluted ice, runnels, moulins, and winding streams. Your crampons will sink into ancient ice as you traverse the undulating terrain beneath the towering peaks of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.

As your helicopter safely returns you to Mt Cook Airport, you'll fly close to the massive 1,000-metre-high Hochstetter Icefall to cap off your incredible adventure.

If you're not participating in the heli-hike, don't worry - we'll still be exploring other stunning locations in the park together.

As the day winds down, we'll regroup for the walk through the Hooker Valley to Hooker Lake for some stunning sunset shots, with the icebergs from Hooker Glacier in the foreground and Aoraki Mount Cook towering above... aglow with the afternoon light.

Afterwards, we'll guide our eager photographers back to the hotel in the fading light (we provide you with a head torch!) for a delicious buffet dinner.

Eager astrophotographers can join the 75-90 minute Big Sky Stargazing Experience if weather permits. You will need to book directly with the hotel for this.

Day 3 - Aoraki Mt Cook to Queenstown

The day begins with the opportunity for pre-dawn astrophotography, before returning to the hotel for a delicious breakfast. We then prepare for the return journey to Queenstown.

We'll stop at various well-known, and some not-so-well-known points along the way. These will be chosen according to the light and weather conditions.

The day will culminate in a stop at Wanaka. Here, you will have the chance to capture the iconic Wanaka Tree in the warm afternoon light, capturing unforgettable memories of this unforgettable day.

We conclude the day by dropping you at your chosen accommodation in the Queenstown area.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A fully customised tour tailored to your desires
• Experience the magic of sunrises and sunsets surrounded by New Zealand's tallest peaks
• Take a guided heli hike beneath the towering peaks of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman
• Explore the awe-inspiring Hooker and Tasman valleys

   

INCLUDES

• 2-nights accommodation at the Hermitage Hotel Mount Cook, complete with breakfast and dinner
• Expert tuition and guidance throughout the journey
• Convenient transport and hotel pickup from Queenstown or Wanaka
• Printed workshop notes to enhance your photography
  
  

WHAT TO BRING

When preparing for your upcoming tour, it is essential to pack the following items:

• Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
• Raincoat, rain pants or over-trousers
• Fleece, down, outer jacket, or wind-proof jacket
• Warm, layered clothing
• Warm hat
• Gloves or finger-mitts
• Sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Head torch
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Alarm clock
• Personal medication

Please be aware that the weather can be highly unpredictable, and you may be walking in snow at any time of the year. That's why we recommend hiking shoes or boots.

For multi-day tours, it is recommended to bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a manual mode, along with the following equipment:

• Standard zoom lens
• Telephoto zoom lens
• Sturdy tripod (we have one available for your use)
• Cable release
• At least one extra battery and charger
• Adequate memory cards (at least 64GB)
• Camera Backpack: During the workshops, there will be a 10km walk on an easy track. A well-designed camera backpack is necessary to carry all your gear. If you have multiple lenses, some can be left at the hotel to avoid carrying a heavy backpack while walking and shooting. Ensure your backpack has enough space for extra clothing and a water bottle. We have a spare camera backpack available for your use, but please inform us at least a day before the tour departure date.
• Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential for capturing high-quality images. It should be able to withstand wind and support the weight of your camera. Consider lightweight carbon fiber options if weight is a concern. Remember, you will need to carry the tripod during outings.
• Laptop: It is highly recommended that you bring a laptop with you on this trip. Having a laptop will allow you to easily download, review, and backup your images during any downtime. Additionally, there may be an opportunity in the evening for a Lightroom Workshop with Martin.
• Lightroom Classic: Our post-processing instruction will focus on the use of Lightroom Classic. While we are happy to assist with alternate software, we strongly suggest that you have Lightroom (and/or Photoshop) installed on your laptop. Familiarity with another editing program is acceptable, but Lightroom Classic is the preferred choice for this workshop.
• An alternative way to back up photos: If you do not have a laptop, we suggest bringing a higher number of smaller-capacity memory cards to ensure that you do not lose all of your work if one card malfunctions. Alternatively, you may consider bringing an additional hard drive or enough storage cards for the entire trip, along with a computer or backup device to keep your images stored in two separate locations. This will help to safeguard your work and prevent any potential data loss.