NEW ZEALAND 2025 Itinerary
DAY 1: CHC ARRIVE
03:00PM - We arrive at Christchurch, South Island, NZ (CHC). Retrieve bags and head out in our van.
03:15PM - Arrive at AirBNB Christchurch. Gear check and get settled. Orientation.
05:00PM - Town activities.
06:00PM - Dinner.
08:00PM - After dinner photos.
08:54PM - SUNSET on location (New Brighton Pier, Evans Pass Lookout, etc.)
09:30PM - Sleep.
DAY 2: LAKE TEKAPO
05:43AM - SUNRISE
07:30AM - Slow morning acclimation! Meet for coffee/ breakfast
09:00AM - Pack up.
10:00AM - Load up and leave for Lake Tekapo (3 hour drive, not including stops @ Rakaia Gorge, Fairlie, etc.)
03:00PM - Check in to Tekapo house and rest.
05:00PM - Dinner in town
06:30PM - Scout Church of the Good Shepherd and Tekapo Lakefront for epic shots..
09:05PM - SUNSET (Golden hour reflections at Lake Tekapo or Lake Pukaki.)
11:00PM - Optional: Astrophotography session in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. Ideal for Milky Way panoramas, star trails, or time-lapse.
DAY 3: LAKE TEKAPO
05:49AM - SUNRISE (Golden hour reflections at Lake Pukaki with Mount Cook glowing in the background.)
08:00AM - Drive to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (~1 hour).
09:00AM - Easy hike along the Hooker Valley Track for glacier-fed rivers and suspension bridges. Bonus: Possible aerial drone work.
12:00PM - Lunch.
01:00PM - Explore/ scout, shoot, hike, drone.
05:00PM - Dinner in town.
06:30PM - Head out for evening shoot.
09:07PM - SUNSET (Golden hour Sunset shoot at Tasman Lake or the Alpine Meadows.)
11:00PM - Optional: Astrophotography session in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. Ideal for Milky Way panoramas, star trails, or time-lapse.
DAY 4: TE ANAU
05:49AM - SUNRISE
08:00AM - Sleep in/ rest after Astro Photo late night.
09:00AM - Coffee/ breakfast, pack up.
10:00PM - Check out/ begin drive to Te Anau (6-7 hours with stops at Lindis Pass, Kingston Flyer Station, etc.)
04:00PM - Check in Te Anau Airbnb.
06:00PM - Dinner in town.
07:30PM - Head out for evening shoot.
09:24PM - SUNSET (Golden hour reflections at Lake Te Anau)
DAY 5: MILFORD SOUND
05:55AM - SUNRISE
06:00AM - Depart for Milford (~2 hours). Stop at Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley, and Monkey Creek for moody landscapes.
10:00AM - Boat cruise in Milford Sound for waterfalls, wildlife, and towering peaks. Lunch available on cruise.
01:00PM - Easy/ moderate hike on Milford Sound Foreshore walk. Bonus: Possible aerial drone work.
03:00PM - Return to Te Anau for dinner. Visit Lake Gunn, The Chasm, Hollyford Lookout, Cheddau Valley, Homer Tunnel, Te Anau Downs. Bonus: Possible aerial drone work.
6:00PM - Dinner in Te Anau.
8:00PM - Head out for evening shoot.
09:25PM - SUNSET (Golden hour Loc tbd)
DAY 6: QUEENSTOWN
05:54AM - SUNRISE shoot (location tbd)
08:00AM - Breakfast, pack up.
10:00PM - Check out/ begin drive to Wanaka (5 hours with stops at Mossburn, Kingston, Moke Lake, etc.)
01:00PM - Lunch in Queenstown.
03:00PM - Check in Wanaka Airbnb. Rest.
06:00PM - Dinner in town.
07:00PM - Head out for evening shoot.
09:21PM - SUNSET shoot (Golden hour at Bob’s Peak or Lake Wakatipu.)
10:00PM - Sleep
DAY 7: GLENORCHY & PARADISE VALLEY
05:52AM - SUNRISE shoot (Glenorchy Lagoon Boardwalk – iconic reflections and soft light.)
08:00AM - Breakfast
09:00AM - Drive through Paradise Valley for cinematic Lord of the Rings landscapes. Bonus: Possible aerial drone work.
12:00PM - Lunch.
01:00PM - Rest at house.
04:00PM - Post-production instruction.
06:00PM - Dinner.
07:30PM - Set out for evening shoot.
09:22PM - SUNSET shoot (Sunset back in Queenstown or at Lake Hayes. Bonus: Possible aerial drone work.)
10:00PM - Sleep
DAY 8: WANAKA
05:52AM - SUNRISE shoot (Wanaka Tree)
08:00AM - Breakfast
09:00AM - Post-production instruction.
12:00PM - Lunch.
01:00PM - Rest at house.
05:30PM - Dinner.
07:00PM - Set out for scouting, drones, evening shoot.
09:23PM - SUNSET shoot (location tbd)
10:00PM - Sleep
DAY 9: TO CHC
05:52AM - SUNRISE (Location tbd, Lake Wakatipu)
08:00AM - Breakfast, pack up.
10:00PM - Check out/ begin drive to Christchurch (5-6 hours with stops)
01:00PM - Lunch.
03:00PM - Check in Christchurch Airbnb. Rest.
04:00PM - Portfolio Reviews.
07:00PM - Farewell dinner in town.
09:00PM - Evening walk.
09:02PM - SUNSET (Tbd)
10:00PM - Sleep
DAY 10: DEPART CHC
05:52AM - SUNRISE
08:00AM - Breakfast + discussion
10:00AM - Pack up
11:00AM - Head to CHC (Workshop ends)