Where: South Island of New Zealand - 15 days PREMIUM TOUR - ALL INCLUSIVE

"FEATURING EXCLUSIVE, PRIVATELY GUIDED OVERNIGHT STAY IN HIGH ALTITUDE ALPINE HUT FOR SUNSET AND SUNRISE PHOTO SHOOT, PRIVATELY GUIDED FOX GLACIER HIKE and MILFORD or DOUBTFUL SOUND OVERNIGHT CRUISE"

When: 14 OCTOBER - 28 OCTOBER 2024

15 OCTOBER - 29 OCTOBER 2025

Price: NZ$14,780,- per person, based on twin share occupancy

single occupancy surcharge - NZ$1,400,-

Group Size: max 6 (min 2 participants)

Deposit: NZ$2,200,-

RESERVATION FORM: download pdf

Location

New Zealand has very unique location on planet. It is situated in the middle of Pacific Ocean on so called “Ring of Fire”, exposed to all weather patterns oceans can throw at it and thanks to its undisturbed seclusion for millions of years a natural, scenic wonderland had a chance to form. New Zealand has become a destination with perhaps some of the most diverse, wild and colourful landscapes on Earth. Quite possibly for this reasons, it is a dream destination - once in a lifetime experience for many people.

South Island in particular is an absolute heaven for any landscape photographer, offering such a remarkable diversity on so small piece of land, which is unparalleled in the World.

In total, New Zealand has 13 National Parks. 3 are up in the North Island, 1 is in Rakiura/Stewart Island and 9 NP are on the mainland/the South Island. Out of these 9 NP of the South Island, we are going to shoot in 6 of them, each presenting us with its specific beauty which I'm briefly outlaying below.

Arthur's Pass National Park - alpine, mountains, rivers, stream, waterfalls, native forest

Paparoa National Park - coastal, rivers, limestone formations and blowholes, Nikau Palms

Westland National Park - coastal, pristine beaches, rainforest, mountains, glaciers, lakes, wild rivers, lagoons, wetlands

Mt. Aspiring National Park - rivers, streams, waterfalls, alpine, lakes, lagoons, bogs

Fiordland National Park - coastal, fiords, dense rainforest, alpine vistas, lakes, wild rivers

Aoraki|Mt. Cook National Park - mountains, lakes, rivers, glaciers, alpine

There will be many other National Reserves or Reserves of other significance in which the photo shoots will take place.

Snowy mountains and glaciers, valleys filled with pristine, wild rivers and streams, prehistoric lakes, bogs and swamps, fiords and waterfalls. Wild and remote coastal scenes, limestone formations and blowholes, Nikau palms, lagoons, dense, juicy green rainforests give way to tussocky alpine heights and much more.

All these breathtaking locations awaits participants of Petr's exclusive photographic tour - 6 National Parks Sojourn.

To reserve your place in tour, a completed Reservation Form, and a non-refundable deposit is required at time of your booking.

For more informations and bookings, please read our Terms and Conditions before you make your reservations.

Please see or download pdf of full itinerary for our prime photographic tour through the best locations New Zealand has on offer below:

Itinerary [PDF version]

Your arrival and start of the trip in Christchurch - gateway to the South Island.

Day 1 Christchurch - Arthur's Pass Village

D

Start: 9am at specified assembly point

Pick up from the assembly point in Christchurch.

After initial meeting, we'll leave Christchurch to our destination in Arthur's Pass, only 2 hrs drive away. We'll drive through alpine environment most of our way as we'll be heading towards the Southern Alps. There will many photographic opportunities along the way to photograph lakes, rives and mountain vistas with sunset at Waimakariri River with dramatic mountains in background.

First evening - getting to know each other - itinerary - official start.

• 
• 
• 

Day 2 - Arthur's Pass Village - Punakaiki

B, L, D

After sunrise shoot and breakfast, we'll carry on photographing alpine streams and rivers in Arthur's Pass before we'll head off towards famous pancake rocks in Punakaiki around lunch. Since we don't have a long distance to travel today, we can leave Arthur's Pass at leisure pace. The aim is to get to Punakaiki in the late afternoon for some magical sunset on famous Pancake Rocks. After checking in to our accommodation in Punakaiki, we'll move to our location to make some great images of the famous Pancake Rocks at sunset.

• 
• 
• 

Day 3 Punakaiki - Whataroa - Franz Josef Glacier

B, L, D

Early start to capture some brilliant skies, as the sun rises on the east coast. This morning exercise will take us through to breakfast, after which we may further explore the area. From Punakaiki, we'll start driving along the West Coast further south, towards Whataroa and Fox Glacier, to our base for the following 3 days. As we venture deeper into South Westland the landscape starts to get more and more dramatic. Our road will take us through the dense rainforest at the mountains - foothills, crossing wild rivers, streams and driving alongside pristine lakes. Should the weather be favourable, snowcapped tops of the Southern Alps will frequently tease us with its gorgeous panoramas. Along the way, we'll visit Petr Hlavacek Gallery in Whataroa for private viewing of his Limited Edition Art Prints. Depending on a group size, we may spend the night there or we may continue on to Franz Josef Glacier for our accommodation. To capture colours of sunset, we'll drive to 30min distant Okarito to hike for about 40 mins to the lookout to photograph arguably the best views of the Southern Alps. We'll be entering UNESCO World Heritage Area right after Whataroa, which stretches all the way down to Fiordland.

• 
• 
• 

Day 4 Franz Josef Glacier - Fox Glacier

B, L, D

This morning we'll photograph possible morning fogs and kahikatea trees at sunrise at nearby Lake Wahapo or Mapourika. After breakfast we may go to explore the Franz Josef Glacier valley further. We'll have a lunch in Franz Josef Glacier before moving 26km further south to our next location - the Fox Glacier township. We may head straight into the rainforest for some nice, juicy green images, depending on weather conditions. For the sunset we'll drive to Gillespies Beach and Lagoon where we'll be photographing magic views of the Southern Alps reflecting in lagoon and its stream.

• 
• 
• 

Day 5 Fox Glacier

B, L, D

Today is going to be super exciting day, as we may have one of the highlights of the trip ahead of us. If the weather cooperates, we could be chartering a private helicopter to take us high up into the mountains, where we may spend the night in one of the mountaineering huts. There is several huts available in the area and the exact hut for our night will be chosen in accordance with weather conditions and occupancy of the huts. Any of the huts we settle in for, offers unparalleled views of the Southern Alps and either Franz Josef or Fox Glacier, with photographic opportunities like nowhere else. But that's not all - after spending the day in the mountains and sunset/sunrise shoot in the Southern Alps, the following morning helicopter would come back to pick us up and transfer us into higher parts of the Fox Glacier itself. We may spend about 3 hrs hiking and photographing ice caves, crevasses and blue ice. We could be making some amazing images on one of the most unique glacier in the world. Around a lunch time the helicopter would came back again to take us down from the glacier and for the lunch in Fox Glacier town. At lunch we'll discuss our next location, but we may be tired after mountain hiking so option of some down time is available if needed. This trip could also be altered in accordance with weather conditions. This exciting mountain hut overnight is optional and totally wether dependent and it may happen any day we'll be in the area between day 5 and 7.

• 
• 
• 

Day 6 Fox Glacier

B, L, D

This morning, we may have a sunrise shoot at Lake Matheson with amazing reflections of the Southern Alps. The Glacier Country region is full of magic places and we have several options which I'd like to leave open and make decisions in accordance with weather. We may photograph Fox River with majestic Southern Alps and Fox Glacier in background or we may explore densely in moss cloaked rainforest before photographing sunset at Lake Matheson. The night and dinner will be in Fox Glacier

• 
• 
• 

Day 7 Fox Glacier - Haast

B, L, D

Before we leave Fox Glacier deeper south, we have on more oportunity for sunrise at the most photographed lake in NZ - Lake Matheson and its mirror like reflections of NZ highest peaks - Aoraki/Mt. Cook (3.724m) and Mt. Tasman (3.497m) or to capture the essence of farming under the Southern Alps. It takes just under 2 hrs to get to Haast from here, therefore, we can enjoy the morning in Fox Glacier, have a breakfast at Lake Matheson Cafe and photograph some of the best, iconic NZ vistas with magic panoramas of farmland under highest NZ mountains. Following 2 hrs of drive to Haast are all through an UNESCO World Heritage Area and are fully packed with breathtaking scenery. We'll have a stop at Lake Paringa, which is a pre-historic, remote lake surrounded by native white pines - beautiful kahikateas, the tallest NZ trees. One more break will be at Ship Creek with its beautiful beach and sand dunes covered by sand grass or with some of the best examples of the fantastic, boggy rainforest just like the one from a Jurassic Park. Sunset will be photographed at Ship Creek, from where it's only a few more minutes to the Haast, where we will spend the night.

• 
• 
• 

Day 8 Haast - Glenorchy

B, L, D

After sunrise and breakfast, we'll take off toward the Haast Pass and further to Wanaka and on to Quenstown/Glenorchy. It's going to be a long drive packed with breathtaking, ever changing scenery. Shortly after Haast, we'll be stopping for our first waterfall, with some more to follow. Moving on over the Haast Pass and through Makarora, our next photo stop will be at Lake Wanaka with another stop shortly after, at Lake Hawea. Both lakes are surrounded by mountains so if the weather is on our side the reflections and colours are going to be amazing. We will have a lunch stop in Wanaka by the lake before we carry on through Queenstown to Glenorchy. From Wanaka it's going to be approx. 1.5hrs to Glenorchy, which sits at the head of the Lake Wakatipu. We will be chasing light for some great sunsets here, with Dart River nearby.

• 
• 
• 

Day 9 Glenorchy - Te Anau

B, L, D

This morning we'll get up early for the sunrise at the Lake Wakatipu or Rees River. After sunrise and breakfast, we'll drive to place called Paradise where a lot of Lord of the Rings scenes were filmed. Spending the morning and lunch in Glenorchy, we'll move on, driving towards Te Anau. Arriving in Te Anau in the late afternoon and checking in, we'll capture some great images of Lake Te Anau at sunset.

• 
• 
• 

Day 10 Te Anau - Doubtful Sound

B, L, D

Another exciting day ahead of us. Sunrise above Lake Te Anau before heading off to Manapouri for the Doubtful Sound overnight boat cruise. Doubtful Sound is known for its, remote, tranquil location, deep in the Fiordland NP. We may be lucky to see water wildlife; such as dolphins, penguins etc. We stay the night on the boat, anchored in the middle of the Doubtful Sound, after making some incredible images during sunset the sound's entrance, should the weather allow. If it rains the experience will be possibly even stronger with all the waterfalls gaining on its volume and thundering down the steep cliffs. Departure for the cruise is at 12:30pm.

• 
• 
• 

Day 11 Doubtful Sound - Te Anau - Milford Sound

B, L, D

After morning spent on boat in the middle of Doubtful Sound with sunrise and breakfast, the boat will return us back to Manapouri township. We'll head straight to Te Anau for lunch after which we'll set off to explore Milford Road with sunset in Milford Sound before returning back to Te Anau.

• 
• 
• 

Day 12 Te Anau - Queenstown

B, L, D

Possible foggy sunrise over Lake Te Anau. After breakfast, we'll make a move to nearby Lake Manapouri. We spend some time exploring lake shores before hitting the road towards Queenstown. After lunch in Te Anau, we'll arrive in Queenstown in the afternoon to check in to our hotel before heading off for the sunset shoot of the Remarkables Mountains from the lake shore. Depending on time of our arrival to Queenstown, there might be some free time available for shopping and relaxing in the streets of this mecca of adventure sports before sunset shoot.

• 
• 
• 

Day 13 Queenstown - AORAKI Mount Cook

B, L, D

Sunrise shoot of the Remarkables Mountains surrounding Queenstown and reflecting in Lake Wakatipu. After breakfast, we'll leave for Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, the playground of mountaineers and home to the highest NZ mountain - Aoraki/Mt. Cook 3724m. Aoraki/Mt. Cook NP is a location offering a breathtaking alpine scenery so we don't want to loose much time on our transfer. This leg normally takes about 4hrs and we need to be in Mt. Cook in the early afternoon to be able to move to the Tasman Glacier Valley for a sunset shoot of its terminal lake with possible ice debris floating on its surface. Depending on our time and weather, we may be able to have a quick stop at beautiful Lake Pukaki, with Aoraki/Mt. Cook in the background.

• 
• 
• 

Day 14 AORAKI Mount Cook

B, L, D

Our sunrise photo opportunity might be on Tasman River flats to capture first light on the highest mountain - Aoraki Mount Cook. After morning session, we'll move back to village for breakfast before setting out to explore this spectacular alpine environment for our next images.

Final evening, conclusion, closure.

• 
• 
• 

Day 15 AORAKI Mount Cook - Christchurch

B, L

Last early morning for the sunrise in the Hooker Valley with the majestic Aoraki/Mt. Cook (3724m). We'll have one more opportunity to make a last click on a great location at Lake Tekapo, which is reached in about 1.5hrs from Mt. Cook Village.

• 
• 
• 

The tour finishes in Christchurch at 5pm.

LEVEL OF FITNESS & SKILLS

Petr Hlavacek's tours/workshops are designed to suit broad range of fitness levels. However, some longer walks (2-4 hrs return) over uneven, uphill and rugged terrain may be required on this tour. Therefore, good level of fitness is recommended, as well as the ability to carry your own small back pack with extra clothing, snacks and camera equipment.

Please, discuss this with us if you have any concerns.

Photographers of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals will benefit from our tour.

Beginner needs to have a good working knowledge of their own camera system to benefit the most from this tour.

Professionals will benefit since we take care of the logistics and bring them to the best locations straight away so they can purely concentrate on shooting, rather then waisting time scouting.

WHAT'S ON THE MENU

All of Peter's tours are designed to make most of all locations with weather we'll be presented with.

You will learn variety of creative techniques in field which professionals use to capture most compelling images, including ND Gradual, polarizing filters and other techniques.

We'll be pre-visualizing images, assessing light conditions, we'll learn how to find a strong composition within a scene to make a photograph speak, whether in a landscape or icescape.

In the evenings, you will learn about photography RAW workflow from capture to output and how to bring the best from the image file in postproduction using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

WHAT TO BRING

Due to New Zealand's location the weather can be extremely changeable. We are not going to be shooting in pouring heavy rain, but it is well possible that some rain will get us on our way to or from the location.

Below are some MUST have items for all our tours:

- camera gear

- tripod and filters

- layers of warm clothing

- warm hat and gloves

- waterproof clothing (jacket, pants)

- day backpack

- head lamp for our late returns

- sturdy boots (ankle high recommended)

- if possible, laptop with 5 of your favorite photos and loaded with latest version of Lightroom 4 (free 1 month trial downloadable from Adobe website)

- great spirit

SPECIFICATIONS

Due to the geographical location of New Zealand, the weather can be extremely changeable and will play a major role on our tour. For this reasons, this itinerary is flexible and fully subject to change.

We will continually be assessing the weather conditions on daily basis and alter the tour to the benefits of the photography. For instance, should the weather be too bright and sunny for the shoot in a bush, we may change the location and leave the bush for the overcast day if possible. These possible changes will be made by us in the mornings and during the day's development.

Many locations on our tour offer other shooting options, therefore it won't be difficult to come up with alternative location.

Some sunrises are also subject to changes, allowing clients to decide to skip should they be tired but otherwise we will be attempting to photograph during every available sunset and sunrise.

Sessions on RAW workflow, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop will be inserted into evenings or into time windows when suitable.

What's included:

- 14 nights accommodation in twin share

- 15 days of photography tuition and tour guidance

- Transportation throughout the tour

- Boat trip on Lake Manapouri

- Doubtful Sound or Milford Sound overnight cruise

- Department of Conservation concession fees

- All meals - B, L, D

- Refreshments

- Goods and Services Tax

- Image reviews

- Session on photography RAW workflow

- Session on image processing - Lightroom and Photoshop workflow

What's NOT included:

- All air or other travel fees to arrive in New Zealand to the tour departure point

- All associated taxes, levies and insurances including travel insurance

- Immigration, duty, passport and visa fees where applicable

- Alcoholic beverages, optional tips

- Optional activities such as helicopter, plane flights, boat rides, kayaks etc.

- Optional "Overnight stay in alpine hut" includes - Mountain guide fees, hiking on Fox Glacier, overnight stay in alpine hut, 3 heli charters if overnight alpine trip is realised

- Anything not listed in inclusions above

We highly recommend purchasing the travel insurance and insurance of your air ticket in case you will not be able to attend the tour and have to cancel the air ticket.

Bookings and Recommendations

How to make bookings, more info on recommended fitness level and other important informations, please read our Terms and Conditions or contact us directly via contact details from this website.