While New Zealand is well-known for its breath-taking scenery, it is also a haven for a delightful variety of wildlife. This stunning 14-day tour is a wonderful mix of mountains and marine mammals, forests and feathered friends.
Please note this tour now commences in Dunedin.
Our route takes us from the southern city of Dunedin, on the South Island's eastern seaboard. Dunedin is well known for its Scottish heritage and the architecture here reflects this. While here we visit the Otago Peninsula albatross colony for a close encounter with these regal birds. We then continue north along the coast to a location off the tourist route where we photograph the fascinating Hoiho (Yellow-eyed penguin).
The road turns west as we make for the highest mountain in New Zealand: Aoraki/Mt Cook. From our base under the shadow of the mighty Southern Alps we explore this inspiring alpine environment and photograph Aoraki/Mt Cook from different locations. From the Southern Alps we travel north to the seaside settlement of Kaikoura. In the waters off Kaikoura a complex marine system provides an abundantly rich habitat for marine mammals and seabirds. We take boat trips to photograph the playful and acrobatic Dusky dolphins, and the mighty Sperm whales which are residents in this area.
We travel coast to coast today as we drive through the mountains to the untamed West Coast. Beneath lofty mountains, dense rainforest thrives from the doorstep of glaciers to the ocean's edge. We then travel through the Otago lakes district, a region characterised by rugged mountain ranges and brilliant blue lakes. As we explore this area we find ourselves inside landscapes used in the Lord of the Rings films, evoking a sense of the surreal.
The valleys deepen as we continue on through Fiordland to Milford Sound, which has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. While most visitors make this a day trip, we stay overnight to photograph the iconic Mitre Peak, not forgetting The Lion and The Elephant, in the evening and dawn lights. Our boat cruise through the fiord provides stunning photography in any weather.
After days encircled by mountains, we head for the wide open spaces of the southeast coast. Here we photograph dramatic coastal scenery and the Hooker's sealion. After our last sunrise shoot together we travel north back to the airport at Dunedin for our departing flights.
Tour duration: 14 Days
2012 Tour dates: September 17 - 30
Group size: Maximum 8 participants. Small group fee applies when less than 5 guests travelling.
This stunning 14-day tour is a wonderful mix of mountains and marine mammals, forests and feathered friends including:
- Dusky dolphins - Acrobats of the ocean
- Sperm whales - These gentle giants are residents of the Kaikoura canyon
- Aoraki/Mt Cook - New Zealand's highest mountain at 3754 metres
- Pancake Rocks - Unique stratified rock formations set against the wild Tasman Sea
- Royal Albatross - Masters of flight and surprisingly inquisitive
- Fox Glacier - Ancient ice mass squeezing its way through a narrow valley
- Glenorchy - Lord of the Rings country and great breakfasts!
- Milford Sound - Sheer mountainsides rise out of the sea to over a mile high
- The Remarkables - Stunning mountain range overlooking Lake Wakatipu
- Yellow-eyed Penguins - An endangered species found only in New Zealand
Day oneDUNEDIN
We start our adventure this morning, in the Scottish-influenced city of Dunedin. We take time to explore and shoot some of the city's historic architecture before our visit to the Otago Peninsula, where the world's only mainland colony of albatross is found. These birds are immense and, with a wingspan of 3 metres, are an absolute thrill to photograph!
(B)
Day twoDUNEDIN - NORTH OTAGO
We continue north along the coast and our afternoon will be spent photographing the rare Hoiho (Yellow-eyed penguin). These delightful seabirds come ashore from mid-afternoon and we will set ourselves up to take full advantage of their return.
(B)
Day threeNORTH OTAGO - AORAKI/MT COOK NATIONAL PARK
We are out early this morning to photograph the unusual spherical boulders at Moeraki beach.Then we drive north to the small town of Oamaru. The whitestone Victorian buildings found here are great examples of early Otago architecture and we spend some time after breakfast photographing them. We then leave the coast and turn inland towards the heart of the Southern Alps and the home of New Zealand's highest mountain: Aoraki/Mt Cook. We arrive at the Mt Cook Village in the afternoon in time for a hike to capture the stunning views of Aoraki/Mt Cook.
(B)
Day fourAORAKI/MT COOK NATIONAL PARK - KAIKOURA
After photographing sunrise in the Tasman Valley we shoot the towering mountains which overlook the village before departing for Kaikoura. Overlooked by majestic mountains, which are snow-capped for many months of the year, this coastal town was once only known for the rock lobster caught here. Now, Kaikoura is famous for the abundance of marine mammals and seabirds found offshore. In the afternoon we visit a large seal colony which provides many subjects for us to photograph.
(B)
Day fiveKAIKOURA
This morning we join a sea cruise to to photograph Dusky dolphins - natural acrobats who seem to enjoy showing off their skills for spectators. In the afternoon we take another boat trip look for resident Sperm whales. The whales' feeding grounds are about 30 minutes from land, giving us plenty of time to look for these spectacular mammals.
(B)
Day sixKAIKOURA - PUNAKAIKI
After a sunrise shoot we leave Kaikoura and head for the famous West Coast and Punakaiki. The force of the ocean has carved the coastline into fascinating rock sculptures, and we arrive in the afternoon at the most unusual of these formations: the Pancake Rocks.
(B)
Day sevenPUNAKAIKI - FOX GLACIER
We turn south along the coast this morning as we head for the glaciers. Under the shadow of the Southern Alps the Franz and Fox Glaciers are the most accessible in New Zealand, and still flow towards the sea. Franz Josef is the first glacier we visit and an easy walk leads us to a magnificent location to photograph. Very shortly after we arrive at the Fox Glacier Village and hike around Lake Matheson where, on a still day, New Zealand's two highest peaks, Mts Aoraki/Cook and Tasman, are reflected in the dark waters.
(B)
Day eightFOX GLACIER
Today we go up onto the glacier - a great opportunity to shoot the ice patterns up close. After returning from the glacier there is time to relax in the village before we meet again in the afternoon to photograph the mountain surrounds as the sun sets.
(B)
Day nineFOX GLACIER - QUEENSTOWN
We leave the glaciers and continue driving south. One of our last shoots on the West Coast is at an ancient swamp, filled with New Zealand's tallest growing trees: the kahikatea. We then take the Haast Pass road east, travelling through a valley carved by glaciers, stopping along the way to shoot waterfall, forest and river scenes. Once over the pass we descend towards the Otago lakes district, photographing the mountain-bordered Lakes Hawea and Wanaka before arriving in Queenstown in the evening.
(B)
Day tenQUEENSTOWN
An early start as we set out to capture the sunrise on Lake Wakatipu. We then continue on into the Mt Aspiring National Park. Moss-laden forests, crystal clear rivers and deep valleys provide us with exciting photographic opportunities from detailed macro to sweeping panoramas. In the early afternoon we return to the township where there is an opportunity to relax, do a spot of shopping or for a surge of adrenalin there's the bungy jump and jetboating. We meet again in the late afternoon to photograph the Remarkables mountain range.
(B)
Day elevenQUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND
We leave Queenstown this morning and make our way to Milford Sound. The drive to the fiord is every bit as spectacular as the destination, and visitors are always overwhelmed by the grandeur of the landscape. We stop to photograph dramatic glacial valleys, expansive mountain vistas and forest-fringed lakes. No doubt at one of our stops we will be greeted by the cheeky mountain parrot, the kea. Later in the afternoon we arrive at Milford Sound and shoot the fiord as the sun sets.
(B)
Day twelveMILFORD SOUND - INVERCARGILL
This morning we take a boat journey along the fiord and out to the Tasman Sea. As well as shooting this incredible landscape of sheer mountains, cascading waterfalls and untouched coastline it is possible we will see seals and dolphins. Once back ashore we spend the rest of the day photographing at different locations in the Fiordland National Park as we make our way to the southern city of Invercargill.
(B)
Day thirteenINVERCARGILL - SOUTHLAND COAST
After breakfast we head for the southern coast in search of the New Zealand, or Hooker, sealions. We will spend time photographing these imposing mammals, as well as some of the superb coastal scenery.
(B)
Day fourteenSOUTHLAND COAST - DUNEDIN
We get out early for a sunrise shoot along the coast, before returning to Dunedin to catch the departing flights.
(B)
2012 Tour fee:
NZ$7870.00 per person twin share
NZ$1720.00 single supplement
NZ$640.00 per person small group surcharge when less than five participants
Deposit:
NZ$500.00 per person
Inclusions:
- Photography guide
- Thirteen nights accommodation
- Boat cruises: Whale Watch, Dolphin Encounter, Milford Sound
- Guide fees for the Fox Glacier hike
- Entry fee for the Otago Peninsula Royal Albatross Centre
- Department of Conservation concession fees
- Meals as indicated (B=Breakfast)
- Porterage of one item of luggage per person
Exclusions:
- All international air travel and domestic transportation within your home country
- Any domestic travel within New Zealand to arrive at the tour departure point
- All associated taxes, levies and insurances
- Immigration, duty, passport and visa fees where applicable
- All personal items including meals, where not indicated in the itinerary, refreshments and travel insurance
- Optional activities e.g. bungy jump, jetboating, helicopter flights
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