Overnight Experiences Pukenui

EXPERIENCE

You will start this spectacular tour by exploring the best of Northland’s scenery, from wild coastlines to waterfalls, and classic jetty shots. Historically, Northland was the central hub for activity in New Zealand—and to date, it retains numerous remarkable landmarks: Russell, the former capital; the Treaty of Waitangi grounds, the home of modern New Zealand; giant sand dunes created by volcanoes; the meeting place of the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea; stunning bays; waterfalls; Kauri forest—Northland has it all! The never-ending summers of Northland make it a beautiful place to relax.
We will then continue on to the awe-inspiring Taranaki Coast to capture lush rainforests, the iconic mountain and the stunning coastline. If any New Zealand volcano has the perfect shape, it is Mt Taranaki⁠—which, at 2518m, is the second-highest peak in the North Island. This volcano forms the centrepiece of Egmont National Park, one of the country’s oldest national parks. We will explore the many contrasting photography opportunities from mountain to sea.

HIGHLIGHTS
Cape Reinga & Te Paki sand dunes
The Northlands’ white silica sand beaches
Chartered boat around the Bay of Islands
Stay at Carrington Estate & Duke Of Marlborough Hotel
Mt Taranaki
Cape Egmont
LOCATION: Auckland - Auckland


Hokianga
Te Paki Sand Dunes
Cape Reinga
Karikari Peninsula
Bay of Islands
Raglan
New Plymouth
Egmont National Park

ITINERARY Day 0 - Auckland

Arrive in Auckland and make your way to the hotel - this night accommodation is included in the tour
Day 1 - Auckland - Hokianga
To start the tour we will drive to the beautiful Hokianga Harbour, where we will stay tonight. En route, we stop to explore native Kauri forests, reaching the Harbour for sunset over the West Coast. The scenes we will be photographing today are unlike any you’ll find elsewhere across the country.
Day 2 – Hokianga - Karikari Peninsula
Today we say goodbye to Hokianga and begin to make our way to one of mainland New Zealand’s furthest-north points, Cape Reinga. We will be stopping en route to capture several picturesque jetties—these are well-suited to black and white ‘fine art’ style photographs. As we drive up, we will check into our hotel for the next three nights; the stunning Carrington Estate, before heading to capture sunset along the coast here.
Day 3 – Karikari Peninsula
We will spend the day exploring the stunning Karikari Peninsula, with its white silica sand beaches and serene bays, fringed with the red blossoms of pohutukawa trees.
Day 4 – Cape Reinga (Karikari Peninsula )
Today, we head to Cape Reinga stopping on the way to photograph the Te Paki sand dunes—humongous desert-like dunes created over millions of years through volcanic eruptions. Later in the afternoon we travel up to Cape Reinga, a location of great significance both geographically and culturally. A beautiful lighthouse sits high above the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean: this is where we shall capture sunset tonight.
Day 5 – Karikari Peninsula - Russell
This morning, we set off toward the picturesque Bay of Islands: the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell will be our home for the next two nights. Russell features many historic sites, as it was the first capital of New Zealand during European colonisation. Our day ends with a sunset shoot over the picturesque coastline, on one of many beautiful bays nearby.
Day 6 – Russell
We have an early start for a sunrise shoot this morning, followed by breakfast back at the hotel. On our chartered boat, we spend the day exploring the Bay of Islands by sea, including parts of the coastline not accessible by road. We have some beautiful island stops to look forward to, and we will capture these at our own pace.
Day 7 – Russell - Auckland - Taranaki
Another early-morning sunrise shoot across the Bay of Islands allows you to hone your field technique and capture more stunning beaches. Today, we depart the Bay of Islands and head towards Whangarei and the beautiful Whangarei Falls. This is the last stop on our journey, as we head back to Auckland and then catch a flight to our final destination today Taranaki. (Domestic flight included).
Day 8 – Taranaki
Today you have a free day to explore New Plymouth or catch up on some post-processing.
Day 9 - Taranaki
Today we are traveling to New Plymouth. After assembling, we will run through some tuition sessions covering long exposure photography and tutorials on composition. Later in the afternoon we will head out to the coast, capturing the sun setting over a dramatic coastline—a scene including volcanoes that have eroded into offshore islands.
Day 10 - Taranaki
We will explore Egmont National Park and its wonderfully stunted forest and shapely waterfalls flowing over old lava escarpments offer excellent photographic opportunities. Heading into the national park, you will learn to shoot a diverse range of subjects including classic landscape, mountain, waterfall and forest photography. This afternoon, we can journey further south⁠—to the North Island’s western-most point at Cape Egmont, well known for its iconic lighthouse⁠ to capture sunset here.
Day 11 - Taranaki
Today we will journey further north along the wild and dramatic coastline, with so many stunning beaches we are spoilt for choice and spend the day capturing the coastline. Tonight we will shoot sunset on one of the dramatic black sand beaches with views back to Mt Taranaki⁠.
Day 12 - New Plymouth - Auckland
Today we will capture the coastal sunrise, heading out once again to one of the amazing local beaches with a view of the mountain. After this we will spend the rest of the morning reviewing over some of the work from the last 3 days, offering critique and advice on post processing, and after lunch we return back to New Plymouth for late afternoon flights to Auckland (included in tour)

PRICE INCLUDES
12 days’ photography guiding
11 nights’ hotel accommodation (twin-share, single upgrade available) mostly 4✩
1x return domestic flight between Auckland to New Plymouth
Boat charter in the Bay of Islands
3 nights stay at Distinction New Plymouth
2 nights stay at Copthorne, Auckland
1 night stay at Copthorne, Hokianga
Three nights’ stay at Carrington Estate
Two nights’ stay at the Duke Of Marlborough Hotel
11 breakfasts
Transport during the tour
Free Online Course Essential Landscape Photography
Use of Benro Filter Kits
DOC (National Park) concession fees
Copy of our Pocket Guide to Landscape & Wildlife Photography
Donation to our Conservation Fund
Native tree planting to Carbon Offset your tour

You will start this spectacular tour by joining Glen Howey and Spencer Clubb for a 4-day Landscape Masterclass, based in the stunning Mt White Station. Our Landscape Masterclass Workshop is designed as an ideal programme to expand your skills as a landscape photographer. On this part of the tour you will have tutorials on composition along with advanced topics such as hyperfocal distance for getting sharp photographs. You will learn to shoot a diverse range of landscape photography from mountains, to rivers to high country panoramas from sunrise to sunset.

From here you will fly to Auckland (included) to start the Northern leg of your journey with Ken Wright and Shaun Barnett to photograph the best of Northland’s scenery. The Far North offers ideal locations for long exposure photography, wild coastlines, waterfalls, and classic jetty shots. Historically, Northland was the main hub for activity in New Zealand—and to date, it retains numerous remarkable landmarks: Russell, the former capital; the Treaty of Waitangi grounds, the home of modern New Zealand; giant sand dunes created by volcanoes; the meeting place of the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea; stunning bays; waterfalls; Kauri forest—Northland has it all! The never-ending summers of Northland make it a beautiful place to relax. As it is a deceptively-large region, we have set aside plenty of time to explore and capture some of the lushest environment in the country.
HIGHLIGHTS
Unique access to Mt White Station
4WD Unimog Tours
Cape Reinga & Te Paki sand dunes
Chartered boat around the Bay of Islands
Stay at Carrington Estate & Duke Of Marlborough Hotel
LOCATION: Christchurch - Auckland
Mt White Station
Auckland
Hokianga
Te Paki Sand Dunes
Cape Reinga
Karikari Peninsula
Bay of Islands
ITINERARY

Day 1 - Christchurch - Mt White
We will pick you up early from Christchurch to travel to Mt White Station at midday. After assembling at the lodge we will run through an introductory programme of advanced camera setup for landscape photography and tutorials on composition along with advanced topics such as hyperfocal distance for getting sharp photographs. Late afternoon, we will head out for our first 4WD unimog trip to the top of a nearby peak to shoot sunset across the stunning river braids.
Day 2 - Mt White
Headed out before sunrise in the unimog to capture sunrise over the mountains and Esk River. After breakfast head on to the Mound of Misery to spend the day exploring the mounds and the many photographic opportunities this remote area offers. Tonight we will shoot sunset with stunning views across the terraced high country landscapes with mountains and the Waimakariri River as a backdrop.
Day 3 - Mt White
After an early morning sunrise, we will then spend the morning in the lodge conference room to offer a group critique of the photographs from the last days and an in-depth post-production session covering the processing of landscape photographs. We will then help you process your two best images from the workshop and produce a finished 16x22" fine art print to take home. We will head out in the unimog to capture sunset returning to the best location on the station for the weather conditions.
Day 4 - Mt White - Christchurch - Auckland
During our last sunrise shoot, we will capture some of the first morning light across surrounding mountains. We will depart the Station mid morning to head out to Castle Hill to photograph the strange and spectacular landscapes of this area before heading onto Christchurch to meet with late afternoon flights to Auckland (included).
Day 5 – Auckland
Today you have a free day to explore Auckland, with the inclusion of a return ferry ticket to explore the volcanic landscape Rangitoto Island, a pest-free island that sits in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland. It is the youngest volcano in New Zealand and offers some great photography opportunities from old lava flow to beautiful Pohutukawa trees.

Day 6 - Auckland - Hokianga
The day starts with an early morning departure from Auckland, driving up to the beautiful Hokianga Harbour, where we will stay tonight. En route, we stop to explore native Kauri forests, reaching the Harbour for sunset over the West Coast. The scenes we will be photographing today are unlike any you’ll find elsewhere across the country.
Day 7 – Hokianga - Karikari Peninsula
Today we say goodbye to Hokianga and begin to make our way to one of mainland New Zealand’s furthest-north points, Cape Reinga. We will be stopping en route to capture several picturesque jetties—these are well-suited to black and white ‘fine art’ style photographs. As we drive up, we will check into our hotel for the next three nights; the stunning Carrington Estate, before heading to capture sunset along the coast here.
Day 8 – Karikari Peninsula
We will spend the day exploring the stunning Karikari Peninsula, with its white silica sand beaches and serene bays, fringed with the red blossoms of pohutukawa trees.

Day 9 – Cape Reinga (Karikari Peninsula)
Today, we head to Cape Reinga stopping on the way to photograph the Te Paki sand dunes—humongous desert-like dunes created over millions of years through volcanic eruptions. Later in the afternoon we travel up to Cape Reinga, a location of great significance both geographically and culturally. A beautiful lighthouse sits high above the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean: this is where we shall capture sunset tonight.
Day 10 – Karikari Peninsula - Russell
This morning, we set off toward the picturesque Bay of Islands: the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell will be our home for the next two nights. Russell features many historic sites, as it was the first capital of New Zealand during European colonisation. Our day ends with a sunset shoot over the picturesque coastline, on one of many beautiful bays nearby.
Day 11 – Russell
We have an early start for a sunrise shoot this morning, followed by breakfast back at the hotel. On our chartered boat, we spend the day exploring the Bay of Islands by sea, including parts of the coastline not accessible by road. We have some beautiful island stops to look forward to, and we will capture these at our own pace.


Day 12 - Russel - Auckland
Another early-morning sunrise shoot across the Bay of Islands allows you to hone your field technique and capture more stunning beaches. Today, we depart the Bay of Islands and head towards Whangarei and the beautiful Whangarei Falls. This is the last stop on our journey, and we will be driving back to Auckland in the afternoon to meet with evening flights from the airport.

PRICE INCLUDES

4 days’ photography guiding by Glen Howey and Shaun Barnett
7 days photography guiding by Ken Wright & Shaun Barnett
11 nights’ hotel accommodation (twin-share, single upgrade available) mostly 4✩
2 nights’ stay at Carrington Estate
2 nights’ stay at the Duke Of Marlborough Hotel
Boat charter in the Bay of Islands
3 nights stay at Mt White Station
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
One way Air New Zealand flights Christchurch to Auckland
Copy of Pocket Guide to Landscape Photography
Free Online Course Essential Landscape Photography
E-book masterclass workshop topics
Use of Benro filters kits
Transport during the tour
DOC (National Park) concession fees
Copy of our Pocket Guide to Landscape & Wildlife Photography
Donation to our Conservation Fund
Native tree planting to Carbon Offset your tour