Overnight Experiences Surrey Hills

EXPERIENCE













Join Glen Howey and Ken Wright on an exclusive winter 4WD adventure. This journey offers an incredible opportunity to capture Canterbury’s High Country and the Southern Alps at the height of their winter beauty. Timing provides the most spectacular conditions for winter landscape photography; you’ll capture the mighty snow-covered peaks and misty mornings beside frosty lakes.
Our itinerary begins in Mackenzie Country, where we will photograph around Twizel and Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. We will explore the remote valleys by 4WD, which offers some fantastic winter photography opportunities and the breathtaking majesty of the mountains. From there, we continue to the serene Ashburton Lakes, which has the most stunning winter landscapes. This area features mountain views, alpine lakes, beautiful rivers, and elegantly placed trees. We’ll stay two nights at a lodge on a high-country station for a unique experience immersed in the landscape.

HIGHLIGHTS
The snow-covered Southern Alps Frosty & misty morning shoots Remote winter 4WD trips Stay at High Country Lodge
QUEENSTOWN - CHRISTCHURCH Mt Cook Mackenzie Country Ashburton Lakes



ITINERARY

Day 1 Queenstown - Aoraki Mt Cook
After early morning hotel pickups, we will embark on a picturesque journey over Lindis Pass, offering a first taste of the stunning winter landscape we will photograph for the next week. We arrive at Mt Cook, with the Hermitage Hotel as our base for the next two nights. Later, we will explore the park with an evening shoot in the Tasman Valley.
Day 2 – Aoraki Mt Cook
The day begins with a sunrise shoot capturing the alpine glow on the summit of Aoraki/Mt Cook across a stunning glacier lake before returning to the hotel for breakfast. The rest of the day will be taken up by visiting locations in the Hooker Valley, including alpine lakes, sweeping river vistas, and views of New Zealand’s highest peaks.
Day 3 - Aoraki Mt Cook - Twizel
After heading out for another sunrise shoot over Mt Cook this morning, we will head to Twizel. Located in the Mackenzie Basin, it offers the perfect base to explore a rich tapestry of landscape opportunities, including majestic snow-laden mountains, turquoise lakes, and the reflective waters of the region’s lakes. Tonight, we will capture the sunset at one of these locations.
Day 4 - Twizel
This morning, we hope for a misty morning as the sunrises over the Mackenzie Country, creating dramatic backdrops. We’ll delve deeper into the region, travelling in our 4WD vans into the remote valleys to capture some stunning winter landscapes, making the most of the light and winter conditions that the Mackenzie Basin is renowned for.
Day 5 - Twizel to Ashburton Lakes
Today, we head for the winter wonderland of Ashburton Lakes, a remarkable high-country landscape with serene lakes in the Southern Alps. Here, we will stay for two nights in a remote lodge on a high-country station, right in the middle of the grand landscape—the perfect base to explore the area. At sunset, we will photograph one of the lakes that arguably offers the finest winter views.
Day 6 – Ashburton Lakes
Heading for sunrise, we hope for a good frost to photograph and perhaps even some ice on the lakes. We’ll spend the day exploring the Hakatere Conservation area and photographing an iconic location from the Lord of the Rings films. At sunset, we may visit another one of the area’s distinctive lakes with an iconic mountain landscape behind.
Day 7 - Ashburton Lakes - Christchurch
On our final day, we will head out for another adventure across the station to capture the exquisite sunrise and, with any luck, some more stunning icy landscapes. After breakfast, we will pack up and set out on our journey back towards Christchurch. We will arrive in Christchurch in time for late afternoon flights.

PRICE INCLUDES
7 days’ photography guiding
6 nights accommodation - twin share (single upgrade available)
6 cooked breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 Dinners
Stay in High Country Lodge
Copy of Pocket Guide to Landscape Photography
Use of Benro filters kits
4WD Transport during the tour
Queenstown pickup & Christchurch drop off
DOC concession fees
Donation to our Conservation Fund
Native tree planting to Carbon Offset your tour