* In order to provide participants with the best photographic opportunities the itinerary is subject to change based on weather, lighting and other variables.

DAY 1: November 1st, 2016 - CHRISTCHURCH/ARTHUR’S PASS VILLAGE
- Dinner Provided

Pick up from the assembly point in Christchurch at 8am from specified assembly location.
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 – Introductions – itinerary – official start of Tour.

DAY 2: November 2nd, 2016 - ARTHUR’S PASS VILLAGE/PUNAKAIKI
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

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: November 3rd, 2016 - PUNAKAIKI/HOKITIKA
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

Early start to capture some brilliant skies, as the sun rises on the east coast. This morning exercise will take us through for a late-ish breakfast, after which we may further explore the area. The time to move on will be after lunch in Punakaiki, as we’ll head off towards Hokitika where we will spend a night. Hokitika Gorge with its turquoise coloured river awaits us for some afternoon shooting before returning back to capture sunset at Lake Kaniere.

DAY 4: November 4th, 2016 - HOKITIKA/FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

From here, we venture further south on our trip, and the landscape starts to get more and more dramatic. Our road starts to cut through the dense rainforest at the mountains feet, we will be getting closer and closer to them, crossing wild rivers and streams and driving alongside of the pristine lakes. Should the weather be favourable, snowcapped tops of the Southern Alps will frequently tease us with its gorgeous panoramas. We’ll have an early morning start for the sunrise at Lake Mahinapua. After breakfast back in Hokitika and check out, we’ll head to Whataroa Valley with its beautiful, turquoise coloured waters of Whataroa River with stunning, open views of the Southern Alps. Open valley may be occupied with grazing live stock, only to add an extra and typical West Coast element to the frame. This is, one of the most beautiful valleys on the West Coast. In Whataroa, we’ll also have a stop in Petr Hlavacek Gallery for viewing. After Whataroa, we’ll drive to Franz Josef Glacier to check in to our accommodation and to have a dinner. For capturing colours of sunset, we’ll drive to 30min distant Okarito Lagoon with an old remnants of the wharf on the lagoon edge. It’s right after Whataroa, where we’ll be entering UNESCO World Heritage Area, stretching on the West Coast from here all the way down to Fiordland.

DAY 5: November 5th, 2016 - HOKITIKA/FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

This morning we’ll photograph possible morning fogs and kahikatea trees at sunrise at nearby Lake Mapourika. After breakfast we’ll go to explore Franz Josef Glacier valley and Sentinel Rock lookout. We’ll have a lunch in Franz Josef Glacier before moving 26km further south to our next location - the Fox Glacier township. We’ll head straight for the Chalet Lookout (1.5hrs return) for some fantastic views of Fox Glacier. For sunset we’ll drive to Gillespies Beach and Lagoon where we’ll be photographing magic views of the Southern Alps reflecting in lagoon at sunset before late return to our dinner.

DAY 6: November 6th, 2016 - FOX GLACIER
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

Today is going to be super exciting day us we have one of the highlights ahead of us. If the weather cooperates, we‘ll be chartering a private helicopter to take us high up into the mountains. We’re going to spend the night in one of the mountaineering huts. There is several huts available in the area and the exact hut will be chosen in accordance with weather conditions and occupancy of the huts. Any of the huts we settle in for, offers us 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 helicopter comes back to pick us up and transfer us into higher parts of the Fox Glacier itself. We’ll spend about 3 hrs hiking and photographing ice caves, crevasses and blue ice. We’ll be making some amazing images on one of the most unique glacier in the world. Around a lunch time the helicopter 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 exciting mountain hut overnight is totally wether dependent so it may happen any day we’ll be in the area. Could be day 5 or it could happen on day 7.

DAY 7: November 7th, 2016 - FOX GLACIER
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

Today, we 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 want to hang around for a bit longer. At this point 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 8: November 8th, 2016 - FOX GLACIER/HAAST
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

Before we leave Fox Glacier to deeper south, we have on more option of sunrise at the most photographed lake in NZ – Lake Matheson and its mirror like reflections of NZ highest peaks – AORAKI/Mt. Cook (3.754m) and Mt. Tasman (3.497m). It takes just under 2 hrs to get to Haast from here, therefore, we can enjoy the morning in Fox Glacier, have a breakfast back at Lake Matheson Cafe and photograph some of the best, iconic NZ vistas with magic panoramas of the highest NZ mountains and farmland at your fingertip. The 2 hrs drive to Haast is all through the UNESCO World Heritage Area and is fully packed with breathtaking scenery. We’ll have a couple of stops in this area; one at Lake Paringa, which is a magic, pre-historic, remote lake surrounded by native white pines – beautiful kahikateas, the tallest NZ trees. The second stop will be at remote Ship Creek with its beautiful wild 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 9: November 9th, 2016 - HAAST/GLENORCHY
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

After 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. About an hour drive from Haast, we will stop at one of many waterfalls along our way. It’s going to be hard to resist stopping at each of them, however, we may choose Roaring Billy Falls, as this offers us two opportunities – last chance of photographing beautiful rainforest and its Ponga - Tree Fern and the waterfall itself with Haast River running in front of it. Moving on over the Haast Pass and through Makarora, our next photo stop will be at the west side of 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 over the Cardrona road and through Arrowtown, 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 10: November 10th, 2016 - GLENORCHY/TE ANAU
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

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 here, we move on to have a lunch in Queenstown. After lunch, we carry on toward the 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 11: November 11th, 2016 - TE ANAU/DOUBTFUL SOUND
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

Another exciting day ahead of us. Sunrise above Lake Te Anau before heading off to Lake Manapouri for the boat transfer for overnight boat cruise in Doubtful Sound. After boat ride across Lake Manapouri we’ll board the nature bus to travel across Fiordland’s Wilmot Pass to board our boat in Doubtful Sound for some incredible photography in remote parts of Fiordland National Park.

DAY 12: November 12th, 2016 - DOUBTFUL SOUND/TE ANAU/MILFORD SOUND
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

The following morning we’ll return to our base to Te Anau for lunch. After lunch we’ll drive a scenic Milford Road with many photographic opportunities to Milford Sound for the sunset shoot. The night will be spent back in Te Anau.

DAY 13: November 13th, 2016 - TE ANAU/QUEENSTOWN
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

Possible foggy sunrise over Lake Te Anau. After breakfast, we’ll make a move to either nearby Lake Manapouri or beautiful juicy green Fiordland’s rainforest. We spend some time exploring lake shores or photographing ferns 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 14: November 14th, 2016 - QUEENSTOWN/AORAKI-MT. COOK
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Provided

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 3754m. AorakiMt. Cook NP is 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 our our time and weather, we may be able to have a quick stop at beautiful Lake Pukaki, with Mt. Cook in the background. Final evening, conclusion, closure.

DAY 15: November 15th, 2016 - AORAKI-MT. COOK/CHRISTCHURCH
- Breakfast & Lunch Provided

Last early morning for the sunrise in the Hooker Valley with the majestic Aoraki/Mt. Cook (3754m). 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.

CONCLUSION : The tour ends back in Christchurch at 5:00pm on November 15th, 2016. Stay overnight in Christchurch or depart to your international destination.

Please read our TERMS & CONDITIONS prior to making your reservations.

* Participants must arrive in Christchurch, NZ prior to 8am on November 1st, 2016!

1. Pick up in Christchurch, New Zealand
2. Ground transportation throughout the tour
3. 15 day photography tour and guide services
4. 14 nights double occupancy accommodation
5. Optional trek onto Fox Glacier, overnight stay in alpine hut, 3 helicopter charters, guide fees
6. Doubtful Sound overnight cruise
7. Department of Conservation concession fees
8. All meals included - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9. Refreshments
10. Goods and Services Tax
11. Image reviews
12. Session on photography RAW workflow
13. Session on image processing - Lightroom and Photoshop workflow.

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1. All air or other travel fees to arrive in New Zealand for the tour departure point
2. All associated taxes, levies and insurances including travel insurance
3. Immigration, duty, passport and visa fees where applicable
4. Individual beverages during meals
5. Optional activities such as additional helicopter, plane flights, boat rides, kayaks etc.
6. Anything not listed in inclusions above.
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1. Camera with manual mode capability
2. Cable release or remote control for your camera (Mirror Up and Exposure Delay will also work)
3. Lens filters of your choice (ND, CPL, GRAD, etc.)
4. Extra batteries for your camera & charger
5. Sturdy tripod
6. Warm clothes (down jacket, softshell jacket, polartec jacket, long underwear)
7. Waterproof / Windproof Clothes (GoreTex jacket + pants)
8. Sturdy, Waterproof Hiking Boots (ankle high recommended)
9. Headlamp with extra batteries
10. Day Backpack
11. Gloves
12. Ice Crampons
13. Laptop with 5 of your favorite images & latest version of Lightroom
14. A great attitude!

This is an outdoor nature photography tour, so being fit and in good health will allow you to enjoy the workshop more comfortably. Our New Zealand tours 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.
† All participants are required to sign a standard medical and waiver of liability form. Every effort is made to keep participants safe during all stages of the tour, but each person is solely responsible for avoiding personal injury or damaging their equipment during the tour.

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To reserve your place in tour, completed Reservation Form and pay the non-refundable deposit required at time of your booking. After confirmation of your place in tour/workshop, the balance must be paid in full no later then 90 days prior to the scheduled tour/workshop commencement date. The deposit and balance payments may be made via internet banking, through PayPal, using credit/debit card or by money transfer onto our bank account. We reserve the right to cancel your booking if the full payment is not received by due date, as if in writing, and the cancellation charges shall be applied. Should you wish to cancel your booking, we must receive your cancellation in writing upon which the cancellation fee shall be applied as follows:
- 90 or more days prior scheduled tour date: You will forfeit your deposit.
- 61-89 days prior scheduled tour date: You will forfeit 50% of your tour payments.
- Less then 60 days prior scheduled tour date: You will forfeit 100% of your tour payments.
- No partial refunds are made for unused portions or services of a tour for any reason.

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We recognize that when planning your international travel for photography that there are many options available to you. To that end we’d like to share what we believe sets us apart from the crowd. Our events are organized with nature photography in mind and catered to you, our guests. We provide superior nature photography workshops, tours and safaris for every skill level, to every corner of the world. We strive to incorporate a diverse cultural experience for all our clients, specific to each destination. Extra care is invested into all stages of planning the itinerary to ensure an experience that is second to none. Every effort is made to plan exceptional meals and reserve accommodations you’ll be excited to return to after a long day in the field.

A lot more goes into properly planning a photo tour or safari than meets the eye. For example, if you’re shooting the Northern Lights in Norway, you have to plan the itinerary according to rhythm of the tides, because a full moon will ruin the vibrance of the Aurora Borealis. Likewise if you’re photographing a splashing Hippo calf on the Chobe River at dawn, your ideal camera settings might not be what you think. These days the number of Iceland summer photo tours options are as numerous as the horse population in that beautiful country. However, what many of these companies don’t realize is that under the midnight sun the best photography happens just before and just after midnight. If you visit Iceland and are shooting at mid-day, in full sun, then you are missing out on the best opportunities. This kind of information is what distinguish the very best photo tour operators from the rest, and ensures you get the very best images possible during your trip.

If you are traveling with Nature Odyssey Worldwide you don’t have to worry about it, we excel in our knowledge of these critical details. Our promise to you is that we will meticulously attend to everything that concerns an international traveler, as well as the more subtle requirements of a nature photographer. Our all-inclusive packages take the worry and hassle out of your international travel plans. All tours and safaris are planned to flow seamlessly, limiting time lost in travel or transfers and maximizing every photographic opportunity. Itineraries are intentionally flexible so that we can take advantage of unplanned photographic opportunities as they arise. Expert pro photographers that guide you on our trips aren’t just along for the ride. Regardless of your skill level we’re at your side every step and during each waking hour with the sole focus of maximizing your results and ensuring a magical experience. You’ll be provided professional advice both in the field and the digital darkroom, resulting in a stunning portfolio upon completion of your trip with us.

Together we’ll capture the world. Where do you want to go?

Still have questions? Inquire via the Contact Page

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS, TOURS and SAFARIS