NZ's Backcountry Beauty 7-Day Winter Photography Tour (Queenstown & Central Otago)

Workshop length:
Friday 11 July to Thursday 17 July 2025
Location:
Queenstown - Wanaka - Glenorchy - Alexandra - St Bathans - Maniatoto backcountry - Moeraki
Investment:
Max number on course:
Maximum of 3 (SOLD OUT)
Overview
Explore the best that Central Otago has to offer on this incredible 7-day winter photography adventure. Join me as we explore the heart of NZ's South exploring remote backcountry NZ winter scenery in locations only accessible via 4WD. We'll also explore lush NZ beech forest, alpine lakes with impossibly pristine reflections and NZ's night skies. This landscape photography tour is limited to only THREE people to maximise your experience in these unique New Zealand locations.
What you'll experience
It's one thing to visit amazing NZ landscape locations, but quite another to photograph them in a way that truly captures the essence and feel of a place. On this tour I will help you create quality images in each location, finding unique compositions to portray the beauty we find, whether it's the colourful tones of sunrise or sunset, atmospheric mountain scenes, a lush forest setting or astrophotography. The light in winter is much softer and lends itself beautifully to incredible landscape photography light, and we'll take advantage of that on our travels around the heart of Central Otago. This will be a photography adventure to remember!
Course Itinerary
By Meghan Maloney
Friday 11 July to Thursday 17 July 2025

Friday 11 July 2025 - Monday 14 July 2025

We'll meet at the airport at 12pm before setting off for the Maniatoto where we will be based in Ranfurly and spend 3 days exploring the unique and varied Central Otago scenery around Cromwell, Alexandra, St Bathans, remote backcountry locations around the Maniatoto via 4WD, and possibly as far afield as Moeraki Boulders (time and weather permitting).

Monday 14 July 2025 - Thursday 17 July 2025

On Monday we'll make our way back to Queenstown where we'll send 3 days exploring the wider area including locations as far afield as Glenorchy & Paradise and over the Crown Range road to Wanaka & the Matukituki Valley. Having a 4WD will allow us to explore further into valleys and remote areas not accessible via a normal car.

On one morning we will also take to the skies with a sunrise flight over Mt Aspiring and the Glaciers with Glenorchy Air to see the incredible winter snowcapped mountains from above.

The workshop will conclude by 12pm on Thursday 17 July to allow for afternoon flights home.

A BASIC ITINERARY OUTLINING LOCATIONS AND ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED UPON BOOKING WITH A DETAILED ITINERARY PROVIDED 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE WORKSHOP.

Terms & Conditions

Please ensure you read the terms and conditions regarding the cancellation policy for this workshop. I highly recommend taking out domestic travel insurance to cover any travel disruptions or in the event you need to cancel.

Fees and Payment

  • The full workshop fee is $5,299NZD including accommodation, transport and breakfast each day.
  • A deposit of $1,500 is required to be paid to secure your place for this event
  • The remaining $3,799 is to be paid no later than 120 days prior to the event (11 March 2025) and is payable to Meghan Maloney Photography via bank transfer or credit card (3% surcharge applies)
  • Payment plans are available - please enquire.

How to Book

Please complete the booking form below to register.

What's included

The Learning Experience

  • Hands-on tuition from a leading NZ landscape photographer and Sony ambassador
  • Mastering the manual settings on your camera - understanding the exposure triangle
  • The art of good composition - using different techniques to significantly improve how your images look and feel
  • Advanced techniques such as focus stacking, exposure blending and creating panoramas
  • Mastering the art of astrophotography using noise stacking and long exposure blending techniques
  • Use of KASE neutral density and polariser filters while in the field
  • Planning and executing a successful photography shoot
  • In-the-field experience at a variety of stunning New Zealand locations
  • Expert advice on how to create stunning images in Lightroom and Photoshop

Accommodation, Meals & Transport

  • 6 nights single share accommodation included in two locations (Queenstown & Ranfurly)
  • Breakfast included for each day
  • Transport for 7 days including Queenstown airport pick up and drop-off
  • A one hour sunrise flight over Mt Aspiring and the Southern Alps with Glenorchy Air
Gear requirements
  • Camera and lenses - ideally lenses that will cover both wide angle from 16-24mm right through to telephoto zoom at 300-400mm
  • STURDY tripod - very important
  • Torch or head torch
  • Spare batteries and charger (plenty of batteries as we are unlikely to be able to charge during the day while travelling)
  • Laptop with both Lightroom Classic & Photoshop installed
  • Plenty of memory cards and adapter to link with laptop for editing
  • Remote shutter control (needed if there is an opportunity to try star trails)
  • Neutral density filters (if you own these - a selection will be available to borrow during the workshop)
  • Warm clothing - it's midwinter so you will need merino layers, puffer jacket, hat, gloves, warm comfortable hiking boots and possibly gumboots
  • Umbrella, rain poncho and waterproof camera sleeve
  • A willingness to learn and a sense of fun and adventure!
For full terms & conditions click here

Testimonials

"Meghan is a great photography tutor. She explains things clearly and precisely and takes the time to make sure you understand. She knows a wide variety of techniques and styles for learners to try."

Craig - Matamata

Meghan's workshop is a great mix of useful skills and fundamental concepts as well as lots of fun. Meghan is such a lovely person that would like to share anything that you will be happy to spend two full days with her. The workshop helped me a lot.

Lily - China

Having followed Meghan and her captivating portrayal of New Zealand’s landscape on instagram for over 5 years, I’ve finally had the opportunity to join her 5-week online live photography course. Meghan has a gift to explain the “how to” of landscape photography in a very clear, easy to understand and enjoyable manner. Her depth of knowledge in every aspect will prove a more than worthwhile investment for anyone who enjoys this form of photography,  whether novice or experienced.

David - Christchurch

Real, honest, down to earth and very talented photographer. Very helpful with all the little things, takes time to explain information and makes sure it is understood. Just completed an online Zoom photography course which was well run and incredibly informative..

Robbie - Australia

Meghan is an amazing tutor. Her effective communication and course outline was exactly what I was looking for. I bought my first camera a few weeks before this course and lucky enough this course covered camera settings and composition which every beginner looks forward to.  From looking after your gear, settings, pro tips, composition and editing, this course was every beginners dream come true. I look forward to the next stage of this course and mind you this was quite affordable and full of knowledge. I have become a better photographer. Thank you and I look forward to more content from you.

Ash - Queenstown

Meghan is not only an awesome photographer but a wonderful teacher. I love her delivery style and this course is a great introduction to landscape photography. Meghan is also very encouraging and is very open and detailed with sharing her knowledge during her classes. The course structure was well thought out and presented in easy to digest modules. I look forward to learning more from Meghan as she grows her class schedule. Highly recommend!

Lystra - UK

Meghan has been the most helpful and caring photographer I have had the pleasure to meet, she has that special quality (and patience) that very few are blessed with to be the perfect teacher and along with her amazing photography is a mentor to us all... I have been so privileged to have her assistance on my learning journey, something I will be forever grateful for...

Robyn -  Otago

Totally amazing time with Meghan.  Her knowledge is amazing and the willingness to teach is fantastic. I never thought i could learn so much in such a short time but I did. I highly recommend Meghan to anyone wanting to learn and develop their skills. I cant wait to work with Meghan again soon.

Paul - Palmerston North

Perfect. I have learnt more in one  weekend than I ever imagined I could.

Jason - Cambridge

Let's book you a course!

Fill out the form below and I will be back in touch soon.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.