Photography Workshops | New Zealand | Southern Photography Adventures

Canterbury

The Mackenzie | Aoraki Mt Cook National Park | Kaikoura | Tekapo | Arthurs Pass

The Canterbury region covers a large swath of the central South Island, from the Pacific Coast to the Southern Alps. Here, you’ll find the country’s largest expanse of plains and some of its most rugged mountains, along with spectacular volcanic, geothermal, coastal, and agricultural regions. This diverse geography makes it a mecca for photographers. Discover the NZ's highest mountains, longest glaciers, vivid turquoise lakes, golden grasslands, stunning coastlines and dazzling starry skies.

POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS IN CANTERBURY THAT WE TAKE TOURS

LAKE RUATANIWHA

Twizel local lake amazing for sunrise, sunsets and astrophotography, even a cheeky aurora

LAKE POAKA

A Department of Conservation wildlife reserve with the most stunning sunrises

LAKE TEKAPO

Lake Tekapo truly is a photographer’s dream. Bright blue lake, starry night sky and many activities to explore.

AORAKI MT COOK NATIONAL PARK

Home of the highest mountains and the longest glaciers. With skyscraping peaks and permanent snow fields, all set under a star-studded sky.

OHAU

The remote vast grasslands, forests, and snow-capped mountains of Ben Ohau offer a perfect setting for photographers

LAKE PUKAKI

Lake Pukaki is the largest lake in the area, and it proudly shows off New Zealand’s tallest peak from the many lookout points around its shores.

TASMAN LAKE

Experience one of NZ's best day (or night!) walks to view either icebergs in summer, or a completely frozen lake in winter.

HOOKER LAKE

Wind up the Hooker Valley past alpine streams and glaciers, leading to an amazing view over the iceberg-speckled Hooker Lake and up to Aoraki.

KAIKOURA

The picturesque coastal town of Kaikōura is the perfect place for marine life encounters, coastal walks, and tucking into a plate of crayfish

ARTHURS PASS

With numerous tracks & trails offering stunning views of the mountains, alpine meadows & dense rainforests, you won't be able to resist a visit to this gem.

CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

No trip to the Mackenzie is complete without a visit to this quaint, iconic church on the edge of Lake Tekapo

GETTING THERE
AORAKI MACKENZIE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY RESERVE

The Mackenzie region is situated in the centre of New Zealand’s South Island. Superbly located, the region is just 2.5 hours drive south of Christchurch International Airport and approximately 2.5 hours drive north of Queenstown International Airport.
Domestic airports can be found at Dunedin and Invercargill.

Dark Sky Reserve

The Mackenzie Basin is home the world’s largest dark sky reserve, the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. The 4300sq km area includes the stunning Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and the villages of Tekapo, Twizel and Mt Cook.People travel from all over the world to see the Magellanic Clouds, satellite galaxies and the Milky Way, all year round. What’s more, it is possible to see the Aurora Australis, a.k.a the Southern Lights, from this reserve. The Mackenzie Basin is almost free of light pollution thanks to a lighting ordinance in the Mackenzie District Plan where lighting controls have been put in place throughout most of the reserve since 1981.

The Mackenzie | Aoraki Mt Cook National Park | Kaikoura | Tekapo | Arthurs Pass

POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS IN CANTERBURY THAT WE TAKE TOURS

GETTING THERE AORAKI MACKENZIE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY RESERVE

GETTING THERE
AORAKI MACKENZIE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY RESERVE