New Zealand | South Island Photography Adventure

Today, begin your journey from your home departure city - destination: Wellington, New Zealand!

Cross the International Date Line today.

Upon arrival at Auckland International Airport, collect your luggage clear customs and make your way to the domestic terminal to connect with your flight to Wellington. Upon arrival in Wellington, you will be met and transferred to The Bolton Hotel, with time to relax and/or explore your new surroundings before meeting your group this evening at 7 pm for a delicious celebratory dinner at the hotel.

Today begins with an iconic journey as you will be traveling on the Interislander Ferry from the North to South Island. Travel through the Cook Strait and into Marlborough Sounds to Picton, gateway to the South Island. The 57 mile, three hour voyage between Wellington and Picton has been described as one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world. Sailing from Wellington Harbor, pass points of interest like Pencarrow Head and New Zealand's oldest lighthouse, the seal colony at Red Rocks, and Oterangi Bay, site of the countries' highest recorded wind speed (167 mph). From the Cook Strait, you'll find spectacular views of the Kaikoura Ranges on the South Island. Dolphins and many sea birds are often seen as well. Enter the Marlborough Sounds, a region of bush covered mountains, small islands, crystal clear waters, and secluded bays, offering remarkable photographic opportunities. The final leg takes you through Queen Charlotte Sound before coming to an end in the picturesque town of Picton. Lunch today is at Allan Scott Winery in the heart of Marlborough wine country, where you will have a taste of the wines before enjoying a farm to table lunch. You will then be given a guided tour of the vineyard to see the gardens before arriving at your hotel.

Start the day with a visit at Barewood Garden, a classic potager garden where interesting color combinations using unusual herbaceous plants and shrubs can be seen in the different areas throughout the garden. Barewood is a large, semi-formal country garden that roams across four acres in the spectacular Awatere Valley of Marlborough. Nestled amongst beautiful countryside, it is a garden that is serene, intimate and oftentimes otherworldly. Within the garden is the 120-year-old cob cottage that has been lovingly restored. We carry on south to enjoy lunch at The Store situated on the coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This café is the perfect stop with excellent food, great views and an interesting gift store to enjoy. After a walk along the beach we travel to Kaikoura, a small coastal town which was cut off for quite some time after the major earthquake in 2016 where some of the bay and surrounding lands were uplifted by as much as 6.5 feet. As we travel along the coastline we will see a number of Fur Seal colonies with the seals lounging around on the rocks, swimming, all close to the road and perfect for great photographs.

Before breakfast grab your camera and walk across the road to the beach front to get perfect shots of the sunrise. Later in the morning we will take a boat ride to experience the magnificent Albatross birds, and other species. The boat ride will take you into an entirely new world where you will discover a large variety of Albatross, Petrels, penguins, gannets and more. For the photographers on board this is an incredible experience where you will be able to get a "birds eye" view of these magnificent birds, as well as some amazing photographs. Continuing on your journey south your next stop is Flaxmere Gardens. This large country garden is based on the principles of strong, landscape design, creating artistic views. Throughout the gardens, you will find a series of five ponds, ensuring a peaceful ambiance and benefits the bird life that thrives in the garden. After your time at the garden, travel onto Christchurch and your centrally located hotel. The evening is yours to explore the City, affectionately referred to as the "Garden City."

Spend the morning at Christchurch Botanical Gardens, a showcase of exotic and indigenous plants established in 1863. Six specialist houses contain collections of tropical and temperate plants, cool greenhouse flowering plants, cacti, succulents, ferns, and alpine plants. There are a variety of gardens, which include the rose, rock, water, azalea, woodland, and fragrant gardens. After your time here, you will have lunch at Mona Vale Estate, a 13.5-acre garden with landscaped lawns gently rolling down to the Avon River. Enjoy a post-lunch stroll in the gardens before returning to your hotel, with the remainder of the afternoon and evening on own.

Start the day with a visit at Broadfield Estates, located quite close to your hotel. Covering nearly 9 acres, the garden features New Zealand natives as well as collections of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, daffodils, lilies and roses. It also includes a Kauri forest as well as a large Beech forest and viewing mound. Orana Wildlife Park is your next stop, home to over 1000 animals representing more than 90 different species from New Zealand, Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Americas. Grab a snack while in the park. Later, travel back to the your hotel, enjoying dinner Curators House in the Botanical Gardens.

After checking out of your hotel this morning, begin the journey from Christchurch to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, which takes you through the Mackenzie Basin to beautiful Lake Takapo. En route, your first stop will be at Trott's Garden to spend time in this gorgeous destination, often used for weddings and other special occasions. After your time there, continue on with a stop for snacks at the market town of Geraldine, where you can taste some of the delicious pickles, chutneys, and cheese made by local producers at Barker's of Geraldine. Travel along the shores of Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook Village situated at the base of New Zealand's tallest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook. Tonight, there is an opportunity to take a stargazing tour (extra cost).

This morning, take the Glacier Explorer and cruise on the glacial Tasman Lake. Weave in and out of icebergs and learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape of the area. Then, retrace your steps and travel south through the town of Cromwell on the banks of Lake Dunstan. The original town of Cromwell was flooded to create the Clyde Dam hydroelectric plant. Some of the historic buildings were moved to the new town and can now be visited. Have lunch en route. Later, travel through the spectacular Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown before arriving at your centrally located hotel. Tonight, enjoy free time to explore the town for dinner on your own.

Travel along the scenic shores of Lake Wakatipu to the charming village of Glenorchy, home to Wild Dream, a unique destination set within a beautiful wildlife park. From early spring through to autumn, the park comes alive with thousands of blooming flowers-including around 3,000 fragrant roses that fill the air with their scent. As you stroll along the 700 metres of walking tracks, you'll encounter artistic sculptures in various yoga poses, tranquil water features, and friendly wildlife such as peacocks, ducks, and geese. Walk amongst a rich collection of mature native New Zealand and exotic trees. as well as a wide array of fruit, nut, berry, and ornamental trees. This afternoon visit Arrowtown, a picturesque historic village alongside the gold-bearing Arrow River. Established in 1862, during the height of the Otago gold rush, the settlement grew quickly as pioneers constructed cottages, shops, hotels and churches. We travel back to Queenstown with time to shop for locally produced Merino wool items and artworks. This evening take the gondola to your Farewell Dinner at the Skyline restaurant,

This morning you will be transferred to the Queenstown International Airport for your flight(s) home.