New Zealand Autumn
Golden forests, mirror lakes and the clearest of night skies
"Golden trees, mirror-like lakes, epic mountain backdrops, and some of the darkest, clearest night skies you'll ever shoot under."
An 8-day photographic deep dive into New Zealand's South Island
Join us for an unforgettable photographic deep dive into one of the most vibrant and cinematic regions on Earth. Expect golden trees, mirror-like lakes, epic mountain backdrops, and some of the darkest, clearest night skies you'll ever shoot under.
From the rustic charm of Arrowtown to the surreal reflections at Lake Tekapo, we'll chase autumn colour, Milky Way magic and those fleeting moments of light that make a shot unforgettable. You'll sharpen your camera skills, learn new editing techniques, and walk away with a portfolio packed with work you'll be proud of.
More than a trip, a turning point
Astro & Milky Way
Shoot under some of the darkest, clearest skies on Earth, including the Milky Way over the Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo.
Master Exposure
From sunrise to sunset and dynamic lighting, gain in-depth knowledge on how to correctly expose for every scene we encounter.
Hand Picked
Each location is carefully chosen and planned to provide diverse environments, designed to enhance both your skills and portfolio.
An autumn playground
Over eight days we trace the South Island at its most colourful, from Queenstown and Arrowtown through Glenorchy, Te Anau and the fjords of Milford Sound, on to Wanaka, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Expect golden forests, dramatic fjords, mirror-still lakes and mountain ranges lit up with autumn colour.
Every location is timed for the best light, sunrise, sunset and the dark-sky windows when the Milky Way is at its best, with personal in-the-field guidance at each stop. Let's make some photo magic in New Zealand's South Island this autumn, the full day-by-day route is just below.
Your 8-day New Zealand autumn itinerary
A carefully planned route through the South Island, built around the best autumn light, the clearest night skies and time to actually shoot.
Welcome to Queenstown
Settle into Queenstown and explore its autumn beauty, with a golden-hour mission up Bob's Peak.
Arrowtown to Glenorchy
Sunrise in autumn-gold Arrowtown, then Glenorchy's lakes and mountains, staying on for stars.
Te Anau & Glowworms
A relaxed run to Te Anau for the glowworm caves by boat, editing time, and sunset on the lake.
Milford Sound Adventure
A pre-dawn drive to Milford Sound for forests, fjords and waterfalls, plus astro if skies clear.
Autumn Colours in Wanaka
Chase golden light and autumn colour around the famous Wanaka Tree and lakeshore at your pace.
Tekapo & the Church of the Good Shepherd
Drive the high country to Tekapo via Twizel's mirror lakes, shooting the Church under the stars.
Mount Cook & Tasman Lake
Sunrise at Lake Tekapo, then a final photo adventure in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
Final Moments
A couple of scenic stops on the drive back to Queenstown as the adventure comes to an end.
You will stay in comfortable, private local accommodation throughout. The specific properties are listed in your workshop handbook.
Exactly what’s included
Included
- 7 nights of private accommodation
- All transport throughout the workshop
- Full photography instruction & mentoring with Josh Beames
- Glowworm caves tour
- Milford Sound cruise
- Group editing & post-processing session
Not included
- International flights
- Meals & drinks
- Travel insurance (required)
- Optional helicopter glacier landing
Everything you need to focus on your photography is taken care of, you just sort your flights, food and insurance, and turn up ready to shoot.
Shooting responsibly
Every workshop runs within the rules of the places we visit. I hold the permits each location needs, we pay landowner and access fees where they apply, and wherever a destination requires a local guide, we travel with one. Local guides know the land, the weather and the people who live there, and they make the trip better for all of us. We stay on marked paths, respect private land and closures, and leave every location as we found it, so it’s still there for the next photographer.
Hey, I'm Josh Beames
I'm an Australian landscape photographer supported by Nikon, and I've spent years photographing some of the world's most breathtaking landscapes across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.
I teach photography workshops around the world each year and I'm passionate about helping photographers grow their skills and confidence in the field. During this New Zealand Autumn workshop, I'll help you capture its rich colours and dramatic landscapes with clarity and intention.
You'll learn everything from foundational shooting techniques to advanced skills including bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, long exposures, and night photography, all taught in real time so you can apply what you learn immediately. My goal is to help you photograph New Zealand's autumn landscapes at their very best and return home with images you're truly proud of.
Skills you'll take home, long after the trip
This isn't just a trip for your hard drive. Every shoot is a hands-on lesson, so you leave with techniques you'll use on every landscape you photograph from here on.
Foundations
- Reading and nailing exposure in any light
- Shooting with confidence in full manual
- Composition and storytelling in the field
- Using filters and managing dynamic range
Advanced field craft
- Exposure bracketing for high-contrast scenes
- Focus stacking for front-to-back sharpness
- Multi-shot panoramas
- Long exposures and night photography
Editing & post-processing
- A repeatable editing and post-processing workflow
- Blending brackets and stacks cleanly
- Processing low-light and night images
- Finishing images you're genuinely proud of
A taste of what you’ll capture
What our customers are saying
I love Josh's enthusiasm, really looking forward to our trip to NZ, it is going to be epic!! I have recently done an online landscape course prior to this trip, extremely helpful and I feel a lot more confident now. I definitely learnt a couple of new skills and mindsets when it comes to landscape photography! I would definitely recommend Josh as a mentor.
I really enjoyed my workshop! It was my first multi-day one and I wasn't 100% sure what to expect, but it was amazing. I learned lots of great techniques and had an awesome time with like minded people. Would definitely recommend booking in for a workshop with Josh if you can! (I've already booked my next one...)
Josh and TJ were great at teaching us skills while allowing us to have our own styles and perspective, but better. What a combination; I had an awesome holiday, with beautiful locations, great company and I learned as well. By the end of the trip I was adjusting my settings by touch, on the go. Highly recommend.
Having attended several of Josh's workshops I can say he is an amazing intuitive teacher who is able to pinpoint an individual's photography issues and assist them to develop and grow their skills in some of the most beautiful scenery.
Your place on this workshop
Eight days photographing the South Island in peak autumn colour, from Queenstown and Milford Sound to Wanaka, Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, with daily in-the-field mentoring and small-group guidance.
New Zealand Autumn Photography Workshop
Eight days photographing the South Island in peak autumn colour, from Queenstown and Milford Sound to Wanaka, Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, with daily in-the-field mentoring and small-group guidance.
- 7 nights private-room accommodation
- All in-country transport with Josh
- Full instruction & mentoring with Josh Beames
- Te Anau glowworm caves guided tour
- Milford Sound nature cruise
- Group editing & post-processing session
Permits held, access fees paid, and local guides wherever a destination calls for one.
Frequently asked questions
What experience level is this workshop for?
All levels are welcome. Whether you're shooting in auto or already confident in manual, you'll get personalised guidance pitched to where you are, many past guests made the jump to full manual within a couple of days.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate fitness is all that's needed. Most locations are close to the vehicle, with a few optional short walks over medium gradients.
How do I secure my place?
A $1,650 AUD deposit secures your spot, with the balance of the $5,250 total due November 1, 2026. Prefer to pay in full at booking? You'll receive a free workshop hoodie on us.
What's your refund and cancellation policy?
A deposit secures your place. The balance is due six months before the workshop starts, and you can pay it in one go or in pieces before then; nothing is ever charged automatically. Your deposit is fully refundable until 6 months before the trip. After that it is non-refundable, but you can move it to another date. If you cancel between 6 and 3 months before the trip, we refund your balance and keep the deposit. Within 3 months of the start, payments are non-refundable. The one real exception, and it is a genuine one: if somebody else takes your place, you get the whole lot back, deposit included, however close to the day it happens. I will always try to fill it. If I have to cancel a workshop for any reason, everything you have paid comes back in full. And if I have to postpone one, whether that is weather, a supplier pulling out or illness, your booking moves to the new dates and I set those around what suits the group. If the trip cannot run at all, or the new dates do not work for you, everything you have paid comes back including the deposit. You are never out of pocket because I moved something.
What's included and what do I need to budget for?
The price covers 7 nights private accommodation, all in-country transport, your full mentoring program, the Te Anau glowworm caves tour and the Milford Sound cruise. You'll need to budget for international flights, meals and drinks, mandatory travel insurance and any optional extras like a helicopter glacier landing.
