New Zealand Winter
Snow-dusted peaks, turquoise lakes and starlit skies
"Snow-dusted peaks, turquoise lakes and starlit skies come together to create one of the most photogenic landscapes on Earth."
Jul 25 – Aug 1
Winter magic in New Zealand's South Island
A breathtaking winter photography adventure across New Zealand's South Island, where snow-dusted peaks, turquoise lakes and starlit skies come together to create one of the most photogenic landscapes on Earth. From misty alpine mornings to glowing golden-hour light and some of the clearest astro skies in the world, this trip is designed to elevate your portfolio and your experience behind the camera.
We'll base ourselves in iconic towns like Queenstown, Te Anau, Wanaka and Tekapo as we chase clean, crisp winter conditions across a variety of stunning locations, including Milford Sound, the Wanaka Tree, Glenorchy and the Church of the Good Shepherd. Expect epic light, creative freedom, relaxed vibes, and a small crew of legends shooting alongside you.
More than a trip, a turning point
Astro & clear skies
Shoot under some of the clearest astro skies in the world, from the Church of the Good Shepherd at Tekapo to dark alpine valleys far from any light.
Build a winter portfolio
Snow-dusted peaks, turquoise lakes and misty fjords give you a stunning winter portfolio, with in-the-field coaching and edit sessions along the way.
Optional heli shoot
Take it to the next level with an optional helicopter flight and glacier landing for rare alpine perspectives you cannot get from the ground.
A winter wonderland
Over eight days we trace the South Island through clean, crisp winter conditions, basing ourselves in Queenstown, Te Anau, Wanaka and Tekapo. Expect snow-dusted peaks, turquoise lakes, frozen fjords and quiet alpine valleys, with iconic stops at Milford Sound, the Wanaka Tree, Glenorchy and the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Every location is timed for the best light, sunrise, sunset and the dark-sky windows when the stars are at their best, with personal in-the-field guidance at each stop. Winter in New Zealand is short, sharp and seriously beautiful, the full day-by-day route is just below.
Your 8-day New Zealand winter itinerary
A carefully planned route through the South Island, built around the best winter light, the clearest night skies and time to actually shoot.
Arrival in Queenstown & Bob’s Peak Sunset
Settle into Queenstown and open with a golden-hour shoot over Lake Wakatipu from Bob's Peak.
Arrowtown & Glenorchy
Sunrise in historic Arrowtown, then Glenorchy's snow-capped peaks, with sunset and optional astro.
Te Anau & Glowworm Caves
A scenic drive south to Te Anau for the glowworm caves and a sunset shoot on the lakeshore.
Milford Sound Adventure
A full day in Fiordland for dramatic cliffs, icy waterfalls and reflections, plus astro if clear.
Wanaka & That Famous Tree
North to Wanaka for editing, lakeside light and golden hour at the famous tree, plus optional astro.
Lake Tekapo via Twizel
Drive to Tekapo past reflective lakes and alpine plains for the Church and a dark-sky astro session.
Mount Cook & Hooker Valley
Sunrise at Tekapo, an afternoon Hooker Valley hike at Mount Cook, then a final clear-sky astro.
Final Shoot & Return to Queenstown
One last Tekapo sunrise before the drive back to Queenstown, concluding at 3pm.
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
- Ground transport throughout the workshop
- All sunrise, sunset and astro sessions
- Glowworm caves entry and tour
- Photography mentoring and editing support
Not included
- International flights
- Meals and alcohol
- Optional helicopter flight ($820)
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
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. Over the past decade I've photographed some of the world's most dramatic and remote locations including deserts, salt lakes, Iceland, Norway, Australia's Outback, Canada, and the Arctic just to name a few.
I teach photography workshops around the world each year and I love helping photographers build confidence and skill in the field. During this Winter in New Zealand experience I'll help you capture its incredible winter landscapes with clarity and purpose.
You'll learn everything from foundational shooting techniques to advanced skills such as bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, long exposures, and night photography. All of this is taught on location in real time so you can apply each technique immediately. My goal is to help you photograph New Zealand's winter scenery in its best moments and return home with images you are genuinely 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 doing Josh's workshops. I went on my second workshop earlier this year with Josh, this time it was the winter workshop in New Zealand. What a fantastic 8 days photographing the stunning scenery of the South Island. Under Josh's tuition I learnt shortcuts to bracketing, focus stacking and post processing tips. I highly recommend going on Josh's workshops. You'll have a blast!!
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 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!
Josh and TJ were great at teaching us skills while allowing us to have our own styles and perspective, but better. I had an awesome holiday, with beautiful locations, great company and I learned as well. Highly recommend.
Your place on this workshop
Eight days photographing the South Island in crisp winter light, from Queenstown and Milford Sound to Wanaka, Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, with daily in-the-field mentoring and small-group guidance.
New Zealand Winter Photography Workshop
Eight days photographing the South Island in crisp winter light, 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 accommodation
- Ground transport throughout the workshop
- All sunrise, sunset and astro sessions
- Glowworm caves entry and tour
- Photography mentoring and editing support
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 like the Hooker Valley track over medium gradients.
How do I secure my place?
A $1,650 AUD deposit secures one of just six spots. Balance due six months before we go.
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 ground transport, every sunrise, sunset and astro session, the glowworm caves tour and your full mentoring and editing support. You'll need to budget for international flights, meals and alcohol, travel insurance and the optional $820 helicopter flight.
