01 / THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view.
While the Northern Hemisphere enjoys spring warmth, New Zealand's autumn paints the land in brilliant color. In April, colorful forests, English-style wooden houses, rolling waves and quiet lakes combine with snowy mountains, lush meadows and sparkling skies to create a poetic paradise for photographers. New Zealand's autumn is a natural canvas of gold, red and orange. From late March through May, countless places offer exceptional seasonal scenery. Journey into the Southern Hemisphere's autumn to capture its colors and experience nature's appeal.
Aoraki / Mount Cook
Photograph mountains, glacier lakes and surrounding landscapes in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Helicopter and glacier-walking activities are optional extras subject to availability, weather and access confirmation.
Queenstown
Picturesque in every season, Queenstown is especially captivating in autumn, when golden hills contrast with blue skies and sapphire lakes to create a world of color.
Arrowtown
Set beside the Arrow River, this former gold-mining town becomes an emblem of New Zealand autumn. Warm yellow and orange light up the hills in layers resembling an oil painting.
Glenorchy
Follow the winding road beside Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown to Glenorchy, enjoying captivating mountain-and-lake scenery. A paradise for nature lovers and film enthusiasts alike, Glenorchy is associated with Lothlórien and the Misty Mountains in The Lord of the Rings. Its natural beauty and mysterious atmosphere attract many explorers.
Wānaka
A solitary willow stands quietly beside Lake Wānaka, closely embraced by the water. Its graceful shape has drawn countless photographers; reflections and lake light provide endless creative inspiration.
Fox Glacier
Photograph mountain scenery and reflections around Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson. Glacier walks and scenic flights require separate reservations and depend on weather and access.
Christchurch
Known as the 'Garden City', Christchurch is a highlight of New Zealand's South Island. Stroll through the botanic gardens to explore varied plant life, or enjoy a quiet afternoon beside the Avon River. Alongside its natural attractions, galleries, theaters and museums make it a center of culture and art. More sample photographs
The journey in pictures
Leading photographers: XAVI Zhuang →CC P →
Destination illustrations · select a photo to explore
02 / IN GOOD COMPANY
A different way of seeing.
XAVI Zhuang
Graduated from the Photography Department of South China Normal University. Specializes in landscape, documentary, mobile and drone photography. He has provided photography lectures and training for the municipal library, the Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, the news agency of South China Normal University, the Senior Photographers Association, China Southern Power Grid, the Bao'an land bureau, UnionPay International, Standard Chartered, Ping An Bank, Bank of China, Industrial Bank, China Merchants Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Jiangsu, the coastal administration, the Capital Institute, SF Express and local community offices. Photography journeys He has led photography groups to Turkey, the Balkans, Japan, Eastern Europe, Semporna, Israel, Cuba, Iran, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Spain, Namibia, Bangladesh, Russia, Cambodia, Chiang Mai, Myanmar, Italy, Portugal and Morocco. Destinations in China include Longji, Weizhou Island, Yuanyang, Puzhehei, Bashang, Xuexiang, Beijing, Niubei Mountain, Guangwu Mountain, Huangshan, Wuyuan, Poyang Lake, Nanjing, Wuxi, Nyingchi, the Yellow River in Shaanxi, the Qiantang River, Hainan, Xiaodongjiang, Zhangjiajie, Zhongwei, Xiapu, Daocheng–Shangri-La and Ejina Banner. Selected awards and exhibitions 15th National Art Photography Competition; 2nd Shenzhen Photography Annual Exhibition; 10th PSAChina International Photography event; 2015 Toronto International TIPF Annual Excellence Award; multiple acceptances in the Austrian circuit, 2017–2019; exhibition at the 7th Dali International Photography Festival, 2018; silver award in the first Beautiful China Aerial Photography competition; second prize in the People category of the China division of the 2019 National Geographic Global Photography Contest.
CC P
Specializes in filmmaking, writing and directing, production, planning, documentary photography, portraiture and landscapes. Gold award in the folk customs category of the 4th Asia-Pacific Cup International Photography Art Exhibition. She has extensive experience directing and producing promotional films and documentaries, and leads photography trips within China and overseas each year. Her photography post-production training has included more than 400 sessions and 20,000 participant attendances for organizations including the Futian urban management bureau, the water group, the Nanshan publicity department, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Peking University's MBA programme, the Hangcheng, Xixiang, Yutang and Taoyuan community offices, the Guangming New District Photography Association and the Shenzhen Senior Photographers Association.
03 / THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light.
Shooting locations, accommodation and transport are subject to confirmation before departure and may change with the weather.
Note: the itinerary may be adjusted according to actual conditions to improve photography opportunities. Thank you for your understanding.
Itinerary dates and text times without their own zone use: Pacific/Auckland。Exact times use your selected timezone; dates alone and descriptions such as “morning” are not converted.
DAY 01Apr 22 · Pacific/AucklandDay 1: April 22, Thursday, Guangzhou–Christchurch
Meet at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport on the evening of April 22. The reference outbound flight departs early on April 23; meeting time and flight await operator confirmation.
Accommodation:flight
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 02Apr 23 · Pacific/AucklandDay 2: April 23, Friday, arrive in Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch, transfer to the hotel and rest. Reference flight segments are listed under transport.
Accommodation:Christchurch
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 03Apr 24 · Pacific/AucklandDay 3: April 24, Saturday, Christchurch–Twizel
Unlike earlier trips, this itinerary begins directly with New Zealand's finest autumn colors at their peak. A three-hour drive from Christchurch takes us from the Garden City into a golden world in the mountainous Mackenzie region. Our accommodation is central to several photography locations, just an hour from Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, and we stay for three consecutive nights. On the first day, photograph the Church of the Good Shepherd at sunset, then the Milky Way after dinner. With luck, the southern lights may also appear. Return afterward to the Twizel hotel, our base for three nights.
Accommodation:Twizel
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 04Apr 25 · Pacific/AucklandDay 4: April 25, Sunday, Twizel–Mount Cook
第二天主要是前往库克山，路途虽然不远，但是沿途景色迷人，又有壮丽的库克雪山，这里的拍摄素材丰富，部分地方需要徒步进入拍摄，所以，大家早上就不要起的太早，早饭后出发去湖区，公路在左边，奶蓝色的湖在右边，一路都是风光大道，然后，我们会有三个小时往返的徒步，近距离的拍摄冰川湖前的库克山，傍晚时分也许能拍摄库克山的夕阳美景，当然，库克山的冰川徒步也是很有特色的，直升机上下冰川（自费），在冰川上徒步2小时，还是很刺激很独特的，这个需要提早预定，预定了也要看天气的变化，能上去就是运气好！
Accommodation:Twizel
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 05Apr 26 · Pacific/AucklandDay 5: April 26, Monday, Twizel–Lake Tekapo–surrounding lakes
This is peak golden-leaf season on the South Island: the brilliant colors we seek combine blue skies, white clouds and yellow foliage, with some lakes adding green hues. It is our final day in the Mackenzie region. Local chestnuts are sweet and free to gather, alpine salmon is delicious, and Mount John offers 360-degree views and rich coffee. Remaining in one place for consecutive nights is unusual on this type of New Zealand photography tour. Besides reducing fatigue, it gives repeated opportunities to photograph nearby landmarks.
Accommodation:Twizel
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 06Apr 27 · Pacific/AucklandDay 6: April 27, Tuesday, Twizel–Queenstown
Queenstown is a major South Island visitor destination, with abundant photography subjects and activities. We stay for 3 days to take advantage of suitable weather and explore the relationship between autumn scenery and local life. Before arrival, visit the fruit-growing town to photograph triangular peach trees with yellow foliage and stock up on fruit. Stroll around Queenstown at dusk or enjoy a large burger. The hotel is near the town, which also offers some nightlife.
Accommodation:Queenstown
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 07Apr 28 · Pacific/AucklandDay 7: April 28, Wednesday, Queenstown–Arrowtown
早上先早起，在山上拍摄皇后镇的日出，如果，运气好，还能拍摄到云雾中的皇后镇，早饭后前往箭镇，箭镇是要早点到，古老的街道，他的背景是五彩山，这里也是拍摄人文最好的时候，在这里来上一杯纯酿或者是巴塔库尼亚的雪糕，那是太爽了，当然，晚上要是大家兴致好，还可以去皇后镇的山顶自助餐大快朵颐一下，这个是自费的啊！
Accommodation:Queenstown
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 08Apr 29 · Pacific/AucklandDay 8: April 29, Thursday, Queenstown–Glenorchy–Queenstown
Travel west beside Lake Wakatipu toward Glenorchy, known for its heavenly setting. Blue water lies on one side and a cliffside road on the other, with several attractive photography stops. Paradise and the native forest beyond are excellent portrait settings. A distinctive wetland along the route is also well suited to aerial photography.
Accommodation:Queenstown
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 09Apr 30 · Pacific/AucklandDay 9: April 30, Friday, Queenstown–Wānaka
Enjoy changing scenery and surprises en route via Cardrona and the bra fence. Photograph the lone willow before dusk, then check in near Lake Wānaka. At night, use the willow as a foreground for the stars, although surrounding lights reduce the chance of capturing the full Milky Way.
Accommodation:Wānaka
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 10May 1 · Pacific/AucklandDay 10: May 1, Saturday, Wānaka–Fox Glacier
Cross a national park and visit the distinctive Blue Pools, a good location for aerial photography. The wild West Coast is not far beyond, and scenery changes greatly before reaching Fox Glacier. We stay for two nights to allow enough time for a glacier visit. A helicopter-assisted glacier hike is an exciting and worthwhile option.
Accommodation:Fox Glacier
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 11May 2 · Pacific/AucklandDay 11: May 2, Sunday, Fox Glacier
Photograph morning mist at Lake Matheson, reached by a 40-minute walk. Sheltered among mountains, the lake is usually calm and excellent for sunrise, sunset and night-sky photography. It reflects Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, and offers a western view to compare with photographs from the other side. Weather permitting, a glacier walk or helicopter-assisted photography excursion is recommended, as an optional activity paid separately; confirm the amount before booking. Book early because helicopter places are popular. Two days in the glacier-lake area provide opportunities to reach the ice; higher positions reveal clear blue glacier ice that cannot be photographed from below.
Accommodation:Fox Glacier
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 12May 3 · Pacific/AucklandDay 12: May 3, Monday, Fox Glacier–Punakaiki
Drive 3 hours to photograph the Pancake Rocks and stay nearby. Depending on tides, low water may reveal starfish covering the rocks. This is also an excellent sunset location. Sunrise sea mist offers another subject. At the Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park, a renowned West Coast photography spot, photograph sunset, stars at night and morning mist the next day.
Accommodation:near the Pancake Rocks
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 13May 4 · Pacific/AucklandDay 13: May 4, Tuesday, Punakaiki–Christchurch–Guangzhou
Photograph the Pancake Rocks in the morning. After breakfast, drive three and a half hours to the trip's final distinctive area, with several waterfalls and good drone opportunities along the way. The route is scenic, especially its pastoral landscapes. Our flight is in the evening, leaving plenty of daytime photography possibilities. In Christchurch, the Garden City, Hagley Park and the botanic gardens offer good subjects. The center is excellent for walking and street photography, including its many murals. Transfer to the airport according to flight times and conclude the trip.
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 14May 5 · Pacific/AucklandDay 14: May 5, Wednesday, arrive in China
Arrive in Guangzhou at the end of the trip; arrival time awaits operator confirmation.
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefWhere we stay
Day 1：flight Day 2：Christchurch Day 3：Twizel Day 4：Twizel Day 5：Twizel Day 6：Queenstown Day 7：Queenstown Day 8：Queenstown Day 9：Wānaka Day 10：Fox Glacier Day 11：Fox Glacier Day 12：near the Pancake Rocks
Getting there
The photography instructor's flights for this trip are as follows: Outbound: April 23, Guangzhou–Auckland, CZ305 / 00:35 / 15:35 April 23, Auckland–Christchurch, NZ567 / 19:00 / 20:25 Return: May 4, Christchurch–Auckland, NZ578 / 17:00 / 18:25 May 4, Auckland–Guangzhou, CZ306 / 21:25 / 05:25 +1 day Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website. These services are for reference and do not constitute confirmed group transport. Final services and meeting times await operator confirmation.
04 / A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included.
Platform service fee to be confirmed
Deposit USD 2,986.12 Original CNY 20,000 · Reference rates 2026-09-18 · Frankfurter / person
Included
Standard twin rooms in four-star hotels throughout;
Transport: a 12-seat Mercedes-Benz business vehicle throughout;
Photography instruction and services throughout;
Driver-guide services and tips throughout;
保险：旅行社责任险、以及团体旅游意外保险（最高保额30万/人）；
Daily drinking water, with no waste permitted.
Not included
Flights and taxes between cities in China and New Zealand;
New Zealand visa fees;
All meal expenses, shared among participants;
Hotel porter, restaurant staff and similar tips, paid individually;
A single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation.
Other unspecified additional service charges and personal expenses;
In force majeure circumstances such as natural disasters, war or strikes, or exceptional events including flight delays or cancellations and consular visa delays, the organizing team reserves the right to cancel or modify the itinerary. Additional expenses, including visas, accommodation, meals, transport and national airfare adjustments, may be charged at expense. We will nevertheless try within our ability to minimize participants' losses;
Tax is excluded; the applicable invoice tax must be paid additionally if an invoice is required.
Service fees, supplements, taxes and the final total are subject to written confirmation.
05 / BEFORE YOU GO
Clarity before departure.
Availability and registration
This website accepts expressions of interest in this trip and does not synchronize the operator's remaining places in real time. Please contact us to confirm group departure, availability, the final quotation and booking conditions.
Cancellation and breach provisions
Before departure, participants and the organizing team may sign a written travel contract or give notice terminating the trip agreement. The contract is legally binding. If termination is requested more than 30 days before departure, excluding day 30, neither party is liable for breach. Days are calculated by subtracting the date the termination notice is received from the departure date; the same calculation applies below. If the organizing team terminates the agreement, all travel fees must be refunded without deducting visa or entry-permit fees. If a participant terminates after a visa or entry permit has been processed or a flight booked, the relevant visa, entry-permit and flight cancellation charges are deducted. The organizing team must refund the travel fees within 5 working days of receiving the termination notice. If either party terminates within 30 days of departure, including day 30, the terminating party bears liability for breach. [Liability of the organizing team] If the organizing team terminates the trip agreement within 30 days of departure, including day 30, it must refund all travel fees without deducting visa, entry-permit or similar charges, and pay compensation according to the following schedule: 30 to 15 days before departure: compensation of 2% of the total trip fee; 14 to 7 days before departure: compensation of 5% of the total trip fee; 6 to 4 days before departure: compensation of 10% of the total trip fee; 3 to 1 days before departure: compensation of 15% of the total trip fee; On the departure date: compensation of 20% of the total trip fee. If this compensation does not cover the participant's actual losses, the organizing team must compensate those actual losses. The organizing team must refund the full trip fee and pay compensation within 5 working days of receipt of the cancellation notice. [Participant liability] Participants terminating the agreement within 30 days of departure must pay the organizing team a business-loss charge according to the following schedule: 30 to 15 days before departure: 5% of the total trip fee; 14 to 7 days before departure: 15% of the total trip fee; 6 to 4 days before departure: 70% of the total trip fee; 3 to 1 days before departure: 85% of the total trip fee; On the departure date: 90% of the total trip fee; If these percentages do not cover the organizing team's actual losses, the participant must compensate the actual losses, up to the total trip fee. After deducting the business-loss charge, the organizing team must refund the remaining travel fees within 5 working days of receiving the participant's cancellation notice.
Trip information
[Registration] Registration for this trip is confirmed upon receipt of the deposit. [Transport] 1. Flights booked by the organizing team are economy-class group tickets. Once issued, they cannot be endorsed to another carrier or refunded. 2. Actual flight, driving and boat travel times on the day apply. 3. Airlines and flight schedules above are for reference only. Changes to flight times may require minor itinerary adjustments; the departure notice takes precedence. [Accommodation] Accommodation is based on 2 people sharing 1 room. We will try to pair solo participants with another participant of the same gender. Participants who do not wish to share, or cannot be matched, must pay the single supplement for a room of their own. [Group meals] We try to choose meals suited to Chinese tastes and ensure that every guest receives an adequate portion. [Photography] 1. Photography activities follow the itinerary. In exceptional circumstances, time spent photographing each location will depend on the actual conditions that day. 2. Please read this itinerary carefully and choose a photography trip suited to your circumstances. If you give up part of the itinerary for personal reasons, including health, or request to forgo accommodation or transport, this is considered voluntary withdrawal. expenses already incurred are non-refundable. You are responsible for your personal safety while not participating in the itinerary. 3. Participants may not leave the group without permission during group photography activities, except during free time. Leaving partway through the trip is considered a breach by the participant. Unused photography activities, meals, accommodation and vehicle services are non-refundable, and the organizing team is not responsible for accidents occurring while the participant is away from the group. 4. If force majeure events such as typhoons or blizzards prevent travel according to the agreed itinerary, additional or reduced expenses following changes will be settled according to the travel agency's actual group operating expenses. [Payment adjustments] the organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if major fluctuations in international oil benchmarks cause substantial increases in fuel surcharges. If the increase is within what we can absorb, the trip fee will not be adjusted. [Departure notice] 1. The departure notice will be sent no later than 1 day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed earlier, we will notify you as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the departure notice, the departure notice takes precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from organizing or arranging optional activities at additional expense, guests wishing to join such activities should contact the service provider themselves for information, payment details and participation. If language difficulties lead you to ask a guide or tour leader for additional assistance, any paid or unpaid help is provided solely in that person's individual capacity, not on behalf of the organizing team or the local receiving agency. the organizing team has no involvement in the expenses, transaction amounts or service standards of free-time activities; guests bear the outcomes themselves.
Fitness, equipment and conditions
Equipment and fitness requirements will be provided by the operator.