THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view
Photograph lakeside lupins, mountains and water as spring turns to summer in New Zealand. Explore the contrast between pink and purple blooms and the wider landscape. Flowering varies by location, weather and season.
Lupins and South Island lakes
Photograph lupins and lake scenery around Tekapo and Twizel, subject to local flowering conditions.
West Coast and glacier lakes
Photograph coastal scenery, mist and mountain reflections around Greymouth, Pancake Rocks and Lake Matheson. Optional glacier activities require separate confirmation.
Wanaka and Queenstown
Explore lakes, mountains and streets from Wanaka to Arrowtown, Queenstown and Glenorchy, working with changing natural light.
The journey in pictures
Photographers linked to this route: Ling Zi →Xavi Zhuang →
Itinerary images · Select a photo to enlarge
PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS
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.
Ling Zi
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 program, the Hangcheng, Xixiang, Yutang and Taoyuan community offices, the Guangming New District Photography Association and the Shenzhen Senior Photographers Association.
THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light
DAY 01Dec 8 · Pacific/AucklandDay 1: December 8, Tuesday, Guangzhou–Christchurch
Meet at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport for travel to New Zealand. Reference services are listed under transport; meeting, departure and local arrival dates await operator confirmation.
Accommodation:in flight
DAY 02Dec 9 · Pacific/AucklandDay 2: December 9, Wednesday, arrive in Christchurch
Normally, customs clearance is completed before 7 in the evening. Take a short rest in Christchurch, then have dinner and check in at the hotel. Rest early to build energy for the relatively intensive photography days ahead.
Accommodation:Christchurch
DAY 03Dec 10 · Pacific/AucklandDay 3: December 10, Thursday, Christchurch–Greymouth
After breakfast, drive to Greymouth, reaching the hotel at approximately 3 in the afternoon. Check in, then drive another 1 hour to the Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park for sunset. This productive photographic location is a famous spot on New Zealand's West Coast. Return to the hotel for a somewhat late dinner after sunset photography. The accommodation is comfortable, with standard rooms for two or three people.
Accommodation:Greymouth
DAY 04Dec 11 · Pacific/AucklandDay 4: Greymouth–glacier lakes–Lake Matheson
Driving over the next two days is relatively short, around 2–3 hours, leaving plenty of time for photography along the way. Visit the national park for sunrise and morning mist, then continue along the West Coast into the glacier area. Some locations require walking closer to the glaciers, with attractive scenery en route. Time is planned for photographing New Zealand glowworms, a distinctive species whose adults resemble large mosquitoes and whose larvae emit blue light from their tails. They can make beautiful time-lapse subjects, although success depends on luck. The hotel area also offers attractive night skies. If glowworm photography is unsuccessful during the day and time permits, visit the lake for night-sky reflections with Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, as the backdrop.
Accommodation:Franz Josef
DAY 05Dec 12 · Pacific/AucklandDay 5: Lake Matheson and glacier lakes
Photograph morning mist at Lake Matheson. Weather permitting, a glacier walk or helicopter flight onto the glacier is recommended. This optional activity is paid separately; confirm the amount before booking. It must be booked early because helicopter places are popular. Around two hours on the clear, ancient ice provide access to views that many visitors cannot photograph. With two days in the glacier-lake area, there are two opportunities to reach the ice. Higher locations reveal translucent and blue glacier ice that cannot be seen by walking only to the glacier's lower end.
Accommodation:Franz Josef
DAY 06Dec 13 · Pacific/AucklandDay 6: Lake Matheson–Wanaka
If possible, anyone who has not reached the glacier may have one final opportunity. Continue photographing dramatic scenery along the West Coast before entering the Lake Wānaka area. Along the way, photograph waterfalls, deep-blue rivers, spring vineyards and the lone willow. Stay at a hotel near the lake. At night, use the lone willow as a foreground for the stars, although surrounding lights make a full Milky Way image less likely.
Accommodation:hotel near Lake Wānaka
DAY 07Dec 14 · Pacific/AucklandDay 7: December 14, Monday, Wānaka–Queenstown
Leave Lake Wānaka via Cardrona and the bra fence, then photograph Arrowtown's old streets and the nearby artists' village. Reach the Queenstown apartment hotel before 5 in the afternoon. Have a mountaintop buffet dinner and photograph sunset over Queenstown. Stay for 2 days; the moon is beginning to wane, making this a favorable period for night-sky photography.
Accommodation:apartment hotel in Queenstown
DAY 08Dec 15 · Pacific/AucklandDay 8: December 15, Tuesday, Queenstown
Head early to the Remarkables for sunrise views over Queenstown and photographs of hot-air balloons rising near Arrowtown. Then travel to Glenorchy, another Lord of the Rings filming location, and photograph native forest. A settlement aptly named Paradise adds to the atmosphere. Like the native forest around Lake Matheson, this is a distinctive photographic setting. Return in the afternoon for Queenstown street photography, then photograph lakeside lupins and a wooden jetty extending into the water in the evening.
Accommodation:apartment hotel in Queenstown
DAY 09Dec 16 · Pacific/AucklandDay 9: Queenstown–Cromwell–Twizel lakes
If the first sunrise was disappointing, take a second opportunity to photograph from the Remarkables. Leave Queenstown and photograph the atmospheric old streets of Cromwell beside the lake. The coming days enter a world of lupins, whose colors complement many different landscapes. Reach Twizel in the evening, where several nights are planned. Its lake district offers varied scenes: dead willows standing in some lakes, mirror-like calm in others. Photography requires driving to a number of locations, too numerous to describe individually here.
Accommodation:Planned stay in the Twizel lake area; final location and hotel await operator confirmation.
DAY 10Dec 17 · Pacific/AucklandDay 10: Twizel lakes
Continue photographing around Twizel, a region rich in mountains and lakes. Staying here for 2 days allows time to capture the golden hour each morning and evening. The pastures are also beautiful, with abundant cattle and sheep and impressive irrigation systems. Favorable weather offers many opportunities to photograph stars above the lakes at night.
Accommodation:Planned stay in the Twizel lake area; final location and hotel await operator confirmation.
DAY 11Dec 18 · Pacific/AucklandDay 11: Twizel–Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Depart Twizel for Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, a principal photography destination on this trip. Options include a boat excursion close to the glacier, with a chance, if lucky, to photograph calving ice and the waves it creates. This is an optional activity; those who have already visited a glacier may prefer to concentrate on Mount Cook. It is also a distinctive New Zealand experience: an iceberg-filled lake among the few glacial lakes open to visitors worldwide. Approach the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's largest, on a specially designed MAC boat with an experienced guide explaining the changing glacial landscape. Icebergs of different sizes regularly break from the glacier's once-imposing face into the rapidly rising lake. Lateral moraines up to 200 meters high recall its former scale. Stay within the national park for close views of sunset on Mount Cook, golden light on the summit, the night sky and sunrise. Expect an intensive photography day with some walking.
Accommodation:A stay inside Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is planned; availability and hotel await operator confirmation.
DAY 12Dec 19 · Pacific/AucklandDay 12: December 19, Saturday, Lake Tekapo–Christchurch
On the final day in New Zealand, try once more for favorable sunrise conditions at Lake Tekapo, including the thin mist rising from its surface. Continue photographing around the lake with the instructor after breakfast, then return to Christchurch by vehicle in the afternoon.
Accommodation:Christchurch
DAY 13Dec 20 · Pacific/AucklandDay 13: December 20, Sunday, Christchurch–Guangzhou
Photograph Christchurch in the morning, then transfer to the airport according to the confirmed flight schedule. See transport for reference services.
DAY 14Dec 21 · Pacific/AucklandDay 14: Arrive in Guangzhou
Arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, concluding the New Zealand photography trip. The final arrival date and time follow the confirmed flight arrangements.
Trip staff
- Photography leader · Xavi Zhuang / Ling Zi
- IncludedDriver-guide services and tips throughout;
- ExcludedHotel porter, restaurant staff and similar tips, paid individually;
Transport
- IncludedTransport: a 12-seat Mercedes-Benz business vehicle throughout;
- ExcludedFlights and taxes between cities in China and New Zealand;
Travel details and reference schedules
Reference flights for the instructor: Outbound: December 8, Guangzhou–Christchurch, CZ617 / 00:50 / 17:20 Return: December 20, Christchurch–Guangzhou, CZ618 / 22:30 / 05:30 +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.
Photography
- Lupins and South Island lakes
- West Coast and glacier lakes
- Wanaka and Queenstown
Photography details
Lupins and South Island lakes Photograph lupins and lake scenery around Tekapo and Twizel, subject to local flowering conditions. West Coast and glacier lakes Photograph coastal scenery, mist and mountain reflections around Greymouth, Pancake Rocks and Lake Matheson. Optional glacier activities require separate confirmation. Wanaka and Queenstown Explore lakes, mountains and streets from Wanaka to Arrowtown, Queenstown and Glenorchy, working with changing natural light. Lupins and South Island lakes West Coast and glacier lakes Wanaka and Queenstown Included · Photography instruction and services throughout;
Accommodation
- 13 nights
- Four-star standard twin rooms are planned; hotels and room types await operator confirmation.
- IncludedStandard twin rooms in four-star hotels throughout;
Accommodation details
Four-star standard twin rooms are planned; hotels and room types await operator confirmation. Day 1: in flight Day 2: Christchurch Day 3: Greymouth Day 4: Franz Josef Day 5: Franz Josef Day 6: hotel near Lake Wānaka Day 7: apartment hotel in Queenstown Day 8: apartment hotel in Queenstown Day 9: Planned stay in the Twizel lake area; final location and hotel await operator confirmation. Day 10: Planned stay in the Twizel lake area; final location and hotel await operator confirmation. Day 11: A stay inside Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is planned; availability and hotel await operator confirmation. Day 12: Christchurch Final hotels and stay arrangements await operator confirmation. Day 1 · 2026-12-08 in flight Day 2 · 2026-12-09 Christchurch Day 3 · 2026-12-10 Greymouth Day 4 · 2026-12-11 Franz Josef Day 5 · 2026-12-12 Franz Josef Day 6 · 2026-12-13 hotel near Lake Wānaka Day 7 · 2026-12-14 apartment hotel in Queenstown Day 8 · 2026-12-15 apartment hotel in Queenstown Day 9 · 2026-12-16 Planned stay in the Twizel lake area; final location and hotel await operator confirmation. Day 10 · 2026-12-17 Planned stay in the Twizel lake area; final location and hotel await operator confirmation. Day 11 · 2026-12-18 A stay inside Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is planned; availability and hotel await operator confirmation. Day 12 · 2026-12-19 Christchurch 13 nights Four-star standard twin rooms are planned; hotels and room types await operator confirmation. Included · Standard twin rooms in four-star hotels throughout; Excluded · Hotel porter, restaurant staff and similar tips, paid individually; Excluded · A single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation.
Meals
- IncludedUnlimited daily drinking water, with no waste permitted.
- ExcludedAll meal expenses, shared among participants;
- ExcludedHotel porter, restaurant staff and similar tips, paid individually;
Visa
- ExcludedNew Zealand visa fees;
A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included
Deposit in the operator’s published information
per personThis amount reflects the payment terms in the operator’s published information. When booking through this platform, follow the payment schedule shown at checkout.
Public prices may change. Checkout quotes expire at a stated time; your confirmed order records its price and payment deadlines.
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;
Insurance: travel-agency liability insurance and group travel accident insurance, with maximum coverage of CNY 300000 per person;
Unlimited 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 based on the actual additional expenditure incurred. We will nevertheless try within our ability to minimise participants' losses;
Tax is excluded; the applicable invoice tax must be paid additionally if an invoice is required.
Single-room supplements, additional local expenses and the final total must be confirmed in writing.
BEFORE YOU GO
What to know before you go
Availability and booking
Let us know if you’re interested in this trip. Availability is not updated in real time, so please contact us to check whether the trip is confirmed, how many places are available, and the final total and booking terms.
Trip information
[Transport] 1. Flights arranged by the organizing team use economy-class group tickets. Before tickets are issued, check the airline's rules for changes and refunds. 2. Flight, road and boat journey times may vary with conditions on the day. 3. The airlines and flight times listed are for guidance only. Flight changes may require minor adjustments to the itinerary. Please follow the final trip details sent before departure. [Accommodation] Accommodation is arranged for two people sharing a room. We'll try to match solo travelers with a roommate of the same gender. If you prefer not to share, or no roommate is available, you must pay a single supplement for your own room. [Group meals] We aim to serve meals suited to Chinese tastes. We make sure everyone has enough to eat. [Photography] 1. Photography sessions follow the itinerary, but conditions on the day may affect how long we spend at each location. 2. Read the itinerary carefully and choose a trip that suits your health and circumstances. Skipping part of the itinerary for health or other personal reasons, or choosing not to use the arranged accommodation or transport, counts as voluntary withdrawal from those arrangements. You are responsible for your own safety while not taking part in the itinerary. 3. Stay with the group during photography sessions unless you have permission to leave. This does not apply during free time. The organizing team is not responsible for accidents that occur while you are away from the group. 4. Typhoons, blizzards or other events beyond our control may require changes to the itinerary. [Fuel surcharges] The organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if fluctuations in global oil markets lead to a substantial rise in fuel surcharges. If the team can absorb the increase, the amount payable will remain unchanged. [Before departure] 1. We'll send your final trip details no later than the day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed sooner, we'll let you know as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the final trip details sent before departure, the final trip details take precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from arranging optional paid activities, please contact the provider directly for details, charges and bookings if you wish to take part. If you need language assistance from a guide or tour leader, any help is provided in a personal capacity, whether paid or unpaid. It is not provided on behalf of the organizing team or the local tour operator. The organizing team is not involved in the payments, transactions or service standards for activities during free time. You are responsible for the outcome of those arrangements.
Travel arrangements to be confirmed
The trip is provisionally scheduled for December 8–21, 2026. Please confirm the meeting date and time, final flights, and accommodation for days 9–11 before booking.
Itinerary notes
Photography locations, accommodations and transportation are subject to final confirmation before departure. Weather and local conditions may affect the itinerary.
Days 9–11 are provisionally planned around Twizel and Aoraki / Mount Cook; daily connections, accommodation and the day 12 route to Lake Tekapo await operator confirmation.
Itinerary dates use Pacific/Auckland. Flight, transfer and other times follow the time zone stated for each location. Please confirm any time without a stated time zone before departure.