South Island NZ S M EXPEDITION AUGUST 2026

Key details and inclusions

Dates: 23rd August to 2nd September 2026
Duration: 11 days
Guides/Tutors: Maurice Oketch & Daniel Murray
Max. participants: 10
Starts: Queenstown, New Zealand
Finishes: Queenstown, New Zealand

Join Maurice Oketch and Daniel Murray for a bucket-list photography trip to the South Island of New Zealand!

From the towering ice-capped peaks of Aoraki – Mt Cook National Park in the north, to the rainforest and mist-shrouded valleys of Fiordland National Park in the south, this tour visits a smorgasbord of the South Island’s most epic photography locations.

Included in this tour is a scenic flight over the Southern Alps, a nature cruise in Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, and an incredible overnight boat cruise exploring Doubtful Sound / Patea. All accommodation, all breakfasts, and most dinners are included.

Scenic flight over Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park
Nature cruise in Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
(Credit: RealNZ)
Overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound / Patea
(Credit: RealNZ)
12 nights accommodation, all breakfasts, and most dinners included
(Credit: Milford Sound Lodge)

Are you ready to capture epic images like this?!

Your tour guides & tutors

Maurice Oketch

True Bespoke travel is not just about where you go — it’s about how you feel while you’re there. It’s the quiet elegance of knowing every detail has been anticipated. The thrill of stepping into a world few have seen. The privilege of experiencing it all… effortlessly.

For nearly two decades, I have been crafting bespoke journeys for discerning photographers and travelers who value authenticity as much as refinement. As a professional photographer and bespoke travel curator, I blend an artist’s eye with an insider’s access, creating itineraries that are as seamless as they are unforgettable.

My deep-rooted connections across Africa, Europe, Asia and beyond opens doors to the extraordinary: a sunrise game drive where the savannah awakens just for you, a private villa overlooking turquoise waters, a candlelit dinner under the stars with a view no one else can claim. Every journey is meticulously designed — every moment, a masterpiece.

This is travel tailored exclusively for you — immersive, transformative, and utterly personal. Because your journey should be as exceptional as the story you wish to tell. Travel – Experiences That Change How We See The World.

How will you tell yours?

Daniel Murray

Living in New Zealand is a true privilege. Although there are many beautiful places around the world, there’s something very special about my little corner of the planet. We have almost every type of landscape you could possibly imagine, all tucked into a space encompassing less than 0.2% of the Earth’s land area.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with wild places and epic scenery. Capturing and sharing the beauty of the world constantly motivates and inspires.

Ten years ago, I decided I wanted to share this love with others, and my workshop and tour business began. I’ve since led over 20 photography workshops and tours around the South Island, with the thrill of showing others my beautiful country never waning.

When not juggling family life and my photography business, I can be found in the Southern Alps of New Zealand with a hiking pack on my back.

Itinerary

This tour is focussed on landscape photography so we’ll always be out chasing the best light and conditions. The itinerary below gives a solid indication of our plans, but if the weather or light is better elsewhere, or other circumstances beyond our control apply, locations or activities may change.

All accommodation on this tour is single occupancy, except for Day 10, where you’ll share a cabin (separate beds) with a fellow participant on the boat in Doubtful Sound / Patea. Please see the FAQ below for further information.

Arrival (Saturday 22 August 2026)

Arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital. Maurice or Daniel will welcome you at the airport and drive you to your hotel (accommodation and transfer included in tour package).

Accommodation and hotel transfer included

Day 1 (Sunday 23 August 2026)

We meet in our hotel restaurant at around 9am for introductions and a delicious breakfast. Then, the adventure begins! We load into our group bus and make our way north to Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park, with a couple of scenic stops along the way (drive time from Queenstown to Aoraki-Mt Cook is 3.5 hours). After checking in to our hotel (our home for the next 3 nights) we head out for our first photography shoot, then it’s back to the hotel for dinner.

Breakfast, dinner, and accommodation included

Day 2 (Monday 24 August 2026)

It’s an early start to capture sunrise at one of Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park’s most beautiful gems: Tasman Lake (1-hour walk return). Afterwards we return to our hotel for a scrumptious buffet breakfast and a well deserved rest. In the afternoon we explore another local icon, the Hooker Valley (up to 3-hour walk return, depending on track status). Both walks are on easy-graded tracks (winter conditions can be expected).

Breakfast, dinner, and accommodation included

Day 3 (Tuesday 25 August 2026)

It’s all aboard the bus for a 30-minute drive to our sunrise location, Peter’s Lookout, with its spectacular views over Lake Pukaki back to Aoraki-Mt Cook. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we’re back on the bus and driving to the idyllic town of Tekapo and the famous Church of the Good Shepherd (3 hours return drive time). Towards sunset, we embark on a spectacular scenic flight (approx. 60 minutes duration) over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris.

Breakfast, dinner, accommodation, and 60-minute (approx.) scenic flight included

Day 4 (Wednesday 26 August 2026)

One more spectacular sunrise in Aoraki-Mt Cook, then we’re on the road to Wānaka (2.5 hours drive time). After checking into our hotel we’re off on a short walk (15 minutes) to the infamous “That Wanaka Tree”, a stunning willow tree growing on the shore of Lake Wānaka. Dinner is back at our hotel.

Breakfast, dinner, and accommodation included

Day 5 (Thursday 27 August 2026)

We return to the Lake Wānaka foreshore for sunrise; it’s always incredible seeing the same location under different light and conditions. After checking out from our hotel, we board the bus and take a leisurely 1-hour drive back to Queenstown. We travel via the Crown Range (the highest main road in NZ) and have a lunch stop at the quaint village of Arrowtown. After settling into our hotel, and a sunset shoot at a local location, you’re free to wander around Queenstown and select from the myriad culinary delights on offer (dinner not included in package).

Breakfast and accommodation included

Day 6 (Friday 28 August 2026)

A full rest day in Queenstown. This is a chance to relax and explore the delights of New Zealand’s premiere visitor location. Breakfast at the hotel is included, but  any activities and dinner on the rest day are not included in the tour package (but we’re very happy to assist you with the many options).

Breakfast and accommodation included

Day 7 (Saturday 29 August 2026)

A short drive (25 minutes) on the bus takes us to the beautiful Moke Lake for sunrise. Nestled in a classic NZ rural landscape, it often has stunning mirror reflections of the surrounds. After returning to our hotel in Queenstown for breakfast, we’re off on a scenic drive (50 minutes) to Glenorchy with it’s iconic red shed and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. After sunset we return to Queenstown for dinner (as with the last couple of nights, your meal is at a restaurant of your choice).

Breakfast and accommodation included

Day 8 (Sunday 30 August 2026)

After sunrise at a local spot and then checking out of our hotel, we’re on the road to perhaps New Zealand’s greatest jewel: Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. It’s a 4-hour drive, but being one of the most scenic roads in the world there’ll be plenty of opportunities to stop and capture the scenery along the way. On arrival we’ll check into our luxury accommodation among the rainforest of Fiordland National Park, and then it’s a short 5-minute drive to the iconic view of Mitre Peak for our sunrise shoot (involving a 15-minute return walk along the foreshore). A delicious dinner at our hotel then awaits.

Breakfast, dinner, and accommodation included

Day 9 (Monday 31 August 2026)

A full day spent soaking up the extraordinary beauty of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. We return to the foreshore for sunrise, and then after breakfast, we board a boat for a 2-hour nature cruise exploring the sheer walls, waterfalls, and wildlife of the fiord. Fingers crossed for dolphins and penguins! Another round of photography at sunset, before returning to our hotel for another incredible meal.

Breakfast, dinner, accommodation, and 2-hour boat cruise included

Day 10 (Tuesday 1 September 2026)

Our penultimate day, surely the tour can’t be nearly over already?! Fortunately, we’ve saved the best for last. After checking out of Milford Sound we’re on the road to Manapouri (2-hour drive), where we begin the adventure to the mesmerising and remote Doubtful Sound / Patea with Real NZ. This place has to be seen to be believed. This is an all-inclusive experience covering transport, overnight accommodation on a boat, and dinner and breakfast.

Breakfast, dinner, accommodation, and overnight Doubtful Sound cruise experience included

Day 11 (Wednesday 2 September 2026)

Our final day. We wake up on a boat in a tranquil fiord, and by around 4pm, we’ll be back in Queenstown (it’s a 2.5 hour drive on our bus from Manapouri to Queenstown). After checking into our hotel we head out for a final dinner together, and then, bid a fond farewell to new friends.

Breakfast, dinner, and accommodation included

The tour vibe

This trip is all about maximising our time in the field, and being at the right places at the right times, to capture outstanding portfolio-worthy images. Maurice and Daniel will be continuously available to assist you with any technical questions and composition guidance, and will happily share their methods and secrets with you.

We spend most of our time on this trip out chasing the light. There are no formal classroom sessions, however, if the weather is so terrible that we can’t get out and shoot (a rare occurrence!), we’ll most certainly make use of those indoor periods to spend some time behind our laptops and do some post-processing.

Outside the shooting sessions, we try to set a relaxed pace. It’s important to us that everyone enjoys themselves and energy and fun levels are kept high throughout the trip.

It’s also important to us, beyond the photography, that you have the best possible time making new friends with your fellow photographers and experiencing other delights New Zealand has to offer. We make plenty of time for good food and fun times!

A TYPICAL DAY

Every day is different; this just gives an indication of what to expect

6.00am   Meet in the lobby then all aboard the bus

6.15am   Walk to our sunrise location

6.30am   Explore and begin shooting

7.30am    Sunrise

8.15am   Wrap up the shoot, walk back to the bus

9.00am   Breakfast at the hotel (then, if applicable, check out)

During the daylight hours, depending on the day, we could be out shooting, on the bus between destinations, or just chilling out.

4.45pm   On the bus to our sunset location

5.00pm   Walk to our sunset location

5.15pm   Explore and begin shooting

6.10pm   Sunset

7.00pm   Wrap up the shoot, walk back to the bus

7.30pm   Back at the hotel for dinner

Inclusions and exclusions

Inclusions

  • 12 nights accommodation (nights of 22nd August to 2nd September 2026):
    • Arrival Day, Days 1-9, and Day 11 on a sole occupancy basis
    • Day 10 (Doubtful Sound) on a double occupancy basis
  • Breakfasts throughout the tour (Days 1-11)
  • Dinners on Days 1-4 and Days 8-11
  • Ground transportation throughout the tour
  • A 60-minute (approximately) scenic flight over Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park
  • A 2-hour boat cruise on Milford Sound.
  • National park entry permit (concession) and activity fees.
  • Amazing images and fun times!

Exclusions

  • International travel to NZ
  • Domestic travel in NZ before and after tour
  • Personal insurance (travel, medical, etc)
  • Items of a personal nature (e.g. souvenirs)
  • Activities on the rest day (Day 6)
  • Dinners on Days 5-7
  • Lunches, snacks, and drinks (including alcohol)
Milford Sound nature cruise
Scenic flight over Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park
Doubtful Sound overnight cruise

Frequently asked questions

Who is this tour for?

New Zealand is a photographer’s paradise. A huge diversity of landscapes (in a relatively compact area) coupled with dynamic light and weather means no two moments are ever the same. If you love the thrill and pursuit of epic images, but can roll with the punches when things don’t quite go to plan, then this adventure is for you.

Being a group trip, you’ll be spending a lot of time with like-minded people, but who will come with different backgrounds and varying experience levels. New life-time friends are often made on these trips. Patience and kindness go a long way to maintaining group happiness and morale.

What level of photography experience is required?

All experience levels are catered for. Given the dynamic light and conditions described above, having a good understanding of the basic functions and settings of your camera, as well as exposure and composition, will certainly help you when it comes to capturing those epic moments.

How does the accommodation work ?

We stay at quality accommodation throughout the tour. You will have your own room for the duration, except for Day 10, where you’ll share a cabin (separate beds) with a fellow participant on the boat in Doubtful Sound; we aim to pair you up with someone of the same gender and similar age, but can’t guarantee this depending on the final mix of participants.

Meals and food?

All breakfasts on the tour (x11) are included. These are buffet style with both continental and cooked options available.

Lunches aren’t included in the package but we’ll always be close to cafes, bakeries, and supermarkets. That said, we often find the all-you-can-eat breakfasts are sufficient for most people to skip lunch and survive on snacks through to dinner.

x8 dinners on the tour are included (Days 1-4 and Days 8-11), generally held at our hotel (or nearby). Depending on the location they’re either à la carte or buffet. When we’re staying in Queenstown during the middle of the trip (Days 5-7), dinners are on a ‘on your own’ and at your own cost basis; you’re free to choose from the many, many incredible options available in Queenstown.

And transporation?

Transportation during the tour (starting and ending in Queenstown) will be in a super comfortable Mercedes Sprinter van capable of holding the entire group plus our luggage and photography gear. You are able to bring one large suitcase plus your day pack with camera gear.

Daniel will be your driver; he is transport licenced and passenger endorsed, and has over 30 years driving experience on New Zealand roads.

What level of fitness and mobility do I need?

This tour requires good mobility, a medium level of fitness, and some hiking experience. Although the majority of this tour is on formed paths and tracks, uneven terrain (e.g. boulders) and coastal/river margins will be encountered from time to time.

Generally the locations on this tour are close to roads / parking areas and involve walks of no more than 10-15 minutes. There are a couple of walks we’ll do in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park which require more effort – the Hooker Valley being the longest at approx. 3 hours (10 km) return. There’s always the option of skipping these walks if you don’t feel up to it, which we can work through at the time.

When shooting out on location, all participants are expected to carry their own camera, personal gear, snacks, and water.

What sort of weather should we expect?

This tour is timed for late Winter and heading into early Spring. Days and nights will generally be cool. That said, New Zealand is known for it’s highly variable weather (that’s also why the photography is so good!), so be prepared for almost anything (see further information on clothing below).

Average temperatures in Queenstown in late August range between 3°C lows and 13°C highs (46°F and 55°F). In Aoraki-Mt Cook and Fiordland National Parks it’s likely to tend slightly colder.

Which camera gear should I bring?

As your luggage allowance allows, bring all your camera gear. You can then pick and choose which gear you’ll bring to each shoot.

Ideally (but by no means mandatory), you would have the ‘holy trinity’ of lenses to cover the range between ultra-wide (e.g. 16-35mm), mid-range (e.g. 24-70mm) and short telephoto (e.g. 70-200mm). A 100-400mm could come in handy in some situations, but you probably wouldn’t use it that often. If you were in the situation where could bring just one lens, we’d suggest going with the mid-range option.

A sturdy tripod is a necessity and filters (neutral density and polarising) will very likely be useful. For wet conditions, a rocket blower and shammy cloth is helpful. For our charter scenic flights, a rubber lens hood will assist with minimising reflections (and avoid scratching the windows). And of course, bring those spare batteries and memory cards.

Can I bring my drone?

Unfortunately, no. Most of the places we visit on this tour are in national parks and the conservation estate, where flying a drone is either prohibited or requires a permit (which can be time-consuming and difficult to obtain).

Clothing and personal items?

As above, New Zealand is well known for its ‘four seasons in one day’ weather. That means you need to be prepared for variable conditions; having multiple layers available is the most effective way of addressing this. At minimum you’ll need:

  • a windproof rain jacket and overpants
  • a warm / insulated jacket
  • warm hat and gloves
  • top and bottom base layers (preferably non-cotton, such as merino wool)
  • sun hat and sun screen
  • flashlight / headlamp

Secure your place

If you’d  like to secure your spot on this trip, or have any further questions, please contact Maurice via the link/button below.