Glaciers and Fiords
(October 2025)

It was always going to be difficult to beat the fabulous light and conditions of 2024’s Glaciers and Fiords tour, but 2025 certainly gave it a good run for it’s money!

As we headed into Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park on the very first day of the tour, the weather forecast was ominous: a red warning with thunderstorms, 250mm of rain, and 150km/hour winds expected. Over the next couple of days that forecast played out accurately, but in spite of the inclement conditions, we were still able to get out and about. Bad weather doesn’t necessarily mean cancelling photography; it can often produce the most stunning imagery!

However, the weather proved a little bit too much for our scheduled charter flight over the Southern Alps to proceed. But – silver linings – once we got to Queenstown a few days later, we were able to get in the air and fly back towards Aoraki / Mt Cook. And now the entire landscape was coated with snow, making for some truly remarkable scenes. Shortly after, we were on our second charter flight over Fiordland National Park, where again the fresh coating of snow made for some incredible aerial photography.

Our dance with the weather continued for much of the rest of the trip. It made for a few challenges, but was also a helluva lot of fun. And importantly, it presented some great opportunities for photography. The conditions continuously reminded us all what landscape photography is all about: the love and thrill of the chase!