TOUR RECAP
Iconic South
(March 2026)
Words by Daniel Murray
Back in February 2019, I had the great fortune to host Michael Shainblum on a road trip around the South Island, as part of a commercial shoot he was undertaking in New Zealand. Over the course of 2 weeks we became great friends, and covered a lot of miles in a campervan together, taking in many iconic landscape photography locations across Fiordland, Aoraki/Mt Cook, and the West Coast. Michael was absolutely wowed by our scenery, as well as our laidback culture and lifestyle (not to mention our food!), and vowed he’d return one day.
A few years later, when I was setting up Epic South, one of my very first thoughts was to ask Michael back and see if he wanted to run a South Island photography tour together. I messaged him on Instagram with some basic details, promising more info if he were at all interested. Evidently he didn’t need that further info, with his reply arriving almost instantly: “Of course, sign me up!!”.
Fast forward to 19th March 2026 and our “Iconic South” tour got underway in Queenstown. Over the course of 11 days we revisited many of the locations we captured in 2019, including many of the spots around Aoraki/Mt Cook and Milford Sound. We also embarked on an overnight adventure into Doubtful Sound, a new experience for Michael, and one which floored him and our guests with its breathtaking scenery and solitude. Among many other highlights, we also got in the air a couple of times: a charter flight over Aoraki/Mt Cook and another over Fiordland National Park.
One of our guests, Nick Hilton, summarises the Iconic South tour as follows:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This photography trip to New Zealand’s South Island was excellent from start to finish. The planning was top-notch, seamlessly guiding us to beautiful locations while providing great accommodations and food throughout the journey. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions. We had the best weather—even at Milford Sound, where we got just the right amount of rain to witness hundreds of waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. Highlights of the trip included: * A lucky encounter with wild Kea parrots at Mt Cook. * Aerial flights over the mountain ranges. * Awesome boat cruises exploring Fiordland.
What really set this tour apart were the leaders. They were adaptable, ensuring we were always at the right spots for the given weather and lighting. Beyond helping us get the best shot in the field, they took the time to host dedicated post-processing sessions and image critiques, providing valuable feedback that genuinely improved my photography skills. Truly an iconic and epic New Zealand trip!
After the tour, Michael and I then spent another week on the road, capturing some some hidden gems and other “off the beaten track” locations.
For your viewing pleasure, below are some amazing videos Michael has compiled during his time in New Zealand, including footage captured during the Epic South tour.
