Volcanic North Island Photo Tour

Duration: 7 days

Location: Bay of Plenty, Tongariro, Taranaki

Price: $4,990 (NZD)

19th - 25th November 2020

Join Ken Wright and Shaun Barnett on this seven-day, round-trip photography tour from Auckland. Take in many of the most magnificent volcanic landscapes of New Zealand, including the World Heritage Tongariro National Park and Mt Taranaki⁠⁠—arguably the country’s most shapely mountain⁠—before looping back around to Auckland.

Taking the time to fully explore these wonders should not be underestimated, as their aura can inspire some amazing photography. Whilst exploring, you shall also view stunning lakes, spectacular waterfalls, mysterious boulders, and pools of bubbling mud, with geysers to boot; an experience one could only have in New Zealand.

HIGHLIGHTS

NZ’s four largest volcanoes
Amazing waterfalls & dramatic coastline
4WD trip across private farmland

Auckland - Auckland

Rotorua Geothermal Area
Tongariro National Park
Mt Taranaki and Taranaki coastline

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Auckland - Rotorua
After early airport and city hotel pickups, we depart Auckland for Rotorua, passing through the lush, rolling farmland of the Waikato en route. Rotorua marks the edge of the land of volcanoes. A hub for geothermal activity in New Zealand, the city features hot springs, waterfalls, bubbling pools of mud, and impressive hues from acids boiling beneath the earth. It is a land of mysteries; a photographer’s dream.
Day 2 - Rotorua
Today we explore the Rotorua area, capturing a hidden hot water waterfall that is often missed by many. Later today, we travel further afield⁠—deep into the forest⁠—to experience the Bay’s most majestic waterfall, 65m tall in full flood. This location is simply breathtaking; and if we like, we can go above the cliff line to photograph another hidden fall. After dinner, we will end our day with a long-exposure session at one of the many jetties along Lake Tarawera.
Day 3 - Rotorua - Tongariro
This morning, we head out to photograph a geothermal reserve close to Rotorua before moving on to Taupo, visiting Huka Falls en route. Although not particularly high, these falls are one of the most voluminous in New Zealand: here, the entire Waikato River (New Zealand’s longest river) plunges over an ignimbrite cliff. After we’ve had our fill of the falls, we journey south, past Lake Taupo. This is both New Zealand’s largest lake and the site of the country’s greatest-ever recorded eruption (186AD): an event noted by both the Chinese and the Romans. We spend the evening photographing the sunset over Mt Ruapehu⁠—at 2797m, this is the highest mountain in the North Island, and the country’s loftiest volcano.
Day 4 - Tongariro
Active volcanoes Mt Tongariro and Ngauruhoe offer striking subjects for a sunrise shoot; Ngauruhoe, in particular, bears the distinctive “classic” volcano shape. Today, we explore a number of the area’s stunning waterfalls, staying again within Tongariro National park for another chance of a sunset over the mountains.
Day 5 - Tongariro - Taranaki
We pass through several small towns today, pausing to capture the landscapes of the Rangitikei Gorge en route to Taranaki. Flowing from the Kaimanawa Ranges, this important river carves its way through pale cliffs made of papa, a type of mudstone that creates impressive features. During the afternoon, we take a 4WD trip across private farmland to visit a set of unusual round boulders in a forest. We arrive in Taranaki in time to photograph the sun setting over a dramatic coastline—a scene including volcanoes that have eroded into offshore islands.
Day 6 - Taranaki
If any New Zealand volcano has the perfect shape, it is Mt Taranaki⁠—which, at 2518m, is the second-highest peak in the North Island. This volcano forms the centrepiece of Egmont National Park, one of the country’s oldest national parks. Wonderfully stunted forest and shapely waterfalls flowing over old lava escarpments offer excellent photography opportunities. This afternoon, we can journey further south⁠—to the North Island’s western-most point at Cape Egmont, well known for its iconic lighthouse⁠—or north, to capture dramatic black sand beaches.
Day 7 - Taranaki - Auckland
Today we start the return trek toward Auckland. We head back through the Waikato via Raglan, where we shall stop by Bridal Veil Falls⁠—the highest waterfall in the North Island. In the afternoon, we drive back to Auckland to meet with late flights connecting to main centres.

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PRICE INCLUDES

7 days’ photography guiding by Ken Wright & Shaun Barnett
6 nights’ hotel accommodation (twin-share, single upgrade available) mostly 4✩
6 breakfasts
Entry to Rotorua Geothermal Reserve
4WD trip across private farmland
Transport during the tour
DOC (National Park) concession fees
Copy of our Pocket Guide to Landscape & Wildlife Photography
Donation to our Conservation Fund
Native tree planting to Carbon Offset your tour

FURTHER INFORMATION

Class Size
This tour runs with a maximum group size of 8 and 2 tutors, offering 1:4 ratio of tutors to guests. Limiting group sizes ensure we provide you with expert guidance, instruction, and personal attention according to your learning style. Smaller groups of up to 4 may only be led by one tutor.
Itinerary
Our exact schedule each day will be determined according to the weather to allow for the best shooting, we may choose to swap out locations for other that are better suited to the conditions and we keep a flexible itinerary to accommodate this. We focus on spending as much time as possible out shooting, often from before dawn until sunset. During the tour, we will make time for some image review and processing session, we will fit these around times that are not optimum for shooting.
Transport
Auckland pick up & drop off: We will pick you up early (approx 7-8 am) from any central hotel in Auckland, or Auckland Airport on the first day and provide transport to the whole tour. The tour will finish at Auckland Airport (or hotel drop off) at 5 pm to meet flights after 6 pm to the main cities.
Accommodation & Food
Accommodation Type: Our tours use a standard of 4-4+ star hotel/lodge accommodation and we try where possible to stay 2 nights at each hotel. We sometimes will book a 1-night stay at a 3-star motel to be close to a place where we are shooting for sunrise/sunset at a location that does not have any other options.
Single Room Upgrades: All our tour prices are based on twin/double share rooms. If you are travelling alone you can book a single room upgrade for $600 or we can try and pair you with another traveller for all/part of the tour. If we can not pair you with another traveller for all/part of the tour you may need to pay for a single room upgrade.
Food: The price tour includes breakfast each morning, this is normally at the hotel but sometimes a local cafe. Lunches and dinner (apart from any listed as being included) are at your own expense. We will stop at a cafe/shop for lunch and book a table for the group for dinner each day at a local restaurant. Sometimes evening meal times might be early/late to fit around the time of sunset. New Zealand had great food and caters well for any preferences like allergies, vegetarian etc.
Physical Difficulty
A minimum level of physical activity is necessary to enjoy this tour. All locations we shoot will be within a short walk along the forest tracks or the coastline. These are sometimes uphill, over uneven ground, or rocky beaches and you will be carrying your own equipment. On this tour, there may be a couple of longer walk options (30-45 min one way) but if these are difficult for the group, we do have the option to split the group at these locations. If your fitness or mobility is an issue please let us know.
Experience
Ideally, you will have a basic knowledge of photography and be comfortable adjusting camera settings such as aperture and shutter speed. An aim of this tour is to get you to the best locations, in the best light. While providing you on-location help from our experienced tutors, to come away with the hero shots of your own personal vision. We will have a brief session at the start of the tour, covering camera settings and controls, to be sure everyone is up to speed.
Equipment
Camera Equipment: Our tours focus on how to use your camera, not your type of camera. A basic list of recommended camera equipment can be found here
Clothing: A list of recommended clothing to bing on the tour can be found here
Booking & Payment
A non-refundable deposit of NZD$700.00 is required to reserve your space for the workshop. The remaining balance is due 45 days prior to the start of the workshop. You may pay in full at time of booking, the balance (minus the deposit) will remain fully refundable until 45 days before the workshop.
Booking and Cancellation Policy: Please click here for our booking and cancellation policy.