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A century ago, Rudyard Kipling found “the eighth wonder of the world” in New Zealand. James Michener called these islands “probably the most beautiful place on earth.” Isolated by vast southern seas for more than 70 million years, the archipelago has evolved a unique flora and fauna surviving long after their progenitors disappeared from the rest of the world.
Roughly the size of California, New Zealand compresses a continent's worth of diverse scenery in a very tiny landmass. Here is a land of majestic snowcapped peaks, deep fjords and unexplored rain forests. Long, deserted beaches, surf-pounded seascapes, flowering alpine meadows, ancient forests and crystalline glaciers are interwoven in a tapestry of extraordinary natural beauty.
Our group of 20 participants will explore the very best of New Zealand as we fly in style and total comfort aboard a fully refurbished, private Douglas DC-3 aircraft and a Convair CV-580. The DC-3 was chartered by film director Peter Jackson to transport his cast and crew during the filming of his trilogy—The Lord of the Rings. We will be photographing amidst some of the same spectacular locations that were used during the filming of these epic movies. We’ll land at small high-country airstrips, allowing us to visit some of the country’s most remote and breathtaking locales. Because we control the aircraft’s flight plan, we are able to fly at low altitudes for amazing “flightseeing” as we travel between shoots. During our trip there will be no baggage screening, no X-ray machines nor weight restrictions on camera bags that often plague travelers during scheduled in-country flights.
This tour includes exploration of five of New Zealand's most extraordinary national parks. Incorporated in our travels will be a spectacular flight among the Southern Alps, landing on mountaintops in helicopters and on glaciers in small ski-equipped planes. We travel across the Southern Alps following the west coast. We explore verdant rain forests with immense tree ferns and rare, secretive forest-nesting penguins! The jagged mountains and wild, untamed coastline will offer hours of exciting photography with a great variety of lighting situations. We’ll visit a remarkable gannet colony on the rugged coast of the North Island. This trip will include many pleasant surprises!
Join Wayne Lynch with Aubrey Lang at one of the world's great destinations for photography. Here during the spring "Down Under" we will experience pleasant temperatures, fresh seafood and outstanding accommodations with the influence of European tradition and an underlying Polynesian graciousness of the native Maori culture.
Days 1–2
Depart from home, crossing the International Date Line.
Day 3
Arrive in Christchurch and settle into our hotel overlooking the Avon River and Hagley Park. Take a private tour of the botanic gardens and ride a private city tram to the Christchurch Cathedral. Dinner and orientation with our flight crew. (LD)
Day 4
Board our private DC-3 at Wigram Airbase. Fly over the spectacular Rangitata Gorge before landing at Mesopotamia High Country Sheep Station. Travel by helicopter into the Southern Alps for incredible mountain scenery. Continue to Mount Cook National Park late in the day. (BLD)
Day 5
Board ski planes at sunrise for an amazing flight to the Tasman Glacier at 7,000 feet on the slopes of Mount Cook. Explore the national park by motor coach, shoot panoramic views of mountains and glaciers. (BLD)
Day 6
Depart Mount Cook and fly to Manapouri for a short overland crossing to Doubtful Sound, where we board the Fiordland Navigator for a photogenic cruise on this spectacular waterway. We spend the night in Te Anau. (BLD)
Day 7
Return today to Manapouri and fly to Queenstown to begin our journey through Haast Pass in Mt. Aspiring National Park. We’ll stop at Thunder Falls, Blue Pools and the Gates of Haast. (BLD)
Day 8
Hike through moss-draped rain forest to photograph immense tree ferns and visit Munro Beach where rare Fiordland crested penguins can be photographed at this time of year. (BLD)
Day 9
Drive north along the wild coastline, through Westland National Park, stopping at Franz Josef in late afternoon. (BLD)
Day 10
Continue north along the coast to the Punakaiki Rocks, remarkable weathered limestone stacks which we will photograph at sunset. (BLD)
Day 11
We fly today to Napier, on the North Island. Explore Napier’s art deco city center. (BLD)
Day 12
We start early for our day-long visit to Cape Kidnapper and its spectacular gannet colony. (BLD)
Day 13
Fly north along the Coromandel Peninsula to Auckland. Evening dinner cruise beside the city’s beckoning lights and sparkling harbor. (BLD)
Day 14
Enjoy a morning on Auckland’s waterfront, including a visit to the fascinating Maritime Museum. Depart this evening for home. (BL)
About Our Aircraft
Our classic planes (Douglas DC-3 and Convair CV-580) have been fully refurbished both mechanically and cosmetically, and are perfect for traveling over New Zealand’s spectacular landscape and delivering us to many areas not reachable by commercial aircraft. These are “champagne flights” all the way—reflecting the Golden Era of travel when flying was both convenient and elegant. The cabins are heated and equipped with new sanitary facilities, a galley at the rear of the cabin, high ceilings, reading lights and a public address system. The crew consists of a Captain, First Officer, Flight Attendant and a Tour Director. We‘ll use the DC-3 for short hops and the long-haul Convair for our crossing between the islands.
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