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South Island

Start: Queenstown
Duration: 1 day
Travel Time: 9 hours

The Follow the Gold Photography Tour is a private 9-hour photography experience from Queenstown, travelling through the rugged landscapes and historic gold-mining country of Central Otago. Photograph remote valleys, heritage buildings and mountain vistas while receiving personalised guidance on composition, exposure and creative photography from an experienced local photographer.

Photograph Central Otago's Landscapes & Gold Rush Heritage

Travel east from Queenstown into Central Otago, where historic gold-mining settlements, rocky hills and remote valleys provide a very different photography experience from the lakes and mountains around Queenstown.

Your tour is flexible, with locations chosen according to your photography interests, weather and available light. Your guide provides advice on composition, exposure and finding stronger photographs throughout the day.

Tour Highlights

  • Private 9-hour photography tour
  • Central Otago landscapes and gold-mining heritage
  • Historic buildings and settlements
  • Remote back roads and less-visited locations
  • Mountain and valley photography
  • Personalised photography tuition
  • Flexible itinerary based on light and weather
  • Queenstown accommodation pickup and drop-off
  • Experienced local photography guide
  • Photography tuition
  • AWD transport
  • Queenstown accommodation pickup and drop-off
  • Tea, coffee, bottled water and biscuits
  • Tripods available

Our founder, Martin Kohn, is an experienced artist and graphic designer who developed a deep passion for landscape photography after arriving in Queenstown. With his keen eye for design and love for exploration, Martin knows exactly where and how to capture stunning images of Queenstown’s mountains, lakes, rivers, and forests. He also has insider knowledge of hidden, off-the-beaten-path locations that only a local would know.

After pickup in Queenstown, discuss your photography goals with your guide before heading east into Central Otago. Your day could focus on historic gold-mining buildings, rugged landscapes, elevated vistas, natural details or a combination of subjects.

The route isn't fixed. Your guide uses local knowledge along with the day's weather and light to choose suitable photography locations, including back roads and less-visited parts of the region.

There will be a stop in a local village where you can purchase lunch before continuing your photography through the afternoon and returning to Queenstown.

  • More than 14 days before departure: Full refund**.
  • Less than14 days and more than 48 hours before departure: 70% refund**
  • Within 48 hours: No refund

Note: **Any refund approved under our terms and conditions will be subject to a 5% admin & processing fee, which will be deducted from the refund amount. Please see more information on refunds and cancellations in Go New Zealand's terms and conditions.

Frequently asked questions

No. The operator caters for different photography experience levels and camera types. Beginners can receive help with camera settings and photography fundamentals, while experienced photographers can concentrate more on locations, composition and their own creative objectives.

Possible subjects include historic gold-mining buildings and settlements, mountain and valley vistas, rocky landscapes and details in the natural environment. The exact locations aren't fixed and can change according to your interests and conditions.

Any camera with manual controls for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO will work—DSLRs, mirrorless, and many bridge cameras are ideal.

For more versatility, bring additional lenses like a wide-angle for landscapes or a zoom for distant details. Polarizing or ND filters can enhance your shots.

We provide tripods, but feel free to bring your own. Spare memory cards are available for purchase, and don’t forget a fully charged battery plus a backup!

Absolutely! If you're new to your camera, our workshops are a great way to get started. While it's helpful to know the basics, bringing your user manual is recommended since every model differs.

No matter your camera, the fundamentals remain the same. We'll focus on composition, creative techniques, and key settings like aperture and shutter speed to enhance your shots.

For advanced photographers, we’ll guide you to stunning locations where you can fully explore your creativity and capture unforgettable images.

Half-day tours stay within an hour’s drive of Queenstown, typically reaching nearby villages. The distance covered depends on whether you prefer visiting multiple locations or focusing on creative shots at fewer spots.

Full-day tours venture further, exploring unique environments beyond Queenstown. More ground can be covered with frequent stops, or we can take our time to craft truly unique images.

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