Photography Tours around New Zealand

New Zealand photo tours for small groups and solo travellers

+ Tailor-made Tours
+ Suggested Itineraries
+ Day Tours

Welcome to Travelling Light Photography's New Zealand photography tours website. Travelling Light Photography specialises in New Zealand guided photography holiday tours with professional photographer Marcus Adams.

Details of Marcus' professional work can be found here.

Our carbon-neutral photography holidays are tailor-made with you in mind and are focused on maximising the time you spend photographing the subjects and locations that most interest you. You can choose to photograph the North Island, the South Island - or both.

Accommodation and travel are chosen to suit your needs and you can incorporate many other things into your trip to New Zealand e.g. helicopter access to inaccessible shoot locations, culinary experiences, vineyard and olive grove visits, whale watching, skiing, fishing and hunting etc.

Travelling around NZ is usually a combination of internal flights and vehicle, depending on your preferences and other factors such as available tour time, budget, number of travellers etc. We use either our own 4x4 or hire vehicles locally. We do the driving - so you don't have to. You can then feel free to relax and enjoy your holiday, the scenery and your journey to the next photographic opportunity.

Marcus is a professional photographer and an International Federation of Journalists accredited photojournalist. He specialises in nature, wildlife and documentary-style photography. He will be your personal tour guide and will look after you whilst you are on your photo tour. His clients include the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association and Spanish picture agency Astufoto.

Wendy is the tour director. She has a background in corporate hospitality and customer service and deals with all of our tour organisational issues. Wendy remains back at base to deal with our tour logistics.

Non-photographers are equally well catered for. Wendy is on hand to create an itinerary for partners/friends who prefer to occupy themselves in a different way (e.g. wine tasting, sightseeing, art trails, bush walking, body treatments, tennis, golf, shopping etc.). We can also arrange other activities such as sightseeing trips, skiing, diving, hunting and trout/sea fishing. Contact us to discuss your requirements and we will do our best to assist.

TLP is owned and operated by Marcus and Wendy and is based in Martinborough, South Wairarapa - a region on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail - and internationally acclaimed for its Pinot Noir (Bordeaux style) wine. Martinborough is on the North Island and around one hour's drive from New Zealand's capital city, Wellington.


 Beat the GSt increase - book now!

 It was announced on 20 May 2010 that New Zealand GST (Goods & Services Tax - similar to VAT) will be increased from the current 12.5% to 15% on October 1st.

Although we are still waiting for full details of how that will be implemented we expect it to affect only sales after that date.

This means that if you book and pay by 1 October you should save 2.5%.

 Contact us to book your New Zealand photography trip now!

useful tips

Many clients ask me what the best way to travel with their camera gear on photo tours is and so I wrote a short piece on the subject here.

 Blipfoto.com

Blipfoto.com is a great project where you can register and post one photo a day. The catch is that the image must be shot on the day you register it! 
It is quite a challenge - and great fun, so I recommend it.
See my gallery here.

What Our clients say

"Dear Marcus & Wendy,
Thank you for the wonderful photography tour and luxurious stay at Akrotiri Estate. Your tailor-made photography tour was very well planned and the ride in your 4WD very comfortable.

Despite the fact that I have been to NZ a number of times you managed to take me to some places where I still hadn't been. The drive through the Desert Road was a new experience for me and I particularly enjoyed the drive through the "Lost Highway", where I was lucky enough to photograph a large pack of sheep being herded. I've been waiting a long time to photograph that! I also enjoyed the drive up to "Le Chateau" and "Mount Doom" (and I finally got to use my winter gear!). That's one particular reason that I keep coming back to New Zealand...such a diverse choice of unspoiled landscapes.

Towards the end of my tour, the last two nights at Akrotiri Estate was very relaxing. Thank you for that personal touch, and stocking my favorite juice on such short notice. I really appreciated that. Thank you for your hospitality and company...I can't wait to come back. "

William Wee TK, Malaysia


"An amazing trip around the South Island! Thanks for showing us so much of New Zealand and for arranging so many unique places to stay.

Highly recommended!"

Rob F, UK