Awesome Chatham Islands Photography Retreat

*** ONE PLACE AVAILABLE DUE TO LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION *** If you only want to join one photography tour in 2022 and haven’t been to the Chatham Island, then this is the one for you, best of all if you have a drone we have permission to use at most locations.

Come join Lesley & Raewyn as we lead a small group of exploring the amazing windswept Chatham Island over three full days.

This is a photography tour and included will be visits to some of the island’s locations to view and hear about it’s history.

This photography tour is fully inclusive of return airfares to Chatham Islands (departing Wellington and returning to Christchurch), breakfast, lunch and dinner with wines, transport around the island and concession fees to all places we visit.

Staying at the Chatham Island Hotel’s Lookout & Chatham Rise Motel (100m apart) we are sharing twin rooms, single rooms are available at an additional cost.

You will get to photograph some amazing scenery:

• Chatham Island sunrises – three different locations, beachside sand hills, inner harbour and oceanside wharf
• Trip to Kaingaroa wharf and beach – capturing images of the fishermen loading and unloading their catch or simply capture images of this expansive bay, walk on the rocks for rugged seascape images
• Two shipwrecks – with access to this private location
• Visit Admiral Gardens for a guided tour of this amazing garden where we get to photograph the Chatham Island forget-me-nots and other beautiful flowers.  We maybe fortunate enough to capture images of the Red Admiral Butterfly – a different species to mainland.  While at Admiral Gardens we are also hosted by the Croon family for dinner
• Capture images of the dramatic windswept Chatham Island trees as well as photographing some of the oldest and farm shed and houses
• Capture images of seals swimming and basking on the rocks – maybe even spot the Weka as they forage along the shoreline
• Explore and photograph aircraft remains which are being used to restore the salvaged Sunderland which struck an uncharted rock in the Te Whanganui Lagoon and sunk in 1959.

There will be photography review with Lightroom and Photoshop  after dinner on return to our accommodation enjoy a cheese platter and wine.

This tour is suitable for beginners as long as you know how to change your camera’s settings – Lesley & Leanne will coach you on the settings to capture gorgeous photos with pre-set group sessions at each location.  There is also time for 1:1 if you still need assistance.

You will need to bring:

• Of course all your camera gear with a variety of lenses, including telephoto if you have one
• Camera backpack
• Tripod
• ND Variable fader filters – for long exposure sunrises and seascape images.  Lesley has a selection for use and can provide best to buy if you don’t have one
• Thermal clothing with various layers, beanie and fingerless gloves – Lesley recommends these gloves from Kathmandu.  Average day temperature is ~14°
• Waterproof walking shoes are recommended – Lesley recommends these shoes from Ecco.

What’s included:

• Four nights twin-share accommodation
• Air Chatham return flights from Wellington and returning to Christchurch ($1,360 value)
• Cooked buffet breakfast – Saturday, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday
• Two course dinner – Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday with wines
• Lunch – Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday
• Entry to Admiral Gardens, tour and bbq dinner
• Landowner and DoC concession fees
• Chatham Island visitor levy
• Photography review sessions
• A5 Photo Diary to take with you each day
• Lots of photography mentoring
• Bubbles & cheese patters after dinner
• An awesome amount of fun!

What’s Not Included:

• Travel to departure point (Wellington) and home from Christchurch
• Purchases or spending of a personal nature.

Cancellation

• If you cancel the amount you have paid is refundable only if we are able sell your seat
• If for any reason we have to cancel, what you’ve paid is refundable.

Limited to a maximum of 13 a $1,200 deposit to cover your Air Chatham flights secures your place.

Book now by paying your deposit – balance payable by credit card on receipt of invoice 21 days prior to departure.

NOTE: 

There is much walking on this tour, you will need to be comfortable in walking up to 15 minutes to get to some locations over easy to rolling terrain.

Women in Photography has the necessary protocols in place to operate under the the COVID-19 Protection Framework red, amber and green levels. For your safety, that of your fellow passengers and those leading leading Women in Photography’s events, we are have robust processes in place to ensure that we can operate safely at red, amber and green levels of the COVID-19 Protection Framework. Click here to know more about this policy and the requirements of you as an attendee.