The name Maniototo, derived from Māori, is said to mean `plains of blood’ and refer to the `flowing’ red tussocks that once covered the land.

This is the region that inspires Graeme Sydney, painter of some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes. Home to tiny towns and locations that once swarmed with settlers, toiling to win riches from this sparse, rugged and graphic landscape.

Imposing mountain ranges edge the wide splendour of the Maniototo Plain. Candid skies of brilliant blue dance across the land. When evening falls, a tantalising magenta sunset slides behind flinty, tussock-clad ranges.

Humble, close-knit farming settlements are dotted thinly across the plain, huddled on long, straight roads that never end. Isolated they may be, but these are involved, connected communities where people look out for each other.

Steeped in nature’s rhythms, locals share an enduring bond with this place. The sweeping silent spaces, the loyal guardianship of mountain ranges, the contrasting hues of seasonal changes and the expansive beauty of starry black nights.

Day 1

Embark on an eastward journey from Queenstown, tracing the rugged Kawarau and Cromwell Gorges—the very paths once tread by gold miners who pioneered The Southern Lakes and Central Otago. Along the way, we pause in historic Cromwell and Clyde, towns steeped in pioneer heritage.

Our route leads us into the Maniatoto, a sparsely populated high country characterized by tussock-covered hills and craggy, rock-studded ranges—a landscape that vividly recalls the struggles of early settlers. Notable stops include Ophir, with its iconic wooden suspension bridge, and St Bathans, where a cyan-colored lake stands as a legacy of industrial mining in the late 1800s. The Vulcan Hotel, still operational, graces the bustling high street.

We end the day in Ranfurly, the central town in the region, known for its art deco architecture. This will be our base for the next 2 nights.

Day 2

Choose from several captivating options:

• Falls Dam: Discover old fisherman’s huts against the backdrop of the Hawkdun range—a snow-and-ice-clad wall that frames the Maniatoto landscape during winter.
• Ida Valley: Experience vast sheep farms under expansive skies, stretching toward tor-covered ranges.
• Hayes Engineering Works & Homestead: Step into a fully operational early 20th-century engineering workshop and a 1920s villa. Here, innovative pioneers Hannah and Ernest Hayes once raised their family. Explore the chilly workshop filled with lathes, drills, and pulleys—where Ernest Hayes crafted useful farm devices, including his renowned fencing wire strainer.
• Poolburn Dam: Famously featured in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this otherworldly high country reservoir nestles among hills adorned with rocky crags. Its shores host a collection of Kiwi fishing bachs, often charmingly dilapidated.

We conclude the day with an evening review and practice session for editing the day’s images.

Day 3

Our return journey to Queenstown includes a side trip to The Nevis Valley, situated 1000 meters above Cromwell—the highest public road in New Zealand. From Duffers Saddle, the highest point, take in spectacular vistas: snow-capped Remarkables in one direction, the meandering Nevis River valley in another, and views across to Cromwell and Lake Dunstan.

En route, explore the hidden remains of a gold mining village dating back to the 1800s. Our final stop, the Goldfields Mining Centre, allows us to delve into the original Chinese miners’ village, wander through gold sluicings, and marvel at the machinery that once extracted gold from the landscape.

Capture the stunning morning and evening skies against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains and endless valleys. Explore towns with evocative names like Drybread, Becks, Cambrians, Ophir, Omakau, Oterahua, St Bathans, Wedderburn, Moa Creek, and Lauder.

• A fully customised tour tailored to your desires
• Vast sheep farms under expansive skies
• Tour Hayes Engineering Works & Homestead
• Explore a region steeped in history and marvel at the stark, sparse landscapes

   

• 2-nights accommodation in Ranfurly at Hawkdun Lodge, complete with breakfast
• Expert tuition and guidance throughout the journey
• Convenient transport and hotel pickup from Queenstown or Wanaka
• Printed workshop notes to enhance your photography