Wildlife of Kaikoura with Leanne Buchan
2026-10-23 17:00 - 2026-10-25 15:00 (Pacific/Auckland)
Join wildlife photographer Leanne Buchan in Kaikōura for an unforgettable long-weekend workshop immersed in the incredible bird life and coastal beauty of Aotearoa. Leanne, owner of Feather in Your Capture, is a passionate educator who loves helping photographers of all levels capture compelling wildlife images.

What’s Included

Private charter aboard the Coastal Encounter vessel Delphinadae, where you’ll photograph albatross, other pelagic seabirds, and—if we’re lucky—dolphins.

Guided sessions along the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway, focusing on coastal birds, New Zealand fur seals, and dramatic seascapes at both sunrise and sunset.

Workshop Schedule – Friday 23 October – Sunday 25 October (Labour Weekend)

Starts: 5pm Friday

Ends: Approximately 3pm Sunday – Labour Weekend gives you an extra day on Monday to explore Kaikōura or continueyour travels.

Practical Details

Meals: At your own cost in local cafés and restaurants.

Accommodation: Please book in central Kaikōura.

Group Size: Limited to 14 participants.

Workshop Fee: $475

Gear & Fitness Requirements

Recommended lens: 400–600mm zoom.

Expect 3–4 hours on the open sea — good sea legs (or reliable seasickness remedies) essential.

A moderate level of fitness is required for several hours of walking on Saturday and Sunday.

Important Notes

The boat operator may cancel the charter if weather conditions are unsafe. In this case, the boat-tour portion of your fee will be refunded.

Once registered and paid, you’ll receive full schedule details and a recommended gear list.

Breeding Spoonbills and Shorebirds by John Parker
2026-11-06 14:00 - 2026-11-08 12:00
The feature of this workshop is to introduce you to a newly formed breeding colony of Spoonbills in the Hawkes Bay which offers superb reasonably close range shooting.

The workshop will be led by John Parker, an award-winning bird wildlife photographer based in Te Awamutu, New Zealand. Over the years John’s work has gained National/International recognition winning Kiwi Image of the Year, New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year and has been published in books, magazines, and calendars worldwide. As the founder of Maddox Photography NZ, John has combined his passion for the outdoors, adventure, and photography into a unique experience for fellow photography enthusiasts.

Friday 2.00pmWe will begin at 2.00pm at the Kennedy Park Conference Centre with an introductory briefing and a presentation by John on his Journey and what he looks for in a strong image, followed by a familiarisation tour of the colony.Saturday 5.00 amAn early start is needed to take advantage of the sunrise at the colony. We will aim to be back by 8.30 am so you can get breakfast resuming at the Conference Room by 10.00 am for a processing workshop and processing clinic. Mid-afternoon John will show us one of the best shorebird locations in the Bay where we would hope to catch some evening colour.Sunday 5.00 amOur second early start at the colony followed by breakfast. Then you will have free time to explore these or other locations recommended by John.

Birds on offer at these locations include Royal Spoonbill, White Heron, Cormorants, Patiki, Dabchicks, Australian Coot, Pukeko, Pied stilts, Dotterel, Godwits, Canadian geese, Wrybill and Heron.

Please note the above timeline is weather dependent.

Fitness

All locations are on level ground and provide easy walking.

Accommodation and MealsAccommodation is not included in the fee but we recommend you make use of the Kennedy Park Resort which offers a wide range of accommodation. No meals, snacks or drinks areincluded.
