South Island Private Spots
A Middle-earth That Looks Like a Movie Scene
New Zealand’s South Island is one of the world’s most renowned travel destinations. With its glaciers, lakes, canyons, grasslands, and starry skies, it presents a geographical textbook of reality before your eyes. These unique landscapes have become a top choice for many couples seeking overseas wedding photos. So, which South Island locations are suitable for wedding photography, and what do the photos look like?
These are common questions we encounter from newlyweds. Therefore, we’ve listed the five most popular photoshoot locations on the South Island to help those planning to capture their wedding memories in New Zealand gain a better understanding of the region.
The five most popular photoshoot locations in South island
Mt. Cook
Wanaka
Glenorchy
Lake Tekapo
Lake Pukaki
Top Photoshoot Location No.1: Mt. Cook
With its snow-capped mountains and stunning scenic roads, these are definitely the main attractions of Mt. Cook. In addition to the road and mountain views, there are many other great spots for photography, such as Lake Tasman Glacier Lake, Hooker Valley Mountain scenery, summer lavender fields, and helicopter rides over the glaciers—each highly recommended.
Glacier Lake (May to September); Lavender Fields (mid-January to early February)
Top Photoshoot Location No.2: Wanaka
Wanaka is most famous for its solitary tree. Beyond that, the autumn scenery, cherry blossoms in early spring, and the renowned helicopter location—Coromandel Peak—are also must-see sights.
Autumn (mid-April to mid-May); Cherry Blossoms (September)
Top Photoshoot Location No.3: Glenorchy
This town became popular because of “The Lord of the Rings” and features Middle-earth-like scenic beauty. The road from Queenstown to Glenorchy, with its lake views, is a shooting location for many car commercials and is a must-visit spot for tourists. If you’re looking to photograph sheep, llamas, and other animals, there are excellent animal farms here as well.
Top Photoshoot Location No.4: Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo, situated at an altitude of 700 meters, is famous for the Church of the Good Shepherd and being the only night sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere. Besides these two highlights, in summer, it transforms into a lupin flower town, with purple and pink lupins blooming everywhere—absolutely stunning!
Lupins (late November to mid-December in summer)
Top Photoshoot Location No.5: Lake Pukaki
Known as the “Milk Lake,” Lake Pukaki’s waters appear blue or light blue depending on the lighting and weather. On the other side of the lake is New Zealand’s highest peak, Mt. Cook, which is clearly visible on nice days.
Of course, the South Island has many more cities and towns worth exploring, such as Dunedin and Oamaru. We welcome any ideas for discussion! Interested in embarking on a unique adventure for your wedding photos? Contact us now!
