top of page

Astrophotography Program - 5 Events

5-10 NIGHTS OF ASTRO SPREAD OUT OVER THE SEASON WITH RACHEL GILLESPIE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER & TUTOR - 24 SPOTS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST STREAM ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY 2025

Welcome to our Astrophotography 5 Stars Workshop Program suitable for all levels of photography - SEE DETAILS BELOW

The introduction modules run online (2 events) and you can then choose from 5 or more in-person events on the following dates listed below for out-in-the-field workshop shoots, strictly limited numbers - DOC Approved

All locations are subject to weather and may change in the lead-up to the week prior so plan accordingly

Payments plans available - THIS PRICING IS A ONE-OFF OPPORTUNITY

The Online Workshops will run live at the beginning of March and will be recorded for replay

GET YOURS BELOW  OR EMAIL FOR BANK DETAILS AND RECEIVE YOUR enrolment pack info@nztraveladventure.com

Check out other events for multi day photography workshops if you would like to attend a longer event as well on offer

Hooker Valley - Final Stitch IMG_1551 PanoramaEDITHIGHcolourWEB
20240511_rgphoto_100yearauroraalexandrina (3 of 7)
20240511_rgphoto_100yearauroraalexandrina (7 of 7)
20240511_rgphoto_100yearauroraalexandrina (2 of 7)
20240511_rgphoto_100yearauroraalexandrina (4 of 7)
20240511_rgphoto_100yearauroraalexandrina (1 of 7)
astro app collab poster PNG
20240214_rgphoto_ valentineselfiestitch LR

Dive Deep in to Astrophotography with a small group of like-minded photographers and create a season of epic content!

Astrophotography 5 Stars Workshop Program

Hey guys, Rachel here; I have put together what is to be the most comprehensive value-for-money astrophotography adventure season event around. I am super stoked to be able to share this with you, and not only will you come out of it taking amazing photos, but you will meet and hang with some other amazing creatives, learn how to edit your photos, what not to do as much as what to do and much more fun in the most incredible locations in the South Island of New Zealand.  With my many years experience and background in hosting  tourism adventure groups and photography workshops I am excited to bring this extensive program to the market.

If you are new to astrophotography this is brilliant for you; if you are a seasoned photographer, this is also great for you to get out with a group and take the adventure to get consistently epic shots for your portfolio and have fun doing it and make some adventure buddies.

You will learn and get:

  • Five nights of astrophotography adventure in some of the best dark skies in the World; you choose from 10 dates below, we will meet up, a full itinerary will be sent to you the week before your arrival

  • Professional instruction on how to use your gear, what lenses to use, what additional gear you may wish to invest in over the season, where to buy second hand gear, use of some loan gear to help you decided what you like, how to setup your camera for night images and master magic single images, stacking, how to shoot panoramas and other types of astrophotography

  • Connection with our gear partners 

  • Priority access to the AstroApp new lessons on release

  • Composition of images and how to start thinking like an astrophotographer scouting location where possible, online before you go and in the field on location

  • Meetup Saturday afternoon planning and recci and online afterwards post processing and editing sessions, Lightroom and Photoshop and how to stitch multiple rows of images can be accessed over the year on some of these dates or otherwise accessed training online just for this group

  • How to plan your shoot - What apps to use to plan your night skies position of the Milky Way Galaxy, Aurora Australis alerts and other valuable planning tools and apps

  • Personal coaching with your own camera and settings, troubleshooting and working on planning

  • Written updates and lessons to take home and download

  • Access to private group communication on this course

  • Access to private chats with invited astrophotographer guest speakers to talk with you about your photography from my private network (this in itself will be gold)

  • We will try our best to team people up together for accommodation/transport if we know others are looking to share (at your own cost)

  • Graduate from our course with an after-session questionnaire and gain a certificate of merit (optional)

  • An additional business mentoring option is not included in this course; enquire for more information if this should interest you

South Island locations

Dates - choose from 5 of  the 10 following (plus you get the 2 online introduction events free)

Saturday will be our preferred date, however if there is a weather issue we may use the Friday night prior or transfer to another date listed, on an occasion of a mint two nights and/or Aurora we may do 2 nights out if there is interest

1.      Fri/Saturday 28/29th March (New Moon 29th March) - Twizel

2.      Fri/Saturday  23/24th May (New Moon 27th May) - Tekapo

3.      Fri/Saturday  30/31st May (New Moon 27th May) - Canterbury High Country

4.     Fri/Saturday  20/21st June (New Moon 25th June) Kaikoura

5.     Fri/Saturday  27/28th June (New Moon 25th June) Tekapo/Aoraki

6.     Fri/Saturday  18/19th July (New Moon 24th July) - Kaikoura

7.     Fri/Saturday  25/26th July (New Moon 24th July) - TBA South Island

8.     Fri/Saturday  26/27th September (New Moon 21st September) - TBA South Island

9.     Fri/Saturday October (New Moon 21st October) - TBA South Island

10.  Fri/Saturday date - TO BE ADVISED - Light Trails Event

(if you cannot make all these dates message us for other possible packages (if all 20 are not presold we may consider it)

You will need to own, borrow or hire:

  • DSLR or Mirrorless camera that can shoot well in low light situations

  • Large capacity, fast memory cards, we will discuss this on the first call

  • Solid tripod with a ball head, especially if you want to take panoramas

  • Remote shutter (optional) check your camera may have it built in (eg, Canon R6)

  • Spare camera batteries

  • Lens that is wide and goes down to at least aperture of F2.8 - eg 14mm, 15-30mm 24mm prime

  • Winter weather gear (list will be provided)

  • Let us know if you are unsure about your gear

Safety and permits

We hold a Department of Conservation permit under the company Southern Photography Adventures Limited, public liability insurance and first aid certificate

Your Investment 

$199 per session - total package $995 for all 5 workshops

If you are not as mad as Rachel wanting to be out all Winter in the cold you can take up the opportunity to attend at $299 per session for one off night, multiples can be selected at checkout

or Payment Plan 

$247 per session - total package $1,235.00 paid over 8 months (paid by bank deposit direct debit)

If you would love to go hard and have the 10 nights then double your investment to $1990 simply purchase 2 workshops at the checkout

© 2023 by Rachel GIllespie Photographer,  All images copyright 

bottom of page