December 10-12, 2026

Kaimanawa Heritage Horses have got all the necessary permissions to allow us to run our annual photography tour again this year. The dates are Thursday the 10th, Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th of December. We are running a slightly different format this year which will allow us to be in the Ranges for two full days and includes a group dinner and short presentations the night before. Remember this is one of our main fundraising events for the year so we hope you will support us.

Our accommodation will be at the Ruapehu Mountain Lodge, Okahune and will be on a twin share basis. Limited single accommodation available on request at an additional charge. The trip starts on Thursday 5pm with a meet and greet over a two course meal at the Ruapehu Mountain Lodge. No Alcohol supplied so you will need to bring your own. We will have Elder Jenks, our patron or our Chairperson Carolyn Haigh will be talking about KHH, its role, and why KHH needs to fundraise. This will be followed by one of our experienced photographers Victoria Caseley  on how they make the most of photo opportunities. Victoria  has guided our trip in 2024 and 2025. She is experienced with horses, and has had lots of overseas experience in photographing wildlife. Just recently photographing Gorilla’s in Rwanda and from St Moritz  horse racing on the frozen lake.

Friday morning will start at 4am at the Ruapehu Mountain Lodge where  we will meet up with our Range Officer at Range Control for a safety briefing before heading into the southern ranges to catch the sunrise,  find some  horses and enjoy the  stunning scenery. Catering in the ranges is not easy however, a packed meal for breakfast will be provided and we will provide bread rolls and a range of fillings for you to make up at lunchtime. We are also seeking permission to be able to photograph behind the scenes at some of the defence force facilities too, i.e. inside the container city, bunkers, etc. There will also be snack bars, fruit, water and fruit juice available at all times. We will provide hot water for tea and coffee etc., but this will be limited so it may be a good idea to bring your own thermos as well if you are a hot drink fan. We will be back at Ruapehu Mountain Lodge around  2.30pm. An early dinner will be provided at 5pm at a local restaurant with the opportunity if people want to head up the mountain to catch the sunset.

Saturday will be another early 4am start to hopefully photograph another  stunning sunrise this time  in the  northern ranges, followed by more scenic photographic opportunities and, of course, the beautiful horses. We will stop at the muster yards, talk with Tommy Waara  and meet his ex Wild Kaimanawa TE One and have a hot drink and something to eat. There will be an opportunity to talk with the Range Control Officer about the Ranges, Army and  DoC on how the horses and army co-exist plus purchase the availability of KHH merchandise ( CASH only as EFTPOS does not work in the ranges). We will be back at Ruapehu Mountain Lodge around 2.30pm. 

Spaces are very limited, with 26 seats available.

Victoria Caseley will be on hand to assist with the camera settings and compositions and advice on how to get the most out of your time in the range. Gerry McGeagh and Dot Wreaks will be available to answer any questions you may have on the wild horses and KHH. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the wonderful landscape, and the wild Kaimanawa Horses in their home environment.

Again it is both a privilege and pleasure to offer this tour and we are very grateful to have been granted permission and access from NZDF and DOC. The tour is not just for seeing the wild Kaimanawa Horses, it is also for the wonderful opportunity to photograph a unique, inaccessible, landscape. We look forward to meeting old friends as well as making new ones.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS apply which you must agree to prior to ticket purchase. A copy of these is located at the bottom of this page and acceptance of these terms is required during the checkout process. A copy of our refund policy is also displayed.

YOU WILL BE SENT A CONFIRMATION EMAIL for checking in on the day. PLEASE PRINT IT OR SAVE IT TO YOUR PHONE.

For safety reasons we need to collect the names and contact numbers of all individual ticket holders. The ticket purchaser will remain our main contact. It will remain the responsibility of the ticket purchaser to ensure we are provided accurate details of each ticket holder prior to the event. A confirmation email will be sent once a purchase is complete which will need to be printed or saved to your phone. The event will remain subject to the conditions and mandates in place at the time. ( COVID-19 )

Bus Trip Cancellation Policy

• 90% refund where the cancellation is 14 days or more from the date of the tour. This enables us to recoup bank fees and administration costs.
• 50% refund where the cancellation is less than 14 days from the date of the tour. This will increase to 90% if we are able to resell the ticket.
• No refund will be given for failure to show up for the tour.

If for any unforeseen reason we need to cancel any or all of our bus tours then a refund of 90% of the purchase price will be returned to the original purchaser. This enables us to recoup bank fees, pre-tour purchases, and administration costs.

Terms and Conditions – KAIMANAWA HERITAGE HORSES WELFARE SOCIETY INC (KHH)  – Indemnity Clause

IN CONSIDERATION OF Kaimanawa Heritage Horses Welfare Society Inc (KHH) providing the following services for the Photography Bus trip including dates 10th, 11th, and 12th December 2026.

• Guided bus tours around the Military Training area to view the wild horses.

HEREBY AGREES

1. To unconditionally and irrevocably indemnify and hold harmless KHH and its employees and agents against all claims, actions, suits, damages, liabilities, losses, charges, proceedings, and costs that KHH or its employees or agents may incur because of Kaimanawa Heritage Horses providing the services as described above.

Such indemnity shall be granted whether or not legal proceedings are instituted, irrespective of the means, manner, or nature of any settlement, compromise, or determination.

2. Not to bring any action against KHH, its employees, or agents, in respect of any loss or damage to property or injury to any person suffered during the trip, whether such loss or injury is caused by negligence or otherwise by Kaimanawa Heritage Horses, its employees or agents.
3. I consent to be photographed on this trip by a KHH photographer. I further authorise that these photographs may be published on various KHH media platforms.
4. I acknowledge that by purchasing, or by having tickets purchased on my behalf, I have read this indemnity agreement and fully agree that by participating in the KHH Kaimanawa Ranges Bus Trip I am bound by the indemnity agreement. If I am not of the age of majority, my parents or guardian have consented on my behalf.

Terms and Conditions – NZ DEFENCE FORCE (NZDF) – Indemnity Clause

In CONSIDERATION OF the New Zealand Defence Force (the Crown) providing the following services:

• A safety briefing and access to the Waiouru Military Training grounds on the following dates – 10th, 11th, and 12th December 2026.

HEREBY AGREES

1. To unconditionally and irrevocably indemnify and hold harmless the Crown and its servants and agents against all claims, actions, suits, damages, liabilities, losses, charges, proceedings and costs which the Crown or its servants or agents may incur or be put to as a result of the Crown providing the services as described above.

Such indemnity shall be granted whether or not legal proceedings are instituted, irrespective of the means, manner or nature of any settlement, compromise or determination.

2. Not to bring any action against the Crown, its servants or agents, in respect of any loss or damage to property or injury to any person suffered during or in consequence of the Crown providing the services described in its agreement, whether such loss or injury is caused by the negligence or otherwise of the Crown, its servants or agents.