New Zealand South Island Oil Painting Workshop with Natasha Ruschka
New Zealand South Island Oil Painting Workshop with Natasha Ruschka
- Wanaka, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Milford Sound & Mount Aspiring Region
- 17 – 24 March 2027
- 7 Nights
Join us for an unforgettable 8-day oil painting retreat exploring the spectacular landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. Based in Wanaka and Arrowtown, you’ll paint crystal-clear alpine lakes, snow-capped peaks, heritage villages and dramatic valleys while enjoying relaxed tuition and scenic travel days.
Guided by acclaimed artist Natasha Ruschka, this workshop focuses on plein-air painting techniques including composition, atmospheric perspective, colour harmony and expressive oil brushwork across some of the world’s most inspiring landscapes.
- Wanaka Lakefront – Mirror-like reflections, jetty scenes and mountain backdrops.
- Lake Hawea & Lindis Pass – Expansive alpine landscapes and dramatic big-sky compositions.
- Glenorchy & Paradise Valley – Wetlands, lagoons and iconic South Island scenery.
- Arrowtown & Crown Range – Heritage streets, rivers and elevated mountain viewpoints.
- Mount Aspiring & Alpine National Park – Dramatic peaks, braided rivers and alpine valleys.
- Milford Sound / Mount Cook (weather dependent) – Epic fjord or glacial landscapes for a memorable painting day.
💰 Pricing Options
🧑🤝🧑 AU$ 3,599 (Twin Share Per Person) 🧍 AU$ 4,499 (Single Room)
🌟 Non-Painting Partner Discount: AU$ 200 Off!
🎨 New Zealand South Island Oil Painting Workshop with Natasha Ruschka
An inspiring 8-day painting journey through New Zealand’s South Island
📍 Wanaka, Arrowtown & surrounding alpine regions | 17 – 24 March 2027 | 7 Nights
🚨 Limited spots available – early booking recommended!
🖼️ Tour Overview
Join us for an unforgettable 8-day oil painting workshop set among the breathtaking landscapes of
Wanaka, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Mount Aspiring National Park, Milford Sound, and surrounding alpine regions of New Zealand’s South Island. With dramatic mountain ranges, mirror-like lakes, heritage villages and vast open skies, this region offers one of the world’s most inspiring backdrops for plein-air artists.
Guided by acclaimed artist Natasha Ruschka, this workshop welcomes artists of all levels. Natasha’s encouraging teaching style, strong focus on composition, colour harmony, atmospheric perspective and expressive brushwork will help you build confidence and capture the beauty of New Zealand’s landscapes with clarity and creativity.
- 🏨 Full tour package including quality accommodation, transport, selected meals & all workshop sessions
🌟 Tour Highlights
✔️ Iconic South Island Locations: Paint Wanaka lakefront, Glenorchy Wharf & lagoons, Arrowtown heritage streets, Lake Hawea, Lindis Pass and alpine national park scenery
✔️ Epic Landscape Day Trip: Weather-dependent painting excursion to Milford Sound or Aoraki/Mount Cook
✔️ Expert Tuition: Daily demonstrations, personalised feedback and immersive plein-air guidance with Natasha Ruschka
✔️ Quality Accommodation: Four nights in scenic Wanaka and three nights in charming Arrowtown village
✔️ Convenient Transport: Comfortable coach transfers for Glenorchy, Crown Range, Lindis Pass, Mount Aspiring and alpine painting locations
✔️ Small Group Experience: Personalised attention in an intimate and supportive learning environment
From our gallery
Step into the creative journey of our New Zealand South Island oil painting workshop with a collection of inspiring moments captured throughout the tour. This gallery highlights stunning artworks created by participants, breathtaking alpine landscapes from Wanaka, Arrowtown and surrounding regions, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of immersive plein-air sessions led by Natasha Ruschka, celebrating the spirit of creativity in one of the world’s most spectacular painting destinations.
Tour Plan
DAY 1 - 🛬 Arrival in Queenstown • 🚐 Transfer to Wanaka
🛬 Arrival in Queenstown • 🚐 Transfer to Wanaka • 🍷 Welcome Drinks & 🍽️ Dinner
Guests arrive in Queenstown and transfer to our scenic base in Wanaka, a charming lakeside town surrounded by alpine peaks and tranquil waters. The relaxed atmosphere, lakefront walks, cafés and galleries provide the perfect setting to begin the workshop. In the early evening, we gather for welcome drinks 🍷 followed by an included group dinner 🍽️. Natasha introduces the week’s painting plan and participants meet their fellow artists — a relaxed and inspiring start to this South Island creative journey.DAY 2 – Wanaka Lakefront & Township
🎨 Day 2 • Full Day Painting • 🌊 Wanaka Lakefront & Township
- Morning: After breakfast, begin our first plein-air painting session along the Wanaka lakefront
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Iconic lake reflections, jetty compositions, and mountain backdrops
- Focus on composition, value planning, and capturing reflective water surfaces in oils
- Tutor demonstration with Natasha + personalised guidance
- Lunch break: Lakeside picnic or nearby café (own cost unless included)
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Explore alternative viewpoints including boats, trees, and township scenes
- Focus on edges, colour harmony, and expressive brushwork
- Individual feedback and painting refinement
- Late afternoon: Pack-up, group reflection and return to accommodation
- Evening: Dinner at leisure and optional informal Q&A
DAY 3 – 🏔️ Lake Hawea & 🌤️ Lindis Pass
🎨 Day 3 • Full Day Painting • 🏔️ Lake Hawea & 🌤️ Lindis Pass (Big Sky)
- Morning: After breakfast, depart for Lake Hawea to paint expansive lake and mountain vistas
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Wide-open compositions with calm water, shoreline curves and layered mountains
- Focus on simplifying shapes, atmospheric perspective, and cool-to-warm colour shifts
- Tutor demonstration + one-on-one guidance from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic or café stop (own cost unless included)
- Afternoon: Continue on to Lindis Pass for dramatic high-country landscapes and big skies
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Classic South Island “big sky” scenes — sweeping valleys, strong horizon lines and changing light
- Focus on sky design, value grouping, and expressive brushwork for scale and mood
- Personalised feedback and optional painting continuation
- Late afternoon: Return to Wanaka and rest
- Evening: Dinner at leisure
DAY 4 – 🌿 Mount Aspiring National Park
🎨 Day 4 • Full Day Painting • 🌿 Mount Aspiring National Park
- Morning: After breakfast, depart for Mount Aspiring National Park for alpine landscape painting
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Alpine valleys, braided rivers, and dramatic mountain peaks
- Focus on large shape design, light direction, and building depth through layered values
- Tutor demonstration + personalised guidance from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic surrounded by alpine scenery (own cost unless included)
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Explore alternative viewpoints including riverbanks, forest edges, and mountain silhouettes
- Focus on texture, colour temperature, and expressive oil brushwork
- Individual feedback and painting refinement
- Late afternoon: Pack-up and return to Wanaka
- Evening: Dinner at leisure
DAY 5 – 🌊 Glenorchy Wharf & 🌿 Paradise Valley
🎨 Day 5 • Full Day Painting • 🌊 Glenorchy Wharf & 🌿 Paradise Valley • 🚐 Transfer to Arrowtown
- Morning: After breakfast, depart for Glenorchy to paint the iconic wharf and lagoon landscapes
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Reflections at Glenorchy Wharf with mountain backdrops and wetland scenery
- Focus on mirror reflections, value simplification, and atmospheric distance
- Tutor demonstration + personalised guidance from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic or café stop in Glenorchy (own cost unless included)
- Afternoon: Continue to Paradise Valley for pastoral and cinematic South Island scenery
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Rural landscapes, tree clusters, mountain silhouettes and expansive valley views
- Focus on composition, colour harmony, and expressive brushwork
- Individual feedback and painting refinement
- Late afternoon: Transfer to Arrowtown and hotel check-in
- Evening: Dinner at leisure in the charming heritage village
DAY 6 – 🏘️ Arrowtown & ⛰️ Crown Range
🎨 Day 6 • Full Day Painting • 🏘️ Arrowtown & ⛰️ Crown Range
- Morning: After breakfast, explore Arrowtown’s historic streets and riverside painting locations
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Heritage cottages, autumn trees, and Arrow River scenes
- Focus on architectural elements, tree structure, and warm–cool colour relationships
- Tutor demonstration + personalised mentoring from Natasha
- Lunch break: Café stop in Arrowtown village (own cost unless included)
- Afternoon: Transfer to Crown Range viewpoints for elevated mountain compositions
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Dramatic ridgelines, expansive valleys and changing alpine light
- Focus on big sky design, value grouping, and expressive brushwork for scale
- Individual feedback and painting refinement
- Late afternoon: Return to Arrowtown accommodation
- Evening: Dinner at leisure
DAY 7 – 🌄 Milford Sound / 🏔️ Mount Cook
🎨 Day 7 • Epic Landscape Day • 🌄 Milford Sound / 🏔️ Mount Cook • 🍽️ Farewell Dinner
- Early morning departure: Scenic coach journey to either Milford Sound or Aoraki / Mount Cook depending on weather conditions
- Painting Session 1 (AM):
- Milford Sound option: Fjord reflections, waterfalls, mist and dramatic vertical cliffs
- Mount Cook option: Glacial lakes, alpine peaks and expansive braided river valleys
- Focus on dramatic composition, mood, and atmospheric effects
- Tutor demonstration + personalised guidance from Natasha
- Lunch break: Picnic or café stop (own cost unless included)
- Painting Session 2 (PM):
- Final plein-air painting and personal project refinement
- Focus on finishing touches, edges, and strengthening focal points
- Optional group critique and artwork sharing
- Late afternoon / evening: Return to Arrowtown
- Evening: Farewell Dinner 🍽️ celebrating the workshop and sharing artworks
DAY 8 – 24 November
🧳 Day 8 • Departure Day • ☕ Farewell & Check-out
- Morning: Breakfast and relaxed time to pack and enjoy Arrowtown village
- Check-out: Hotel check-out by 10:00 AM
- Departure:
- Transfer to Queenstown Airport for onward flights
- Optional extended stay in Queenstown or Wanaka (self-arranged)
- Farewell: Exchange contacts, reflections and departure
Gallery
Step into the creative journey of our New Zealand South Island oil painting workshop with a collection of inspiring moments captured throughout the tour. This gallery highlights stunning artworks created by participants, breathtaking alpine landscapes from Wanaka, Arrowtown and surrounding regions, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of immersive plein-air sessions led by Natasha Ruschka, celebrating the spirit of creativity in one of the world’s most spectacular painting destinations.
💰 Pricing Options
We offer flexible packages to suit your needs:| 🧾 Package Type | 💵 Price (AUD) | 🧳 Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| 🎨 Full Package – Twin Share | $3,599 pp | • Accommodation (7 nights – Wanaka & Arrowtown) • Daily oil painting sessions & demonstrations with Natasha Ruschka • Daily breakfast • Welcome & farewell dinner • Transport to Wanaka, Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Lake Hawea, Lindis Pass & alpine painting locations • Weather-dependent epic landscape day (Milford Sound or Mount Cook) |
| 🧍 Full Package – Single Room | $4,499 | • All inclusions from the Twin Share package • Private room |
| 👫 Non-Painting Partner | –$200 | • Discount for partner sharing a room but not participating in painting sessions |
📌 What’s Included
- 7 nights in quality accommodation across Wanaka and Arrowtown
- Daily breakfast
- Welcome drinks & farewell dinner
- Daily plein-air oil painting sessions and demonstrations
- Transport to Glenorchy, Mount Aspiring, Crown Range, Lake Hawea, Lindis Pass and alpine painting locations
- All local site transport during the workshop
❌ Not Included
- Airfare to/from Queenstown, New Zealand
- Art materials (please bring your own)
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Airport transfers (available on request)
- Optional activities or meals not specified
📅 Cancellation Policy
- More than 90 days before: Full refund (minus holding deposit)
- 30–90 days before: 50% refund
- Less than 30 days before: No refund
🔄 If We Need to Cancel
- Full refund, OR
- Option to transfer to a future workshop at no cost