Deer Park Heights

Joshua Yates is an exclusive member of approved photographers for Deer Park Heights.

Only an eight minute drive from the airport, this location has it all - Lord Of The Rings filming spots (yes you read that correctly), unrivalled views, and cute animals that you can feed along the way!  If you are looking for not only a family shoot, but an unforgettable experience with your kids in Queenstown, I couldn’t recommend Deer Park Heights enough. This place is one of my regulars and I fall in love with it more and more with each trip. 

A family of six holding hands and walking in atop Deer Park Heights with clouds, water, and Cecil Peak in the background.
A woman and a young boy sitting on rocks atop Deer Park Heights, watching goats near the snow-capped Remarkable mountains and a clear sky.
Group of people hiking on a grassy trail on a Coronet Peak with snow-capped peaks in the background during the late Spring.
A family of three walking hand in hand along Deer Park Heights overlooking the Kawarau river and Remarkable mountains in the distance, during sunset or sunrise.

Once into the park, you can drive all around the breathtaking grounds in the comfort of your car, feeding all kinds of friendly animals. You can find llamas, alpacas, donkeys, ducks, pigs, cows, fancy Shetland cows, goats, deer of all kind and perhaps the most breathtaking of all, the great big stags. All these animals (apart from the deer) you can feed. This combined with the unrivalled views makes for an unforgettable experience.

Things to know before you go: 

  • Location: 432 Peninsula Road, Kelvin Heights, Queenstown 9300

  • Deer Park Heights is fantastic at any time of the year though it really comes alive in between April and September. Which means it’s perfect if you are out of ideas for winter family photoshoot spots. The surrounding mountains at this time of the year are typically covered in snow making golden hour just that much more spectacular. The sun sets much earlier too, meaning golden hour is more between 3 pm and 4:30 pm. Lots of families find that this works very well with bed times and dinner plans. 

Parents and their small child interacting with a llama and ducks at Deer Park Heights.
Two people, a woman and a man, interact with llamas at Deer Park Heights on a sunny day. The woman is smiling and wearing a light-colored shirt, while the man, in the background, also smiles.

  • Want to feed the animals? There is an animal feed dispenser at the entrance to

    the park. There is a small cost but this is included in the photoshoot package.

  • Allow for extra time with the animals, I always suggest at least an xtra 30 mins

    to explore and feed animals. This is a big part of what sets this place apart and

    makes it special. 

A man and two young girls feeding ducks by a lake at Deer Park Heights with the Cecil Peak mountain in the background.

  • Bring a 4WD car if possible. A 2WD car will get up there but it’s much more comfortable in a 4WD. 

  • To be allowed to photograph a family on the grounds, you need a photography permit which costs $500 nzd. Every Family I have taken here were so happy they had made the decision to pay the extra $500 nzd to come here. The experience with the animals is a highlight for the kids and the views are jaw dropping. This permit is included in the Deer Park Heights package.

A red Mitsubishi SUV driving down a dirt road at Deer Park Heights with two donkeys walking alongside it. There are large trees and distant snow-capped Remarkable mountains in the background during the day.

Deer Park Heights is my favourite location! The versatility of this spot is second to none! You have so many options all in one location; whether it’s facing the lake to the west and south, facing the Remarkables mountain range or looking back over Frankton! It’s easy to get to and close to the airport. Could you ask for anything more!? If you’d like to book a photoshoot at Deer Park Heights, click Here.

Recap

A couple in wedding attire embracing on an empty road at Deer Park Heights with the Queenstown hill and Ben Lomond mountains in the background.
A family of three, two adults and a child, holding hands and walking in a grassy area with a lake and Ben Lomond in the background during sunset.
A family of three admiring a lake atop Deer Park Heights with golden grass and trees, under cloudy skies.
Black and white photo of a mother and child playing outdoors in a grassy field. The mother is running with an open-mouthed smile, and the other is walking, wearing a hat.
Family of three walking hand-in-hand through a grassy field near a body of water with Coronet Peak in the background and a partly cloudy sky.
A group of children watching a deer with large antlers at Deer Park Heights near a body of water, with the Ben Lomond mountain range and Queenstown town in the background.
A family of five walking along a grassy lake shoreline atop Deer Park Heights with The Remarkables mountain range in the background. The mountains are partially snow-capped and reflected in the calm water.
A couple walking hand in hand through a golden field at Deer Park Heights with hills and trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A family of three standing on a grassy area near a body of water atop Deer Park Heights, with the snow-capped Remarkable mountains in the background.
Two people holding hands walking along a path near a lake at Deer Park Heights, with the Remarkable mountains and cloudy sky in the background, reflected in the water.
A young boy joyfully running through a grassy field at Deer Park Heights with arms raised, overlooking a scenic landscape of the Whakatipu river, Cecil peak and Ben Lomond mountains, all under a cloudy sky.
A family of five posing outdoors near a lake atop Deer Park Heights and the Cecil peak mountain, with fog and a cloudy sky.