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New Zealand

Hiking Under Southern Skies

Program No. 11592RJ
Hike the iconic trails of New Zealand, including sections of the world-renowned Great Walks, and discover national parks and traditional Maori culture alongside local experts.
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Walking/HikingOutdoor AdventuresSmall Group
Length
22 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
9,399
Flights start at
1,450

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
22 days
21 nights
What's Included
54 meals ( 19B, 17L, 18D )
8 expert-led lectures
30 expert-led field trips
2 flights during the program
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
19 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Afternoon:
Depart North America on overnight flights to Auckland, New Zealand
Activity Note
A day is “lost” due to crossing the International Dateline
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; getting on/off a plane. Road trip Auckland to Hamilton: 70 miles (113 kilometres) 1 hour 25 minutes. Walking in Hamilton Gardens: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes; flat gravel paths. Waikato River walkway: flat paved path 2 miles (3.2 kilometres), 1 hour 30 minutes.
Morning:
After claiming your luggage, enter the public Arrivals Hall area and meet your Group Leaders who will be holding a Road Scholar sign. When everyone has assembled, we will board a bus for the ride south from Auckland to Hamilton. Before lunch we will wander at our leisure around the Hamilton Gardens, exploring a variety of themes. These include the Indian Char Bagh, Italian Renaissance, Japanese Contemplation, Chinese Scholars’, English Flower, Modernists, Tudor and Chinoiserie gardens. Also present are themes such as fantasy, tropical, sustainable, herb and kitchen. A particular highlight is the Te Parapara garden – New Zealand’s only traditional Maori heritage productive garden showcasing traditional practices, materials and ceremonies related to food production and storage.
Lunch:
Welcome lunch at Hamilton Gardens Café.
Afternoon:
Hamilton sits on the banks of New Zealand's longest river, the Waikato. After lunch, we take a leisurely stroll along the picturesque river walkway that threads through the city, allowing us to stretch our legs after the long flight. Hamilton started as a farming service town and has grown into a city with a university, research institutes and the beautiful Hamilton Gardens. We board the coach to take us to our overnight accommodation. There is time to freshen up after check-in before gathering for our Orientation session. Orientation: Your Group Leaders will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will pre-order some meals so as to make the most of our time. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. Your Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Short walks en route to Taupo: well-formed dirt/gravel paths; some steps; roots; uneven terrain. Huka Falls walk: 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) 45 minutes; well-formed riverside path. Road trip Hamilton to Turangi: 127 miles (204 kilometres), 3 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of our hotel, we begin our journey by coach to Turangi, with short bush walks en route in the Taupo area, at the discretion of our group leaders.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we stop for a short walk to the spectacular Huka Falls on the Waikato River. We then continue our coach journey south to Turangi, traversing the shores of New Zealand’s largest lake - Lake Taupo. Turangi is situated next to the magnificent World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park. Trout fishing is Turangi's obsession and the Tongariro is one of the most famous trout fishing rivers in the world. We arrive at our accommodation and check in.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
Orientation to the local area and preparatory briefing for our upcoming Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Silica Springs and Taranaki Falls walks: 4 miles (6 kilometres); 2 hours (each); well-formed dirt/gravel paths; some steps; uneven terrain; loop.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
We board our coach and drive through to Whakapapa Village on the flanks of Mount Ruapehu. We first visit the Department of Conservation's Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre. Here we gain an understanding of the natural and cultural values of the national park. We walk to Silica Rapids, enjoying the peace and quiet as we hike over sub-alpine vegetation and through native beech forest. These striking golden rapids are coloured yellow by silica deposits on the volcanic rock.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We walk to Taranaki Falls, which tumbles 65 feet over the edge of a large andesite lava flow which erupted from Mt. Ruapehu. On a clear day the walk offers excellent views of a trio of volcanic mountains: Tongariro, Ngauruhoe & Ruapehu. We return to our accommodation and have some time to relax before dinner.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Tongariro Alpine Crossing: 12 miles (19.4 kilometres) 7 - 8 hours; climb from 3,600 feet to 6,250 feet (1,100 metres to 1,900 metres) and down to 2,460 feet (750 metres) over steep volcanic terrain; mostly well-formed track; some scree; uneven footing, rocky in places; numerous steps. Alternative option to Soda Springs: 4.5 miles (7.5 kilometres); approximately 3 hours out and back.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
We coach to Mangatepopo Valley for our all-day challenging hike over Tongariro Alpine Crossing. We will be accompanied by an expert mountain guide during our hike. The traverse of the stark and spectacular volcanic alpine landscape takes us up and over the saddle between the peaks of Mounts Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. It is considered one of the most fascinating and rewarding day treks in the country.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
After reaching the summit, we continue our hike on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. We traverse open tussock land, following a zig-zag trail downhill, and lastly descending through native bush to the Ketetahi car park. We reboard our transport and return to our accommodation to put our feet up.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Rotopounamu Track: 3 miles (5 kilometres) 2 hours; loop; gentle undulations; firm dirt/gravel; uneven; some roots.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
We have free time this morning to relax after our strenuous day yesterday. Possiboptions for filling in your morning include visiting the Tokaanu thermal pools, short walks around thermal area, fly fishing, rafting, a riverside walk or cycling.
Lunch:
Own choice.
Afternoon:
We gather and travel by coach to the start of the Lake Rotopounamu Lake loop walk, which nestles on the side of Mount Pihanga. This pretty lake is a special favourite of tree-lovers, bird-watchers, walkers and swimmers.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Road trip Turangi to Rotorua: 80 miles (130 kilometres) 1 hour, 35 minutes. Geothermal area walk: 0.62 miles (1 kilometre); smooth asphalt paths.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
We check out of our accommodation and board our coach for the drive to Rotorua, pausing at points of interest en route as time permits. Located on the shores of Lake Rotorua and nicknamed “Sulphur City”, Rotorua has been sustained by tourism since 1870. It is a thermal wonderland with the most energetic thermal activity in the country, including hot springs, geysers and bubbling mud pools. It is also an important centre of Maori culture. In the early 19th century the colonial government attempted to develop it as a European-style spa town. The impressive Tudor-styled Bath House dating from that time is now the Rotorua Museum. The area also has fine trout fishing and scenic wildlife parks. Nearby Mount Tarawera erupted in 1886 resulting in major changes to the landscape and considerable loss of life. The beautiful lakes in the region are part of the legacy of this cataclysm.
Lunch:
Packed lunch.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we visit Te Puia, one of New Zealand’s premier Maori cultural and geothermal visitors’ centres. A local expert will lead us through the area, describing early Maori life in the region. Our expert-led visit then takes in a traditional Maori cultural performance. Visiting the New Zealand Maori Art and Crafts Institute, we can observe students at work learning traditional arts, such as wood and bone carving and weaving, under the tutelage and guidance of master craftspeople. We take the short drive to our accommodation and check in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for morning check-out and flight to Christchurch.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; on/off a plane; in/out of a car. The flight from Rotorua to Christchurch is a little less than 2 hours (depending on weather). Air New Zealand typically uses ATR 72 aircraft on this route. Road trip Christchurch to Staveley: 70 miles (111 kilometres) 1 hour 30 minutes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After a leisurely start, we board our coach to Rotorua airport and check in to our flight.
Lunch:
We will have a packed lunch at Rotorua airport.
Afternoon:
We leave the North Island as we fly to Christchurch, situated on the east coast of the South Island. Christchurch is set close to the sea on a broad plain between the towering Southern Alps and the large, extinct volcanic crater that forms Banks Peninsula. It is the largest city in the South Island and the centre of farming, industrial and cultural activities for the province of Canterbury. Due to its excellent transportation facilities, bountiful water supply and abundant hydro-electric power, Christchurch is one of the most important industrial and commercial centres in New Zealand. On arrival, we are met by our coach driver and depart inland via the Canterbury Plains to Staveley, a small village situated in the foothills of the Southern Alps and adjacent to large tracts of pristine native forest. There, we meet Elspeth Jaine (Rata Escape Lodges), who has coordinated our B&Bs/Homestays with local hosts. We travel to Elspeth’s family sheep and cattle farm for an in-depth talk by Anna & Mitch (Elspeth's daughter & son-in-law) on various livestock practices. There will be a sheep-shearing demonstration and impressive displays by working dogs showcasing their skills herding sheep in obedience to a complex array of whistle signals and commands. There may be time for a short walking tour of their farm, past covenanted wetlands, with rolling hills and stunning views. Later, we will meet our homestay hosts and settle into our various abodes.
Dinner:
At our hosts’ homes.
Evening:
At leisure, enjoying the conversation and getting to know our hosts and their families.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a car; on/off a bus. Mt Somers Track: 6.5 miles (10 kilometres) 5 hours; loop; packed dirt; uneven; some roots and rocks; varies from flat easy sections to a couple of steeper patches.
Breakfast:
At our hosts’ homes.
Morning:
We travel by coach to the start of an all-day hike on the Coalminers Track to Woolshed Creek Hut near Mt Somers. Elspeth leads us along the historic trail, providing expert commentary. We pass through regenerating beech forest out onto sub-alpine vegetation offering outstanding views towards the Arrowsmith Range and Lake Heron.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We complete our looped hike and return to the coach and our home hosts for a further night.
Dinner:
At our hosts’ homes.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a car; on/off a bus. Road trip Staveley to Twizel: 127 miles (205 kilometres) 2 hours 30 minutes. Mt John Walkway: 5 miles (8.2 kilometres) 3 hours; loop; packed dirt; uneven; some rocks; uphill and downhill.
Breakfast:
At our hosts’ homes.
Morning:
Farewelling our gracious hosts and new friends, we board our coach to drive the inland route south to Twizel. We stop in Geraldine for a short break en route. We continue our journey out of South Canterbury and into the Mackenzie region, renowned for its wide-open tussock-filled grasslands and stunning glacier-fed lakes, The area, an International Dark Sky Reserve, is also home to Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. Arriving in Tekapo, we embark on an uphill walk on Mount John, passing the observatory and enjoying panoramic views of Lake Tekapo and the surrounding peaks of the Southern Alps. An open tussock-land hike for those who enjoy the wide-open spaces.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We complete our hike and continue our journey through the picturesque Mackenzie Country, pausing at the lookout overlooking Lake Pukaki. The lake is renowned for its turquoise waters. Here we hope for a glimpse of Aoraki Mount Cook rising majestically above the far end of the lake. Arriving in Twizel, we check into our hotel and settle in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Road trip Twizel to Aoraki Mount Cook Village: 41.5 miles (67 kilometres) 45 minutes. Tasman Lake Track: 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometres) 1 hour; out and back; packed dirt; uneven; some rocks. Hooker Valley Track: 6 miles (10 kilometres) 3 hours; out and back; packed dirt; uneven; some rocks; undulating.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We board our coach for the drive to Aoraki Mount Cook Village where we enjoy a short hike on Tasman Lake Track. We walk through old terminal moraines to a viewpoint of the Tasman Glacier terminal lake. Look out for icebergs floating in the lake during summer. On our return, we visit the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre for self-exploration of the interesting history and memorabilia of this alpine region.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we embark on a longer hike on the Hooker Valley Track which leads us towards Aoraki Mount Cook. As we walk we have viewpoints of the famous mountain, the Mueller and Hooker Glaciers, and the expanse of the Southern Alps. We cross several swing bridges en route. We return on the same track, enjoying the views down the valley and across to the Sealy Range. Wildflowers proliferate, including the Mt Cook Lily (actually in the buttercup family) and look out for the cheeky but endangered kea, the world’s only alpine parrot. We board our coach for the return journey back to Twizel. Before dinner, we have a presentation by a local expert.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Road trip Twizel to Te Anau: 230 miles (371 kilometres); 4 hours, 30 minutes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We board our coach for the drive to Queenstown. We will drive through the forbidding Lindis Pass leaving the Mackenzie Basin behind and drive past the town of Cromwell, greatly changed since the construction of New Zealand's largest hydro-electric scheme in the 1980s. For all the change that wrought, the area still remains one of the fruit bowls of New Zealand, although recently the greatest economic force in the region has been of the fermented grape variety. We drive on through the rugged Kawarau Gorge and carry on to Queenstown. Queenstown is nestled on the shores of the beautiful Lake Wakatipu, nestled in amongst the majestic Southern Alps. Its setting is stunning with the surrounding mountain ranges, the Remarkables and the Eyre Mountains, forming a breathtaking backdrop. However, it has more to offer than just magnificent landscape; the town strives to be the “adventure capital of the world” with a diverse range of attractions to lure visitors of all ages. In Queenstown, we have the remainder of the morning and the early afternoon as free time to explore at our leisure. Those who wish may take the opportunity to visit the Kiwi Birdlife Park to see our iconic nocturnal bird, the kiwi, and other species endemic to New Zealand, up close. Others may prefer to ride up the gondola for stunning views of the lake, town and mountains. You may prefer to just stroll along the lake or sit and dine while soaking up the vistas.
Lunch:
Own choice.
Afternoon:
Farewelling Queenstown, we continue our journey south along the lake shore into the rich farming province of Southland to Te Anau. Te Anau is a small country centre providing community support to the widely-dispersed fishing and farming communities of sparsely-populated Fiordland. It is situated at the edge of the World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park and renowned for its alpine scenery and outdoor lifestyle. The economy of Te Anau, a town with a small resident population, revolves around the tourism and accommodation industry, as it is the gateway to the world-famous Milford Sound. We settle in to our hotel. Before dinner, we gather up for a short film at the local cinema “Ata Whenua - Shadowlands”, a panoramic journey, taken from the air, portraying the majesty and splendour of immense and isolated Fiordland, over all four seasons.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. By road Te Anau to The Divide Shelter: 53 miles (85 kilometres) 1 hour 15 minutes. Key Summit (Routeburn Track) walk: total of 8.7 miles (14 kilometres) 5 - 6 hours; uphill; well-formed; out and back.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
By coach we drive, with expert commentary en route, to the start of our day-hike at The Divide. This point, at 1,745 feet (532 metres) on the Milford Highway, is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps, the mountain range extending along much of the length of the South Island of New Zealand. From The Divide, we hike steadily uphill through ancient silver beech forest on the world-renowned Routeburn Track (one of New Zealand’s designated 'Great Walks') to Key Summit, an alpine wetland of tarns and bogs. From here we have stunning views of the Darran Mountains and the Hollyford Valley.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We retrace our steps back to The Divide Shelter and meet up with our coach for the return journey back to Te Anau.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a boat. Kepler Track walk: total of 10 miles (16 kilometres) 6 - 7 hours; uphill: well-formed; out and back.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We depart from the Te Anau jetty for the short ferry transfer across Lake Te Anau to Brod Bay, the start of our all-day walking field trip on the Kepler Track, another of New Zealand’s designated ‘Great Walks’. From Brod Bay, the trail climbs steadily under impressive limestone bluffs and through ancient beech forest until you come out above the bush line. Our hike continues through open grasslands to Luxmore Hut, where panoramic views of the Te Anau basin and surrounding mountains and valleys await us.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We retrace our steps back to Brod Bay and return by chartered vessel to Te Anau.
Dinner:
Own choice.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; in/out of a small boat; on/off a boat. Kepler Track hike to Moturau Hut or Brod Bay: total of 7.5 miles (12 kilometres), 4 hours, out and back; mostly flat/gently undulating; well-formed; some roots. Glow Worm Caves: Walking on metal walkway; wet at times, some steps, paths, uneven ground.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We are dropped off by coach to the start of our walks on the Kepler Track. We will hike out and back on a section of the track, half the group walking from Rainbow Reach to Moturau Hut, while the other half walks in the opposite direction to Brod Bay. They are both particularly beautiful tracts of beech forest, with lush mosses and ground ferns creating an airy magical atmosphere. The trails follow the lake shore through mountain and red beech forest and provide stunning glimpses of Lakes Manapouri or Te Anau, and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
Our return walk is by the same route and, on our arrival back in Te Anau, we have some free time enjoying rest and relaxation or further exploration of the town. You may like to wander along the lake edge to visit the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary to view the rare flightless takahe and other endangered species. The Fiordland National Park Visitors Centre is also well worth a visit for its informative displays. We come together again later in the afternoon to board a boat and travel across the lake to the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves for an expert-led cave tour underground. After negotiating limestone passages filled with sculpted rock and a roaring underground waterfall, we drift in a small boat through a silent dark grotto, experiencing the luminous shimmer of hundreds of glow worms on the roof and walls of the caves. We return across the lake in time for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; on/off a ferry. Road Trips Te Anau to Invercargill: 96 miles (155 kilometres) 1 hour 50 minutes. Invercargill to Bluff: 16 miles (25.6 kilometres) 21 minutes. Foveaux Strait Ferry Crossing, Bluff to Rakiura Stewart Island: 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We depart Te Anau and journey across green and fertile Southland to the city of Invercargill. Here, we visit the Bill Richardson Transport World where, as a result of one man’s passion, there’s an impressive automotive collection for enthusiasts. For others, there’s a growing wearable arts collection and themed bathrooms. A fun and quirky tourist attraction in the deep south.
Lunch:
At a local café in Invercargill
Afternoon:
After lunch, we take a short coach ride to Bluff, the embarkation point for our ferry ride across Foveaux Strait to Rakiura Stewart Island. During the crossing, we observe many seabirds including varieties of the majestic albatross. Rakiura Stewart Island is New Zealand’s third largest island, located 19 miles (30 kilometres) south of the South Island. It is triangular-shaped, generally hilly and densely forested with 85% in National Park. Visitors come for the multi-day walking tracks (tramping) and birdwatching, with rare species, including penguins and kiwis. Arriving on Rakiura Stewart Island, we disembark our ferry, check in to our accommodation and settle in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Akers Point Lighthouse to Golden Bay, Observation Rock: 7 miles (11.3 kilometres) 5 hours; loop; hard-packed dirt/gravel; uneven; rocks; undulating; numerous steps (Golden Bay Track).
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, we head off for a gentle hike to a local lighthouse and back along the coastline. We enjoy the views of bays and inlets, lush bush and birdlife as we walk to Ringaringa Beach.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We continue our hike to Golden Bay and back to Oban, the main settlement on the island. We pause at Observation Rock to gain a viewpoint over the area.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a boat. Port William to Oban Walk: 7.5 miles (12 kilometres) 5 hours; one-way; hard-packed dirt/gravel; uneven; rocks; undulating; some steps.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We are picked up by a local boat operator and transported along the coastline to Port William. Our skipper will point out various wildlife such as sea lions, penguins and a wide variety of seabirds as we cruise along. Early Maori settled at Port William and its sheltered harbour was later used by sealers and then whalers. The eucalyptus (gum) trees are the most notable remnants of attempted European settlement during the 1870s. From Port William, we begin our hike in the Rakiura National Park, taking the Rakiura Track back to Oban. This takes us past Maori Beach, the site of the island’s last timber mill.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We continue our walking field trip along the Rakiura Track, over densely native-forested spurs of ferns, mosses, lichens, majestic conifers and broadleaf species. We pass several picturesque beaches on our way back to the township of Oban.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a boat. Ulva Island: Well-formed tracks for all levels of fitness.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We board a specialised vessel for a pelagic boat journey taking us just offshore and between islands. Paying attention to our skipper's commentary, we marvel at the myriad ocean-going seabirds, including many varieties of albatrosses, mollymawks, terns, petrels, shearwaters, penguins and the like. On our return, we are dropped off on Ulva Island, a predator-free bird sanctuary. Here, armed with our guidebooks, we quietly self-navigate our way along the various tracks on the island, taking in the abundant birdlife and lush native vegetation.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We are picked up again and returned by boat to Oban. From mid-afternoon, we have free time to explore Oban at our leisure. You may like to go sea-kayaking, bird-watching, take in a local walk or just enjoy some relaxing down time. Before dinner we gather over a beverage to review our program and share our personal highlights and what we have learnt during our time in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a ferry; on/off a bus; on/off a plane. Foveaux Walkway from Stirling Point: 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometres) 1 hour; out and back; well-formed; light gravel; flat. The flight from Invercargill to Christchurch is 1 hour, 20 minutes. The flight from Christchurch to Wellington is 1 hour. Air New Zealand typically uses ATR 72 aircraft on these routes.
Breakfast:
Continental breakfast before early check-out and departure from hotel.
Morning:
We depart by ferry on the return crossing of Foveaux Strait to Bluff. We are picked up by coach and drive up to the Bluff Hill Lookout for the scenic view back down to Lands End, the southernmost road in New Zealand. Time permitting, we take a short walk along the Foveaux Walkway.
Lunch:
At a local café in Invercargill.
Afternoon:
Our coach drops us at Invercargill airport for our flight to Wellington via Christchurch. Wellington, located at the southern extremity of the North Island, has been the capital of New Zealand since 1865. Its magnificent amphitheatre-like harbour, hemmed in by rugged hills, was formed by the flooding of the crater of a very large and long-extinct volcano. It provides a picturesque setting for the city’s distinctive wooden houses (many visitors have been known to draw parallels with San Francisco) set precariously on the steep hills. In addition to its role as the seat of government, Wellington is a major seaport, rail and ferry centre and a commercial and manufacturing hub. Its compact city centre is immensely walkable and is full of life and interest. It has a vigorous cultural and artistic scene and is the home of many national cultural institutions. Thanks partly to the fact that it is the home town of Sir Peter Jackson (the director of the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy), Wellington is the focal point of New Zealand's film industry. Upon our arrival we transfer in to our central-city hotel and settle in.
Dinner:
Farewell dinner at the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Final pack and prepare for check-out in the morning and our flights home or continuation of personal travel plans.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a cable car; on/off a bus, on/off a plane. Walking up to 3.5 miles (6 kilometres); paved city streets. Walking & standing during field trip.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We check out of the hotel leaving our luggage stored on the premises. We walk from the hotel to the Cable Car for a short ride uphill to Kelburn. From the top of the cable car, we gain excellent views of Wellington Harbour and its hilly backdrop. We stroll downhill through the Wellington Botanic Gardens and Bolton Street Memorial Park and retrace our steps along the waterfront in the direction of our hotel. We have a short period of free time affording you the opportunity to see and do what interests you most. Recommended, is a visit to Museum of New Zealand: Te Papa Tongarewa. Colloquially known of as Te Papa, the museum, situated right on the waterfront, is dedicated to preserving and presenting the taonga (treasures) of New Zealand’s peoples and to interpreting the country’s heritage for national and international audiences.
Lunch:
Own choice.
Afternoon:
Our program concludes at Wellington airport following a 2:00 p.m. transfer from our hotel. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your future journeys!
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