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New Zealand

Discover New Zealand: Walking Clean and Green

Program No. 12346RJ
Walk and learn about New Zealand with experts, discovering this island nation’s passion for protecting their natural resources as you explore fjords, coastlines and Maori culture.
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Walking/HikingOutdoor AdventuresSmall Group
Length
22 days
Rating (4.96)
Activity Level
Starts at
9,799
Flights start at
1,700

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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
53 meals ( 19B, 17L, 17D )
10 expert-led lectures
32 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
19 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
A day is “lost” due to crossing the International Dateline
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Walking in Hamilton Gardens for approximately 1.5 hours; flat gravel paths. Road trip Auckland to Hamilton: 70 miles (113 kilometres), 1 hour 40 minuntes. Hamilton to Rotorua: 66 miles (106 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 arrived, we will board a bus for the ride south from Auckland to Rotorua, with a stop-off at Hamilton Gardens for lunch.
Lunch:
At Hamilton Gardens Café.
Afternoon:
We will wander at leisure around Hamilton Gardens, exploring gardens representing a variety of themes. A feature is the Maori heritage garden showcasing traditional practices, materials and ceremonies related to food production and storage. We continue our journey south by coach, arriving at our hotel in Rotorua, where we will stay for the first three nights. Located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, 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. There is time to freshen up after check-in before gathering for our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader 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, staff, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances. 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, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Hongi’s Track: 1.4 miles (2.2 kilometres), 1 hour 30 minutes, one way; flat but uneven terrain; some roots. Redwood Forest walk: up to 3.1 miles (5 kilometres), 1 hour 30 minutes, loop; smooth forest paths and/or dirt/gravel paths with zigzag undulations.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We board our coach for a walking field trip on historic Hongi’s Track at Lake Rotoiti We will have a short introduction in the field to New Zealand’s native rainforest and bush flora.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
Boarding our coach, we travel back to Rotorua to The Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest for a walking field trip through one of the many forest paths. We enjoy an eclectic mix of towering exotic Redwood trees, familiar to all Americans, side-by-side with impressive endemic New Zealand tree ferns.
Dinner:
At a local craft beer bar and restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Blue Lake walk: up to 3 miles (5 kilometres) partial loop; undulating; uneven terrain. Geothermal area walk: 0.62 miles (1 kilometre); smooth asphalt paths.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will travel by coach to the start of a walking field trip at Blue Lake (Tikitapu). This pleasant stroll almost circumnavigates this small lake, framed by pretty native bush and forestry. A collapsed volcanic crater, from above, the lake can look quite blue/aqua/turquoise in colour. This is due to a pumice and rhyolite bottom which the sun reflects up. If time permits, we travel by coach to the Mt Tarawera Lookout for local Maori legend interpretation.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We board our coach for the short drive to Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, one of New Zealand’s premier Maori cultural and geothermal visitors’ centres. A local expert will lead us through the area, with commentary, describing early Maori life in the region, followed by 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 return to our hotel and have some time at leisure before we walk to 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. Walking and standing during field trip. Road trip: 281 miles (453 kilometres), 5 hours 45 minutes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After check-out, we board the coach for an all-day drive to Wellington. We visit Waiotapu mud pools and spectacular Huka Falls en route. Our drive south passes Lake Taupo, the largest lake in Aotearoa New Zealand. We then traverse the famous Desert Road offering spectacular views, if the weather permits, of the still-active volcanoes – Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.
Lunch:
Packed lunch en route.
Afternoon:
We continue by coach to Wellington, travelling south through the central part of the North Island. We eventually reach, and follow, the western coastline along the Tasman Sea for the last hour or so, before we enter the northern outskirts of the city. 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 will settle in to our central-city hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 3.5 miles (6 kilometres); paved city streets. Walking and standing during field trip.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We take a walking field trip with our Group Leaders along the picturesque Wellington waterfront, in the heart of the city, stopping off at Old St Pauls, a small heritage cathedral built from native timbers and rich in history. We visit New Zealand’s parliament buildings — including the aptly-named Beehive — for an expert-led exploration.
Lunch:
At own arrangements.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we have free time to explore Wellington. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Your Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. Recommended, is a visit to Te Papa Tongarewa (National Museum and Art Gallery of New Zealand). Te Papa, 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. We will come together in the hotel before dinner for a lecture from a local political scientist on New Zealand's government and parliamentary system.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a cable car. Walk approximate total of 6 miles (10 kilometres) to Zealandia & through the Botanic Gardens; paved city streets. Please note that extra walking is optional and alternative shuttle transport is available from Zealandia.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Departing from the hotel, we walk to the Wellington Cable Car for a short ride uphill to Kelburn. From the top of the cable car, we walk to Zealandia, a sanctuary of native forest and lakes 10 minutes from the city centre. Here we will learn about some of New Zealand’s unique and fascinating birdlife. Expert volunteers will introduce these wonderful birds and explain the challenges of conserving rare and vulnerable species in New Zealand. We will learn the story of how local residents lobbied and volunteered to get this valley sanctuary set aside as a reserve and have it fully enclosed by predator-proof fencing, protecting wildlife within the forest as it gradually regenerates to its pre-human state, estimated to take 500 years! We will gain an understanding of the positive effect this facility has had on the native birdlife of the greater Wellington area.
Lunch:
At Zealandia's Rata Café.
Afternoon:
We take a shuttle bus, then walk down through Wellington Botanic Gardens and Bolton Street Memorial Park to the city and back to the hotel. Those who wish may choose to take the shuttle directly back to the hotel There is time to freshen up before we walk to an early dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer early in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; on/off a ferry/boat. Cook Strait ferry crossing: 3 hours 30 minutes. Kaipupu Point walk: 1.8 miles (3 kilometres); loop; packed clay track; some uphill, mostly level terrain.
Breakfast:
Cash will be provided for you to purchase your breakfast on the ferry.
Morning:
We will check-out by 6.30 a.m. and transfer by shuttle bus to the ferry terminal to take the scheduled ferry passenger service to Picton via Cook Strait and the Marlborough Sounds. The crossing from the North Island to the South Island is picturesque, featuring panoramic views of Wellington City and Harbour as we depart, dramatic rocky coastal shorelines and, once across Cook Strait, stunning, bush-clad hills and bays as we meander through the labyrinthine waterways of the Marlborough Sounds. There is plenty of opportunity to observe some of New Zealand’s many seabird species and look out for dolphins and whales. The Group Leaders will provide commentary and points of interest along the way. Picton, in the Queen Charlotte Sound of the Marlborough Sounds, is an important port town serving as the South Island terminal for the busy inter-island ferry service. Picton, and nearby Blenheim, are the major towns in the Marlborough region that is notable for the production of world-renowned sauvignon blanc wine (alongside other varietals), as well as green-lipped mussels and high sunshine hours.
Lunch:
At a café in Picton.
Afternoon:
We board a vessel for the short hop across to Kaipupu Point Sanctuary for a loop walk in this mainland island predator-free zone. We walk through regenerating native forest vegetation and with glorious views out to the ocean and back towards Picton. Later in the afternoon, we will settle into our Picton motel with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; on/off a boat. Queen Charlotte Track: 5.3 miles (8.5 kilometres), 2 hours 30 minutes / 3 hours; undulating/hilly uneven terrain; firm clay; some roots.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
We wander down to the waterfront in time to board a vessel for a scheduled run that will take us on a full-day study cruise and walking field trip in the Marlborough Sounds. Our vessel will drop us off at Punga Cove, where we begin our hike on the lush native bush-clad trail of the Queen Charlotte Track.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We continue our hike on the Queen Charlotte Track with tantalising glimpses of the stunning Marlborough Sound’s waterways with its myriad of coves, inlets and bays. We continue our walk to Furneaux Lodge, where we are met by a couple of Sounds' locals, John and Judy Hellstrom. At the Lodge you can relax with a beverage while Dr John, a retired veterinarian and noted biosecurity specialist, gives a lecture on the history and geology of the Marlborough Sounds. Following the lecture we are picked up by the mail boat on its scenic route back to Picton.
Dinner:
At own arrangements.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Walking and standing during field trips.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
We meet our bus driver and board the coach for the short half-hour drive through to Blenheim, the main town in the Marlborough region. Our first stop is at the Marlborough Research Centre for a lecture by Richard Hunter, respected Maori elder, on the Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Tribunal. We then visit the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum for a docent-led commentary of its impressive exhibitions. “Knights of the Sky” presents the personal World War I collection of Sir Peter Jackson, Director of the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy, that includes aircraft, memorabilia, dioramas, and mannequins. “Dangerous Skies” is a World War II exhibition focusing on the war on the Eastern Front, the world’s only female flying aces, and the 588th Night Bombers, a Russian women’s regiment. It also includes aircraft as well as a stunning recreation of the Stalingrad experience produced by CGI graphics, lasers, lighting and sound effects. Next, we head west for the half-hour drive to visit a farm near Havelock.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during farm visit.
Afternoon:
At the family sheep and cattle farm we have an informative, in-depth talk by the farming couple on their various livestock practices. We will have a sheep-shearing demonstration, and be impressed by working dogs displaying their skills herding sheep in obedience to a complex array of whistle signals and commands. This visit is usually a program highlight. Leaving the farm we drive back towards Blenheim, stopping at a local winery and vineyard for an organic wine-growing education session. Following this session we will head down the road to be hosted by a couple for dinner in their private home.
Dinner:
Hosted in a private home.
Evening:
After dinner, we drive back to Picton and have the remainder of the evening at leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Road trip Picton to Greymouth: 219 miles (351 kilometres), 4 hours 30 minutes. Reefton township walk: 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometres); paved streets. Walking and standing during field trip.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
After checking-out, we board the coach for an all-day trip south-west to Greymouth on the West Coast. We stop for a short break at St Arnaud and Lake Rotoiti, with magnificent mountain and lake views and sightings of New Zealand’s endemic long-finned eel. We continue on to historic Reefton, a quaint little town, charmingly redolent of its gold-mining past.
Lunch:
At a local café in Reefton.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we take a short walk through the town, learning, amongst other things, that it was the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to switch on electricity. We continue by coach Greymouth, named for its location at the mouth of the Grey River. It is the West Coast’s largest town, renowned for its gold and coal-mining past. Upon arrival, we settle into our motel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Pancakes Rocks and Blowholes walk: 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometres); loop; paved paths; some steps. Truman Track: 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometres); out and back; well-formed terrain; some steps down to beach/view point. Pororari River Track: 4.3 miles (7 kilometres); out and back; firm clay; uneven terrain; some roots; steps. Optional Pororari/Punakaiki Track: 5 miles (8 kilometres) uphill over low saddle; loop; firm clay; uneven terrain; some roots; steps.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
We board our coach for the scenic coastal drive north to Punakaiki. Here we have a walking field trip to view the unusual and spectacular coastal geological formations of the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. We then wander down a short track through lush sub-tropical native bush to a viewpoint overlooking a rugged and dramatic West Coast beach.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We board the coach again to the start of a walking field trip which meanders along the edge of the Pororari River, through groves of stunning nikau, the only palm tree indigenous to New Zealand. While walking, we keep a look out for sightings of the rare blue duck (whio) in the swiftly-flowing current. There is an option to return the same way or to cross over a low saddle and follow the Punakaiki River down and back to the coach.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Stroll around Hokitika township or on beach at own pace. Treetops walk: 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometres) on an aerial walkway; easy. Road trip Greymouth to Fox Glacier/Weheka: 122 miles (196 kilometres), 2 hours 45 minutes.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
After check-out, we board the coach for the drive south to Fox Glacier/Weheka with a stop en route at Hokitika. This small town, also rich in gold-mining history, is renowned for its pounamu (the Maori name for New Zealand’s own greenstone or jade), sourced from the headwaters of nearby rivers. We will have an opportunity to visit workshops and watch master craftspeople creating exquisite jewellery and carvings from this beautiful stone. Before lunch, we visit Treetops where we traverse an aerial walkway. The walkway affords a unique view of the native rainforest as we look down on it from above.
Lunch:
At the café at Treetops, we have plated meals.
Afternoon:
We continue our journey following the coastline south to Fox Glacier/Weheka and settle into our local motel. Fox Glacier/Weheka and Franz Josef/Waiau (14 miles north-east) are each named for their nearby glaciers that descend from the top of the Southern Alps, cutting through dramatic glacial valleys into rainforest close to sea level. A New Zealand World Heritage area, Westland National Park has some of New Zealand’s highest peaks including the highest, Aoraki/Mt Cook. A unique and spectacularly scenic spot, this town is the perfect base for a myriad of adventures, entertainment and sightseeing attractions.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Optional walk after dark to view glow-worms in their natural environment. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Lake Matheson walk: 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometres); out and back; well-formed, gently undulating; or full lake circuit: 1.5 miles (2.6 kilometres). Road trip Fox Glacier/Weheka to Wanaka: 163 miles (262 kilometres), 3 hours 30 minutes.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
Starting from outside our breakfast venue, we embark on a walking field trip, either to the jetty and back or the full circuit of the lake. Lake Matheson is world-famous for its stunning mirrored reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman, on a clear windless day. We will also travel by coach to the lookout offering the best viewpoint of the dramatic Fox Glacier descending out of the mountain range in the distance.
Lunch:
At a café en route.
Afternoon:
We resume our journey south, through native beech forests and past small lakes. Traversing the Haast Pass (Main Divide of the Southern Alps), we observe the vegetation changing dramatically as we enter the drier and more open countryside of the province of Otago, passing Lake Hawea to Wanaka, where we settle in to our hotel. Wanaka, on the shores of New Zealand’s fourth largest lake (of the same name) is a popular holiday playground in both summer and winter and particularly noted for its glorious autumn colours and lake and mountain vistas.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Mt Iron walk: 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometres) loop; uphill; hard clay path; open terrain. Waterfall Creek walk: 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) one way; well-formed flat track along lake shore.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We take the coach to the start of our walking field trip on Mt Iron, where we are rewarded with 360-degree panoramic views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountain ranges. Following a short time to freshen up back at the hotel, we board the coach again for the drive around the lake to Glendhu Bay for lunch at the private home on a working sheep station. Prior to lunch, we enjoy a stroll around the mature English-style garden with our host providing commentary.
Lunch:
At a private home.
Afternoon:
Our coach drops us off to wander, at our own pace, along the shoreline of Lake Wanaka and back to the township. For the rest of the afternoon, we enjoy some free time to further explore this pretty little lakeside town.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Free time in Queenstown; walking and standing during field trips. Road trip Wanaka to Te Anau: 141 miles (227 kilometres), 3 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Following check-out, we board the coach for our drive to Te Anau. Our journey follows the Clutha River and passes Lake Dunstan and the relocated town of Cromwell, through the Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown. Queenstown is situated on the the shore of Lake Wakatipu, nestled among the majestic Southern Alps. Its setting is stunning with the surrounding mountain ranges, the Remarkables and the Eyre Mountains, forming a breathtaking backdrop. It has more to offer than just magnificent landscape, however; the town strives to be the “adventure capital of the world”. Here, for the rest of the morning and over lunchtime, there is free time to explore what interests us most in arguably New Zealand’s most famous tourist town. 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:
At own arrangements in Queenstown.
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.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; 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. Optional shorter walk on same track. Te Anau Glow Worm Caves: Walking on metal walkway; wet at times.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
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 and have the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure.
Dinner:
At own arrangements.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; on/off a boat. Lake Gunn Nature Walk: 1 miles (1.6 kilometres); loop; well-formed track; flat.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
After an early breakfast, we board our motorcoach and drive around the side of Lake Te Anau, across some of the scenic splendour of Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape. We pause for some short walks en route. We will drive through New Zealand's highest tunnel, the Homer Tunnel, where we may well encounter a cheeky kea (New Zealand mountain parrot) or two as we wait for our turn to proceed. At Piopiotahi Milford Sound, we will board a cruise vessel and glide through one of Fiordland's most picturesque fiords, where mountains jut out of the sea and rainforest clings to sheer rock faces. Our skipper will interpret the stunning scenery we are cruising through. Keep an eye out for the resident pods of dolphins, as well as penguins and fur seals, as we sail out towards the Tasman Sea.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch onboard the vessel.
Afternoon:
On our return journey back to Te Anau, we stop for a short walk in the Lake Gunn Nature Reserve. Here we enjoy the ancient red beech forest with weird moss-covered stumps and ground ferns. Before dinner, we take the short walk to the local cinema. At the cinema we will view the short film “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. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Road trip Te Anau to Balclutha: 130 miles (210 kilometres), 2 hours 30 minutes. Walking and standing during field trips.
Breakfast:
At a local café.
Morning:
After check-out and before departing Te Anau, we have a lecture by a local expert about the unusual geology of the area, which contains New Zealand’s oldest known plutonic (igneous) rocks. There are also large areas of metamorphosed sedimentary rocks that are closely related to the rocks of northwest Nelson. At the conclusion of the lecture, we board our coach for the drive to Balclutha.
Lunch:
At a café en route, we have a sandwich lunch.
Afternoon:
We continue by coach for a stop in Gore to visit the Hokonui Museum, where we can learn about the local “moonshine”, harking back to earlier, less law-abiding times, or the Eastern Southland Gallery, a major provincial art gallery with an eclectic and significant collection of exhibits from across the world. We arrive in Balclutha and settle into our lodge. Balclutha, a small rural town off the beaten tourist track, is a fishing paradise for brown trout and salmon in the Clutha River, and is the gateway to the increasingly-popular Catlins Coast.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Several short walks of 0.75 mile (1.2 kilometre) duration; well-formed bush tracks to waterfalls and along beaches; flat terrain; some roots.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
We depart by coach for an all-day field trip in the Catlins, a remote area on the south-east coast. We pass through rural heartland to ancient podocarp forests, overlook rugged and dramatic coastlines, and walk along native bush tracks to hidden lakes and waterfalls.
Lunch:
Packed lunch during field trip.
Afternoon:
We take a short walk to Nugget Point/Tokata Lighthouse. The lighthouse, one of New Zealand’s oldest dating from 1869, is located on a dramatic headland offering soaring rugged Pacific Ocean views and sightings of fur seals and seabirds. We return to our accommodation. 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:
Farewell Dinner at the lodge.
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 bus. Road trip Balclutha to Dunedin: 50 miles (80 kilometres), 1 hour. Walking and standing during field trips.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
After checking out, we board the coach for our drive north to Dunedin. We explore the central city on foot with a local expert, who will share his extensive knowledge of one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian heritage cities in the Southern Hemisphere. We will learn of its strong Scottish Presbyterian history. Our program concludes at the end of this walk.
Lunch:
At own arrangements.
Afternoon:
At 12.30 p.m. we will transfer by coach from the central city to Dunedin airport check in for our flights home. 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 journeys!
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