PRE – 08 Mt Cook / Tekapo
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PRE – 08 Mt Cook / Tekapo Mountain Backdrop to Lakeland Scenery Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand the youngest country on earth. New Zealand’s diverse and dramatic landscape draws many visitors to our shores. From fiords to rainforests, ocean beaches to volcanic cones, the relatively untouched landscape is breathtaking, but what makes the visit so special for many is the people they meet. Māori people believe in the concept of ‘Manaakitanga’ this loosely translates as ‘hospitality’ – a concept that Kiwi people have embraced as part of the New Zealand experience. Kiwis are a friendly bunch and the care, engagement and hospitality we show our guests is based on pride and a genuine belief that this country offers something of everything. New Zealand is regularly rated as one of the world’s preferred destinations not just because of its dramatic scenery, wide open spaces, extreme adventure, clean air, enticing food and wine, creativity and flair but also because of the ‘can do’ attitude. Haere Mai. Welcome and enjoy your stay. Customs and MAF requirements On arrival you will need to complete both customs and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) requirements before you can officially enter New Zealand. MAF is responsible for agriculture, horticulture and forestry, safe food, a protected environment, the wise use of the land and the creation of clean, green product. MAF protect farms and wildlife from imported pests and diseases by minimising the number of foreign pests and diseases entering New Zealand. You will be required by law to declare any food or organic material you are carrying. It is important not to ignore this as significant fines can be given to those who do. IMPORTANT: Please use the final itinerary provided in your media pack on arrival in New Zealand. This will include any adjustments and additional contact details crucial to your itinerary The arrangements shown in this itinerary have been made especially for you with the generous support and co-operation of Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs), Air New Zealand, accommodation and product suppliers as detailed. Tourism New Zealand will cover the costs of your accommodation, transport and sightseeing activities and meals as outlined in the itinerary. Please pay all minibar, telephone expenses and laundry yourselves, prior to check out from your accommodation. NOTE: check in for a domestic flight is 40 minutes before departure and requires photo identification. Baggage allowance is 20 kilograms. Excess baggage for film equipment only, will be charged back to Tourism New Zealand with prior arrangements. Please remember that the operators will be expecting you. Please be punctual and phone ahead should you be running late. Regional Tourism Operators Contact Details Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism Contact: Kelly Wilkes Address: PO Box 2600 Christchurch 8140 New Zealand Tel: 03 378 2385 Mobile: 021 763 559 Fax: 03 365 0787 Email: [email protected] Website: www.christchurchnz.net PRE - 3 nights/4 days: Friday 4 Nov to Monday 7 Nov, 2011 Mt. Cook / Tekapo: Mountain Backdrops to Lakeland Scenery Aoraki, also known as Mt. Cook, means “cloud-piercer” in Maori and is a perfect name for New Zealand’s tallest peak. Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps served as a training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary before he became the first man, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to conquer Mt. Everest. The Southern Alps also serve as a spectacular backdrop for nearby Lake Tekapo, which is a brilliant turquoise colour due to the “rock-flour” created by local glaciers. The clear and unpolluted night sky above Tekapo has been proposed for World Heritage status. Itinerary The four-hour drive from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo is flush with scenery, with stops in small towns along the way. Arrive in Lake Tekapo and visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, a favorite subject for photographers. At night we’ll visit the Mt. John Observatory—regarded as the most beautiful, easily accessible observatory in the world—for a tour and a chance to view (and possibly photograph) the southern night sky. Travel on to Aoraki/Mt. Cook the following day, stopping by the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and getting up close and personal with New Zealand’s largest glacier, the Tasman. Weather permitting we’ll embark on a scenic flight over the Southern Alps and, after traveling back to Tekapo, stop to soak and relax in the hot pools of Alpine Springs and Spa, with views over the lake. Difficulty Rating: EASY Story angles: • Sir Edmund Hillary angle – Hillary museum at Mt. Cook, history of his summits of Mt. Cook to train for Everest (he was the first to summit Everest, with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay). There are stories of the early pioneers and mountaineers living in this area, particularly the intrepid women. The Hermitage: Interesting history. It was built 126 years ago and has flooded, burnt down, and been owned by the government. • Mount John Observatory – southernmost (and most accessible) observatory in the world, with lots of interesting facts and related story angles. For instance, the Mt. Cook/Lake Tekapo area has applied for World Heritage status, meaning it would be the first place in the world where the sky is protected. • Quirky: In Geraldine, people will see the Giant Jersey, the largest jersey in the world (knitted and sewed by shop owners Michael and Gillian Linton). Michael and his daughter Rachel also created a 138-foot-long tapestry made from 2 million pieces recycled from knitting machines (where Michael used to work—he recycled materials from thousands of disks discarded by his old company). The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and is supposedly the only completed one of its kind and also the most historically accurate version. Unique photography opportunities presented: • Llong-exposure star photos (catching photo trails) and photographers will also be able to attach their cameras to a 3” telescope and shoot deep space (an option for those using SLR cameras). The observatory should have all the attachments for Nikon and Cannon cameras, and possibly others. • No flashes allowed up at the observatory, only red light. • Mt. Cook and the mountains surrounding The Hermitage are absolutely stunning—we’ll be there for sunrise and sunset shots. • Icebergs up close, the face of the Tasman Glacier, and a glacial lake. • The stone and oak Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Tekapo offers a unique photo op: The altar frames a stunning view of the lake and the mountains. • Shots of the mountains and glacier(s) from ski planes or helicopters. Components requiring some exertion: • People need to be able to do a 3 km roundtrip walk on loose, pebbly terrain (mostly level, but one short hill at the end) to access the boat for the Tasman Glacier excursion. They can skip this excursion, but there’s no real way to avoid the walk; there’s no alternative transportation to the boat launch, unless we make special arrangements. Special clothing or gear participants must bring: • Warm clothes for lots of the activities (e.g. warm jacket, hat, gloves, footwear for the observatory), rain gear, dry bag for camera gear (for lake cruise, although they will give people a spray jacket that they can use to put over their camera gear – still, I would take a dry bag to be safe) Friday 4 November Auckland to Christchurch 0730 Meet your tour group at the SATW tour desk located in the arrivals hall of the Auckland international airport 0900 Auckland – Christchurch on NZ509 (1 hour 20 minute flight time) 1020 Arrive to Christchurch International Airport where you will be meet by Kelly Wilkes (021 763 559) your Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism Escort and Johnston’s Coachline Driver. They will be holding a sign saying “Society of American Travel Wriiters” Drive from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo About 3 hours but will allow 4 hours for media – Great photo opportunities along the way On the road to Lake Tekapo, stop in Geraldine: A beautiful village with a thriving arts and culture community nestled at the foot of soft rolling hills and bisected by the tranquil Waihi River. The pretty main street with its venerable trees, gardens and historic buildings is always bustling with visitors and locals alike. Did You Know that Geraldine is: • Home of the Giant Jersey - The giant jersey is another must see, recognised by The Guinness Book of Records as the largest jersey in the World, and knitted and sewn by Michael and Gillian Linton, owners of the knitwear shop where the jersey is on display. • Home of The Medieval Tapestry - This 138-foot complete re-creation of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Battle of Hastings in 1066, was created out of 2 million pieces of spring steel and took more than 20 years to construct. Website: www.southisland.org.nz ** Escort to phone ahead to confirm the time for this evenings stargazing tour. Lunch 20 minutes past Geraldine is the town of Fairlie, where you will be stopping for lunch. The pretty farming town of Fairlie marks the beginning of the Mackenzie Country. Just west of here, Burke Pass takes you into the high altitude, tussock-covered expanses that characterise the region. The Mackenzie Country is named after Jock Mackenzie, the legendary Scottish sheep rustler who once roamed the hills. There are several ski fields close to Fairlie, and recently created Lake Opuha is popular for boating and fishing. The Raincliff Historic Reserve is the place to see Maori rock art. Resident artists and potters provide craft buying opportunities. Have lunch at Eat Deli and Bar Eat Deli and Bar is a wonderful venue for a lunch, brunch or just a coffee stop.