North Island Landscapes and Culture Educational Tour of New Zealand (9 Days)
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North Island Landscapes and Culture Educational Tour of New Zealand (9 days) Departs anytime (2021- 2022) New Zealand is a magical place with stunning natural beauty, world-class outdoor experiences, and some of the friendliest locals you are ever likely to meet. This 9-day educational trip of this remote South Pacific nation is specifically designed for students wishing to learn of the country’s rich Māori culture, its screensaver geographical wonders as well as learning of the country’s principal efforts at promoting indigenous rights and environmental issues. Beginning in Auckland, our trip will travel the entire length of the country’s North Island. It entails visits to Waitomo, (Middle Earth), the hot springs of Rotorua, Whirinaki Forest, Huka Falls and the Three Volcanoes region before arriving in the country’s capital city of Wellington. This trip will also afford us an insight into this progressive country’s political landscape and progressive social policies. Whilst fun and physical, this trip is also intended to be highly enjoyable and provide a very memorable introduction to the Land of The Long White Cloud. Billy Penfold Director www.studenteducationaladventures.com New Zealand – North Island Landscapes and Culture (9 days) Day 1 Arrive Auckland We will be greeted at Auckland International Airport with ‘Kia Ora’, the Māori word for welcome, which also means ‘have life’ and ‘be healthy’. Auckland is knowns as the pacific “City of Sails” and is home to the largest Polynesian community in the world. Our first visit this afternoon is to the dormant volcano at Mt Eden. It is here we climb to the top of the crater and learn about the geography of Auckland and her 48 volcanoes. The summit is the highest natural point in the city where we will glean our first impressions of this country. After dinner, we take a speedy ride to the top of the Sky Tower revealing panoramic views of the harbour from the 51st floor, before walking back to our centrally located accommodation for a well-deserved rest. (meals: dinner) Day 2 Auckland Waitomo Caves Rotorua (Glowworm cave & Hobbiton film set) We head south through the cattle and sheep farmland and on to Waitomo Caves. We will firstly visit the Waitomo Discovery Centre to learn about stalactites and fossils before being introduced to the native Arachnocampa Luminosa glowworm species. First surveyed in the 1880s, we retrace the steps of early Māori and European explorers by entering the cave system and following the narrow paths underground. Our specialist local guide will explain the geological forces that occurred over 30 million years ago when the region was still under the ocean. Over millions of years, these sedimentary rocks were formed when tectonic forces caused the limestone to bend and buckle and eventually rise above the seafloor. A highlight of today’s excursion will be a boat trip in complete darkness, where we can observe the canopy of sparkling glowworms and stunning limestone formations. In the afternoon we continue our bus journey - transitioning from geology to film fantasy. We will visit the shire of Hobbiton - the quaint and peaceful shire from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Here we will enjoy a thorough tour of the films’ most delightful locations including the Hobbit Holes, the Green Dragon Inn and the Middle Earth locations that put New Zealand in the international spotlight in recent years. We drive the last leg of the journey to Rotorua arriving in time for dinner. (meals: breakfast, dinner) Day 3 Rotorua (Te Puia, hot pools, traditional hangi meal) We will set out this morning for a thorough exploration of Rotorua, famous for its geothermal activity, geysers and hot mud pools. Rotorua more significantly perhaps is the centre of the country’s Māori culture - an integral part of life in New Zealand, influencing everything from cuisine to customs, and language, something that is of a little surprise perhaps when one considers that one in seven New Zealanders identifies as Māori. Our first stop will be the Māori arts institute of Te Puia, a centre of creativity that aims to provide education about the Māori arts and preserve this unique culture. This afternoon we will enjoy relaxing in one of the numerous thermal hot springs famed for their healing properties due to the high mineral content. We will learn about the geological forces that have produced the unique geothermal environment and landscape around Rotorua. Tonight, we will travel to an outlying village for a traditional Māori experience and a unique cultural activity. This will be followed by a traditional ‘hangi’, a meal or feast slow-cooked underground using hot rocks and wrapped in leaves. The pre-European village is nestled in a Tawa forest, a native species. Whilst here we try to learn the haka (Māori war dance). (meals: breakfast, dinner) www.studenteducationaladventures.com New Zealand – North Island Landscapes and Culture (9 days) Day 4 Rotorua (Government Gardens, Kiwi bird enclosure, gondola, luge ride) The manicured Government Gardens surrounding the Rotorua Museum will be our first stop today. This horticultural wonder is a beautiful example of the fusion of Māori traditions and Elizabethan Tudor architecture, that sit alongside an active geothermal lake! The gardens sit adjacent to the Rotorua Museum that is a mandatory stop when in this part of the country. Aside from a fine collection of exhibits of art and culture, it will also be of particular interest to students of natural history and physical geography. From here we will move on to Rainbow Springs Nature Park, to learn more about New Zealand’s wildlife including its unique birds, aquatic life and reptiles. We will visit the National Kiwi Hatchery, the most successful kiwi hatchery in the country and see conservation efforts being put into practice. Here kiwis are hatched and nursed to save this rare native bird, all of which we will be able to see through large windows, aptly named - Operation Nest Egg. After wandering around the lakefront, we step up the adrenaline levels somewhat to experience a scenic ride up the side of Mount Ngongotaha via the Skyline Gondola. This 400-metre gondola ride will reveal panoramic views of the city and Lake Rotorua. Our descent will be noticeably quicker than our ascent as we board a luge (a light toboggan for two people) and with gravity on our side, wind our way down the hill, navigating steep corners, tunnels and dips. While it certainly is not a race, we will be able to choose our cruising speed depending on our driving skills. (meals: breakfast, dinner) Day 5 Rotorua Whirinaki Forest (Mountain bike ride forest walk Māori cultural immersion activity) This morning we will head out to Whakarewarewa Forest, where we board sturdy mountain bikes to explore this sublime wilderness. Ideal for cyclists of all skill levels, we will set off on our adventure, swerving through thriving wild redwood rainforest and enjoying magnificent vistas at every turn. Our exploration of this environment will continue this afternoon as we explore the waterways and natural gorges of Whirinaki Forest Park. This forest is renowned for being one of the world’s last primeval environments and is home to a unique variety of wildlife, most notably the fantail bird. Our time here will also include an enjoyable and not too arduous tramp to view waterfalls, natural gorges and other flawless landscapes. In the afternoon we learn more about New Zealand’s original custodians – the Māori. The indigenous people of New Zealand, Māoris settled in the country nearly 800 years ago, arriving from their mythical Polynesian homeland Hawaiki (More likely they came from the south pacific islands of Polynesia and Melanesia~). Māori culture is entwined into most facets of the country’s society and can be observed in its artistic culture, social practices and importantly, in the education curriculum where learning Māori (language) is now more common. A specialist Māori guide will join us this afternoon to lead us to the tribal lands of the Ngati Manawa where we will learn of local legends and view hidden Māori rock art. Tonight, we will partake in a special experience to learn more of this enduring culture as we enjoy a meal with some Māori people. We will be tasked with the laying of a hangi (underground barbecue), preparing fish traps, weaving our own dinner plate as well as preparing traditional Māori bread. The elders of the tribe tell us of tales from long ago. (meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner) Day 6 Whirinaki Forest Tongariro National Park (Huka Falls, Bungy jump option, Three Volcanoes) Departing our lodge we head south towards the Huka Falls located on New Zealand’s longest river - the Waikato River. We will position ourselves on a footbridge at the top of the falls revealing stunning views and the constant roar of the water flow below. It is near here we learn about the hydroelectric system that provides electricity for the region by way of dams and turbo generators. We stop to view the opening of the Aratiatia Dam, one of eight dams on the Waikato River. This awesome sight shows the power of the water held by these dams and the geographical features of this area. Our tour guide will explain to us New Zealand's energy policies who practices in clean energy usage are among the best to be found anywhere. www.studenteducationaladventures.com New Zealand – North Island Landscapes and Culture (9 days) Not far from the dam it is time for us to enjoy a quintessential New Zealand action activity – a famous Bungy jump from a 43-metre clifftop platform over the crystal-clear waters of the Waikato River.