NEW ZEALAND WALK October 31 to November 10, 2021 FACULTY
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NEW ZEALAND WALK October 31 to November 10, 2021 FACULTY LEADER Rob Dunbar Rob Dunbar, whose research interests span Earth science, climate change, oceanography, glaciology and conservation science, heads a Stanford research group that works on past, present and future climate change as well as its impacts on oceanic environments and mountain belts around the globe. He works regularly with the U.S. government and the United Nations to help develop and implement solutions to environmental and resource problems. Rob first travelled to New Zealand in 1982, passing through on his way to and from Antarctica for a research project. New Zealand captured his attention and heart because of its natural beauty, egalitarian society, and fiercely independent people. He has since traveled to New Zealand over 40 times and lived there in 1988 and ’89, working at Victoria University of Wellington, where he studied climate change and New Zealand geology. He currently holds an adjunct faculty position in Earth sciences at Victoria University of Wellington, chairs the international advisory board for the New Zealand Antarctic Science Platform and recently joined the strategic planning board for GNS Science, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. Rob has hiked most of the major tracks in New Zealand and has also enjoyed skiing, caving, exploring and fishing on both islands. During our walk, he will lecture on the geology, tectonics, wildlife and climate of New Zealand, as well as recent and catastrophic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. He’ll also speak about Maori culture and history and New Zealand’s stewardship of nature, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. — At Stanford: William M. Keck Professor of Earth Sciences; Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education; senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment — Recipient of the Richard W. Lyman Award for exceptional volunteer service to the university — BS, geology, University of Texas at Austin — PhD, oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego ITINERARY Sunday, October 31 QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND Arrive in Queenstown and begin our adventure with lunch before a pleasant two-mile nature walk that descends through native bush abounding with birdlife to Bob’s Cove and its excellent lookout point. From here we can see much of Lake Wakatipu and the distant Remarkables mountain range. This evening join fellow walkers for a welcome reception and dinner. HOTEL ST. MORITZ (B,L,D) STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 NEW ZEALAND WALKS October 31 to November 10, 2021 Monday, November 1 QUEENSTOWN This morning embark on the scenic drive from Queenstown to the Routeburn Shelter to begin a full-day, 10-mile hike on the Routeburn Track. Our walk takes us into a beautiful ancient beech forest festooned with mosses, lichens and ferns, as well as waterfalls and a river gorge, with lake and mountain views throughout. HOTEL ST. MORITZ (B,L,D) Tuesday, November 2 QUEENSTOWN / TE ANAU Enjoy the morning and lunch at leisure in Queenstown, exploring the natural beauty and unique energy of the city, before embarking on the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Te Anau, arriving in the early evening. DISTINCTION TE ANAU HOTEL & VILLAS (B,D) Wednesday, November 3 TE ANAU Today’s 10-mile walk on the Kepler Track begins with a scenic 15-minute helicopter flight from Te Anau to Luxmore Hut, our starting point. From the bush line, we can take in sweeping panoramas of the Te Anau basin and several mountain ranges, then it’s all downhill from there, as we make our way to Brod Bay, passing limestone bluffs en route. At the end of our walk, take a short boat ride from Brod Bay back to Te Anau. DISTINCTION TE ANAU HOTEL & VILLAS (B,L) Thursday, November 4 TE ANAU We start with a picturesque two-hour drive to Milford Sound, where we take a water taxi from the boat terminal to Sandfly Point, the start of our relatively flat, seven-mile Milford Track walk. After our walk enjoy a one-and-a-half-hour cruise on Milford Sound. Return to Te Anau this afternoon via helicopter, from which we are treated to breathtaking views of some of the highest and most-photographed mountains of Fiordland National Park (contingent on weather). Views of Mitre Peak and Milford Sound unfold as our flight path follows the Milford Track and over Mackinnon Pass before landing back in Te Anau. DISTINCTION TE ANAU HOTEL & VILLAS (B,L,D) Friday, November 5 TE ANAU / NELSON / KAITERITERI This morning board a private charter flight from Te Anau to Nelson. Upon arrival enjoy lunch in town before continuing to Kaiteriteri, located just south of Abel Tasman National Park, and checking in to our lodgings. Before dinner take some time to enjoy the amenities of our eco-resort: Get a treatment or enjoy the sauna at the spa, swim in the pool, sunbathe on the beach or go on a bike ride. KIMI ORA ECO RESORT (B,L,D) Saturday, November 6 KAITERITERI / ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK We spend today in Abel Tasman National Park, world-famous for its golden sand beaches, turquoise waters, estuaries in their original, untouched state, lush bush and excellent walking tracks. Our six-mile walk covers the park’s most diverse sea- and landscapes. We travel to and into the park by water taxi, then walk from Torrent Bay to Medlands Beach through beautiful regenerating forest alive with birds and past spectacular, extraordinarily colorful estuaries and landforms. KIMI ORA ECO RESORT (B,L,D) STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 NEW ZEALAND WALKS October 31 to November 10, 2021 Sunday, November 7 KAITERITERI / MOUNT ARTHUR We drive to the Flora car park in Kahurangi National Park, due west of Abel Tasman National Park, to embark on a half-day, five-mile walk to and from Mount Arthur Hut. The walk follows the ridge toward Mount Arthur, winding through beech forest and groves of candelabra-like mountain neinei (a species of grass tree). Following our walk we return to our accommodation and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, once again having some time to enjoy the resort’s many amenities. KIMI ORA ECO RESORT (B,L,D) Monday, November 8 KAITERITERI / BLENHEIM This morning we drive for approximately two hours across the top of South Island to the Marlborough region, stopping en route at a privately owned sheep farm. A farmer will demonstrate for us typical, everyday farming chores, from working highly trained dogs to shearing one of his sheep. Continuing our drive, we stop for a light lunch before checking in to our lodgings. MARLBOROUGH VINTNERS HOTEL (B,L,D) Tuesday, November 9 BLENHEIM / MOTUARA ISLAND / QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK Take a short drive to Picton, then board a private water taxi and journey to tiny Motuara Island, where we enjoy a one-hour walk around the island. Continue by water taxi to Ship Cove to begin our walk along the Queen Charlotte Track, covering 10 spectacular miles of the 43-mile-long route and ending at Endeavour Inlet. The Queen Charlotte Track has rapidly become known as the finest and most diverse coastal track in New Zealand. The bush is a mixture of stunning podocarp (a conifer) and beech forest dotted with punga ferns and other native New Zealand foliage. Return to Picton by private water taxi and drive back to our hotel. This evening gather for a farewell reception followed by dinner. MARLBOROUGH VINTNERS HOTEL (B,L,D) Wednesday, November 10 BLENHEIM After breakfast transfer to the Blenheim Airport to board outbound flights. (B) Walks Our walks are led by experienced guides and range from six to 11 miles a day, or about four to six hours, over rough and varied terrain. Participants should plan to walk with the group the entire day and be prepared for long ascents and descents. Please note that several of the daily excursions might be described as hikes rather than walks. INFORMATION Covid-19 and Travel With travel requirements and local Covid-19 conditions changing weekly, travel protocols for specific destinations will be shared with confirmed travelers closer to departure. To read more about Travel/Study’s approach to ensuring traveler health and safety, visit our Covid-19 Travel page. STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 NEW ZEALAND WALKS October 31 to November 10, 2021 Size This trip requires a minimum of 20 participants and is limited to 26. Travel/Study is committed to providing a low-density experience on all programs and will implement protocols to do so, including social distancing on transportation, as well as during lectures, meals and excursions. Single accommodations are limited—please call for availability. Cost* $12,595 per person, double occupancy $13,995 per person, single occupancy *Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers add $300 per person Included ● 10 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations ● 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners ● Welcome and farewell receptions ● Gratuities to guides and drivers for all group activities ● All walks and tours described in the itinerary ● Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days ● Internal flights in New Zealand (helicopter flights on 11/3 and 11/4; charter flight from Te Anau to Nelson on 11/5); note that flights are weather-dependent and contingency plans will be enacted if necessary ● On-tour quarantine-related